Should I add another fish? I can't get my nitrates past 2 even with heavy feeding.

[Kzang]

I feed LRS or PE Mysis 1-2 cube with half a sheet of nori everyday. With my chaeto refugium, my nitrates can barely get to 2. 125g 72x18x24 with 40g sump. My chaeto is only about the size of a grapefruit, so I got plenty of room for more nutrient export.

I thought about another tang, PBT or a bristletooth. I used to have clowns, but opting to not have them in the big tank anymore. Must be reef safe.

Yellow tang is more aggressive than blue tang, with a few swipes of the scalpel, but nothing major. They swim together.

I currently have:
yellow belly blue tang - 4 in
yellow tang - 4 in
mystery wrasse - 4 in
midas blenny - 4ish in
ruby longfin fairy - 3.5 in
melanurus wrasse - 3ish in
ornate wrasse - 3ish in

 

[Daddy-o]

Do you have coral?

 

[Kzang]

Do you have coral?

Yes. mixed reef, but LPS dominant with torches. Rastas, aussie gold, dragon soul, etc so nothing that has a chance of eating.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Same here can not get nitrates above two even if I toss in a cheeseburger. Fish are so fat sometimes I think they are going to sink to the bottom corals are fat and fluffy and vivid. I dose Red Sea coral nutrition and colors seems to be working great

 

[Cell]

I'm not sure I'd add a fish just to raise my nitrates. Isn't there something you could dose, like sodium nitrate to meet your goal? If you actually want another fish though, then go for it.

 

[Daddy-o]

I'm not sure I'd add a fish just to raise my nitrates. Isn't there something you could dose, like sodium nitrate to meet your goal? If you actually want another fish though, then go for it.

I dose Acropower/ME Polyp Extender to raise nitrates

 

[Kzang]

I'm not sure I'd add a fish just to raise my nitrates. Isn't there something you could dose, like sodium nitrate to meet your goal? If you actually want another fish though, then go for it.

I'd rather add fish/food than having to dose nitrates/phosphate

 

[Reefer40b]

Is there an issue with having 2ppm N? seems like a good place to be to me!

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Is there an issue with having 2ppm N? seems like a good place to be to me!

I agree if things looks good leave it be

 

[Kzang]

Is there an issue with having 2ppm N? seems like a good place to be to me!

Corals seem to do better with a little bit higher nitrates as I run LPS dominant. I only have 3 acros. Most is torches. My refugium is like 1/10 full of chaeto.

 

[Reefer40b]

Corals seem to do better with a little bit higher nitrates as I run LPS dominant. I only have 3 acros. Most is torches. My refugium is like 1/10 full of chaeto.

Maybe shutdown the Fuge and see if that buys you a couple more ppm

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Mine look fine with nitrates less than two

 

[Ling_Thing]

You need to stop all nutrient export you have then see how the tank and nutrients test out then decide to start dosing n03 or
Not.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

That would be my recommendation as well. if you're having problems with keeping N up, you need to stop or slow down what is exporting N.

Adding more fish will help and if your tank can support it and if you're already considering it, then by all means add another fish.

But in the mean time stop nutrient export, chaeto, and/or excessive skimming and find that healthy balance.