Proper Water Parameters for Mushrooms?

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

Hope this is in the correct section!
I've been target feeding red sea A and B for the past 3 weeks. Once or maybe twice a week.
Just barely starting started dosing TM carbo calcium this morning.
Haven't ran any tests on cal/all to date but am going to later on this evening.
Just ordered a hanna magnesium checker so that's going to have to be a little later.
I am keeping mostly Mushrooms at the moment. Full spectrum from mostly bounce dominant to ricordia to everything really.
Have some Zoas as well.
Question is where do the softies like to be as far as cal,mag and all parameters?
Nitrates/Nitrites at zero.
Temp 78 degrees
Using Fritz pro salt.
RODI

Thanks in advance all

Spare time · Apr 18, 2020

They don't really use much calcium and magnesium and I don't think there is any process in which they would use alk (since they have a hydrostatic skeleton). However, 0 nitrates is bad for all corals and especially for your tank's microfauna.

CCauthers · Apr 18, 2020

I HIGHLY doubt that you have 0 nitrates. What test kit are you using?

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

CCauthers said:
I HIGHLY doubt that you have 0 nitrates. What test kit are you using?

API. I am partially color blind however it is closer to zero than 5.0 I'll have my wife take a look when she gets home.

Spare time · Apr 18, 2020

LRT said:
API. I am partially color blind however it is closer to zero than 5.0 I'll have my wife take a look when she gets home.

You are probably fine then. However, if you see nitrates get to lets say 5 or 10 try to keep it around there.

PS I am colorblind and I use the red sea nitrate pro test as their setup makes it easier to distinguish colors

CCauthers · Apr 18, 2020

LRT said:
API. I am partially color blind however it is closer to zero than 5.0 I'll have my wife take a look when she gets home.

As long as it is not zero I think you should be fine, seems like it's probably 2-4, and especially if you have zoas doing well they are not zero, because zoas need a bit more nutrients than some corals

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

Spare time said:
You are probably fine then. However, if you see nitrates get to lets say 5 or 10 try to keep it around there.

I have been reading along and have been feeling like they are reading too low for my liking.
Besides fish what is the next best possible way to raise nitrates?
I run shallow tables so not alot of room for fish. My reservoirs are full of live rock so not much room there either.

CCauthers · Apr 18, 2020

You can dose nitrates, but I wouldn't at the moment. It sounds like you are OK for now

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

CCauthers said:
As long as it is not zero I think you should be fine, seems like it's probably 2-4, and especially if you have zoas doing well they are not zero, because zoas need a bit more nutrients than some corals

A few of my Zoas are doing well like the everlasting gobbstoppers and mangos.
However my sonic flares and blitzes dont look as nice. I probably should get my nitrates up!

Spare time · Apr 18, 2020

LRT said:
I have been reading along and have been feeling like they are reading too low for my liking.
Besides fish what is the next best possible way to raise nitrates?
I run shallow tables so not alot of room for fish. My reservoirs are full of live rock so not much room there either.

Brightwell has a bottle of nitrate you can dose but you can probably just wait a skip a water change.

CCauthers · Apr 18, 2020

LRT said:
A few of my Zoas are doing well like the everlasting gobbstoppers and mangos.
However my sonic flares and blitzes dont look as nice. I probably should get my nitrates up!

DON'T go and start dosing your nitrates like crazy. Test your other params, and when you have ALL of the info you can get, make a fully informed decision, not an impulsive one. You also have no idea what your alk is, which can make a huge difference

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

Ok I'm going to get the alk and cal tested tonight and follow back on this.
Greatly appreciated here!

CCauthers · Apr 18, 2020

No problem, just don't rush into decisions; make sure you are confident in what you decide to do

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

CCauthers said:
No problem, just don't rush into decisions; make sure you are confident in what you decide to do

For sure. Your responses kind of solidified what I was already feeling here. Need to check alk and cal before I make any decisions here.
That being said I do have alot of clams filter feeders on live rock in sump. As well as a pair of mated clowns in one of the tables.
I really need to see where I'm at with things to properly assess what next move is.
Thanks again!

LRT · Apr 18, 2020

Spare time said:
You are probably fine then. However, if you see nitrates get to lets say 5 or 10 try to keep it around there.

PS I am colorblind and I use the red sea nitrate pro test as their setup makes it easier to distinguish colors

Gold! I will have to order me a red sea test kit it does get annoying having to wait for the wife especially when patience isn't one of my finer virtues lol.
I can see colors. Only the most solid colors in a group and definently not shades. There are no grey areas in my color seeing capabilities lol!

CCauthers · Apr 18, 2020

LRT said:
Gold! I will have to order me a red sea test kit it does get annoying having to wait for the wife especially when patience isn't one of my finer virtues lol.
I can see colors. Only the most solid colors in a group and definently not shades. There are no grey areas in my color seeing capabilities lol!

IMO the red sea kits are some of the best out there, I personally use them as well

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2020

LRT said:
I have been reading along and have been feeling like they are reading too low for my liking.
Besides fish what is the next best possible way to raise nitrates?
I run shallow tables so not alot of room for fish. My reservoirs are full of live rock so not much room there either.

You can feed a bit more each day, even with the same number of fish.

Or you can dose nitrate and/or phosphate.

Or you can dose amino acids.

LRT · Apr 19, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You can feed a bit more each day, even with the same number of fish.

Or you can dose nitrate and/or phosphate.

Or you can dose amino acids.

Something dont seem right. Tested my alk twice and reading 12.3 and 12.4.
Only dosed TM once for first time yesterday 10ml in 160 gallon system.
I've been cheating and topping off with Brita water filter on my tap.
Wife is saying Nitrates look close to zero for her.
Not sure what's going on here.
Gonna get some distilled water and check the cal this after noon

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2020

LRT said:
Something dont seem right. Tested my alk twice and reading 12.3 and 12.4.
Only dosed TM once for first time yesterday 10ml in 160 gallon system.
I've been cheating and topping off with Brita water filter on my tap.
Wife is saying Nitrates look close to zero for her.
Not sure what's going on here.
Gonna get some distilled water and check the cal this after noon

What doesn't seem right? Tap water can add alkalinity.

I certainly see no reason to dose any alkalinity.