tank Too clean - zero excess nutrients

[User]

Hi guys

5 month old 180 gallon tank. 150 gallon basement sump. Tank has 2 onyx Perculas, a mag Foxface, a Randall’s goby and a skunk cleaner shrimp. Typical CUC. I feed 2 frozen cubes and generous pinches of formula 1 and 2 pellets daily.

I’ve had zero GHA, minimal cyano, had a 8 week diatom bloom that is now resolved.

My most recent testing, as of Sunday, reveals I also have zero nitrate and 0.018 ppm phosphate. That’s the reason I can’t keep any macro alive. My fuge is barren except for one rock/ it’s not the chaeto farm I intended. No chaeto also means no pods.

I’m setting up a coral QT, and buying corals in 3 weeks.

I need a way to raise my nitrate and phosphate a little so I don’t end up killing them. I’d prefer to dose something accurately and control the process, rather than just throw a bunch of extra frozen food in there. If you read the cycling section of my build thread you’ll know I’m a little crazy about quantifiable numbers and controlling parameters.

I have started growing phyto, and have Guillards F/2 fertilizer available. I read the label and can’t help but think i could dose a few mls and get things going.

Anyone care to share their Experiences or offer advice?

Thanks!

 

[4n2xtacy]

I personally try to stay away from chemicals unless absolutely necessary. Remember nitrate is a result of the waste product from your stock (the final stage of your tank's cycle), the more the waste, the more nitrate level. Also the bigger the water volume, the easier it is to control the waste. That being said, your water volume is quite big but your stock not as much. Not that this is bad but there's only so much waste your stock can produce to increase nitrate level. You might need to increase your stock a little to have more nitrate instead of dosing nitrate, that'll be a more natural way to go.

 

[User]

I personally try to stay away from chemicals unless absolutely necessary. Remember nitrate is a result of the waste product from your stock (the final stage of your tank's cycle), the more the waste, the more nitrate level. Also the bigger the water volume, the easier it is to control the waste. That being said, your water volume is quite big but your stock not as much. Not that this is bad but there's only so much waste your stock can produce to increase nitrate level. You might need to increase your stock a little to have more nitrate instead of dosing nitrate, that'll be a more natural way to go.

Sure. I’m at 4/21 in terms of stock. QTing etc and buying as time and space allow.

So- stock up, wait for it to hit the level I want naturally, then control with WCs like normal.

What about my coral QT? I’m going to need that a little dirty for the corals otherwise they’ll just die off and I’m wasting my money

 

[4n2xtacy]

Sure. I’m at 4/21 in terms of stock. QTing etc and buying as time and space allow.

So- stock up, wait for it to hit the level I want naturally, then control with WCs like normal.

What about my coral QT? I’m going to need that a little dirty for the corals otherwise they’ll just die off and I’m wasting my money

Try turning off your skimmers a few hours at a time or anything else u might have taking out the nitrates. Or if your skimmer can be controlled, reduce its strength. Check water parameters everyday or 2 to prevent spikes. Also, although I do have fairly high nitrate in my mixed reef, about 30ppm, I spot feed my corals once a day that way they dont totally depend on the water particles. They've all been doing great since I started that.