I am in the process of upgrading 2 nano tanks into larger, not-nano tanks. I have had rubble/biomedia cooking in both existing tanks for months now, so the plan is to short cycle the new tanks with that media, copepods and phyto and start by moving a couple fish first to get things going in the new tanks, with coral following shortly thereafter.
Since I plan to move coral pretty early in the process I have been thinking about the lack of any real nitrate/phosphate. I'll have new Ocean Direct sand and the biomedia from the established (more than 2 years old) tanks, but I'm starting with dry rock and new water and, I'm assuming, almost no nutrients.
I was originally thinking about dosing nitrates and phosphates in the new tanks until I had reasonable levels, but then I started wondering if I might be better served with something like Plus-NP or NP-Bacto-Balance while I let the levels rise naturally in the new tanks.
I'm open to thoughts or suggestions. I'm still building aquascapes for the two new tanks, but plan to get them both up and running in the next few weeks.
Since I plan to move coral pretty early in the process I have been thinking about the lack of any real nitrate/phosphate. I'll have new Ocean Direct sand and the biomedia from the established (more than 2 years old) tanks, but I'm starting with dry rock and new water and, I'm assuming, almost no nutrients.
I was originally thinking about dosing nitrates and phosphates in the new tanks until I had reasonable levels, but then I started wondering if I might be better served with something like Plus-NP or NP-Bacto-Balance while I let the levels rise naturally in the new tanks.
I'm open to thoughts or suggestions. I'm still building aquascapes for the two new tanks, but plan to get them both up and running in the next few weeks.
