Looking to see what people think I should do to boost and keep my nitrates and phosphates.
So, I've gotten my nitrate and phosphate measurement reliably down to <~5 and <0.10 (after lots of struggle with this), by controlling feeding, upping flow, vaccuming detritus every 1-2 weeks, using seachem matrix, prime, and phosbond; dosing vinegar; adding chaeto (been in a separate compartment for about a month and still green, though not growing) and sometimes decent, sometimes aggressive skimming. (livestock: a few zoas, BTA, three fish, gorgonian. And probably waaaay more matrix and rock-based biofilter than I need). I've been struggling a bit still with GHA and cyano. I've also
However, I went on vacation for two weeks, and while I was gone I think the fish sitter fed a bit more than he should have (and I think the supplemental auto-feeder was too high). When I came back there was loads of GHA and other forms of algae on the tank's rocks, (and fortunately decent coraline growth, and Noteworthy but predictable growth of the zoas) and no skimmate from setting the skimmer too low before leaving
.
However, in that situation, the nitrate was very low (undetectable by the salifert kit) and phosphate below the Hanna LR (not ULR) test kit's reliable measurement level (0.06 or so).
It seems the tank is very good at converting excess nutrients into various forms of algae.
I've cleared out 90% of the algae (and will try to clear out more) during my post-vacation water change.
I'm still concerned about what to do from here. I would like phosphates and nitrate to be a bit higher than what they are now (say, ~5 and ~0.10). At the same time, I'm not sure feeding more is desirable or the right way to go about it. (I will add a bit more livestock in the near future - 2 clowns, a monti and maybe a hardy acro).
Your thoughts appreciated. Thanks!
So, I've gotten my nitrate and phosphate measurement reliably down to <~5 and <0.10 (after lots of struggle with this), by controlling feeding, upping flow, vaccuming detritus every 1-2 weeks, using seachem matrix, prime, and phosbond; dosing vinegar; adding chaeto (been in a separate compartment for about a month and still green, though not growing) and sometimes decent, sometimes aggressive skimming. (livestock: a few zoas, BTA, three fish, gorgonian. And probably waaaay more matrix and rock-based biofilter than I need). I've been struggling a bit still with GHA and cyano. I've also
However, I went on vacation for two weeks, and while I was gone I think the fish sitter fed a bit more than he should have (and I think the supplemental auto-feeder was too high). When I came back there was loads of GHA and other forms of algae on the tank's rocks, (and fortunately decent coraline growth, and Noteworthy but predictable growth of the zoas) and no skimmate from setting the skimmer too low before leaving
.However, in that situation, the nitrate was very low (undetectable by the salifert kit) and phosphate below the Hanna LR (not ULR) test kit's reliable measurement level (0.06 or so).
It seems the tank is very good at converting excess nutrients into various forms of algae.
I've cleared out 90% of the algae (and will try to clear out more) during my post-vacation water change.
I'm still concerned about what to do from here. I would like phosphates and nitrate to be a bit higher than what they are now (say, ~5 and ~0.10). At the same time, I'm not sure feeding more is desirable or the right way to go about it. (I will add a bit more livestock in the near future - 2 clowns, a monti and maybe a hardy acro).
Your thoughts appreciated. Thanks!
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