Redfiled in Natural Sea has mostly same Redfiled Ratio but Reefs near Shores and Cliffs have dufferent values keeping in view Nutrients Intake from Land etc. But if we keep 1 No3 then Po4 must be around 1ppm which will Surely impede Growth. Having Said Closed Systems once established can Adopt Comfortably at any parameter within acceptable range like 5ppm no3 and .05-.10 po4 and over period of time Corals will Adopt to Your Settings. Thats beauty of Adabtability in Different sea conditions and Reef Nutrints levels as well in Oceans. Regarding Carbon Dosing i completed 16 weeks dosing and my max limit was 60 ml per day where No3 broke from Top 50ppm and then diwnward trend started till No3 is 5ppm and i dont Dose any more vinegar since then. If needed 10ml after 1 or 2 months brjnv no3 back to 2.5 immediately. Bacteria has been established and Bio Filtration Sweat Spot identified and With Continuous Water Changes i have 0 Algae and All Corals are Happy. Mu Tank Grew Full in 2 years. And I DONOT RUN ANY FILGER SOCKS AND NO AMINOS. (Cause my no3 at 5ppm)That is the reason I asked. The Redfield ratio is as you said - a ratio of Carbon Nitrogen and Phosphorous - which we do not measure. So - I was trying to figure out how to get them back to 'natural ratios' - if we can't measure if they are outside 'natural ratios'?
It is my opinion that - at least within the organisms - the Redfield ratio does not change. Thats the point of the Redfield Ratio - and Its been shown (at least Redfield concluded) - that the concentrations in the water are the way they are because of the ratio in the phytoplankton - NOT the other way around - i.e. the chemicals in the water do not affect the ratio in phytoplankton.
Happy Reefing.