The new tank nutrient cycle?

[Mandarin the first]

After a second outbreak of dinoflagellates I am trying to figure out how to avoid this happening again. I could be very wrong on this but does the situation go a bit like this in a newish tank:
-To avoid dinos and keep corals happy you must keep detectable nutrients
-Detectable nutrients allow algae to grow
-Algae growing lowers nutrients requiring more feeding/dosing
-This further feeds the algae
-Algae growing strips certain trace elements that corals require and also (according to fauna marin) help prevent dinos

How do you keep detectable nutrients without Algae growing like crazy and stripping the nutrients and trace elements?

 

[JTP424]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...ates-without-triggering-algae-growth.1083069/
Check out this recent thread:)

 

[PotatoPig]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

After a second outbreak of dinoflagellates I am trying to figure out how to avoid this happening again. I could be very wrong on this but does the situation go a bit like this in a newish tank:
-To avoid dinos and keep corals happy you must keep detectable nutrients
-Detectable nutrients allow algae to grow
-Algae growing lowers nutrients requiring more feeding/dosing
-This further feeds the algae
-Algae growing strips certain trace elements that corals require and also (according to fauna marin) help prevent dinos

How do you keep detectable nutrients without Algae growing like crazy and stripping the nutrients and trace elements?

Generally, trying to limit algae by limiting nutrients will also hurt corals except in special ultra low nutrient tanks (ULNS) where you feed the corals heavily with particulates such as bacteria or phytoplankton.

 

[GSPClown94]

^ This

 

[Mandarin the first]

Any recommendations for stocking a 50g? The only inverts we can get in my country are astrea snails at $20 per snail, otherwise only options are fish

 

[PotatoPig]

Where are you in New Zealand? Depending where you are could you make a trip to the beach?

 

[BryanM]

Any recommendations for stocking a 50g? The only inverts we can get in my country are astrea snails at $20 per snail, otherwise only options are fish

Ooph, thats steep.

I went with a package from reefcleaners, but I'm sure shipping international is equally cost prohibitive.

 

[JayM]

Do you have access to urchins?

 

[Mandarin the first]

I can't find any urchins or anything online, also don't think reefcleaners ships here. I have thought about what we would have in our local waters or tide pools that could help but our water is quite cold and I wouldn't want to introduce something that could be a pest in a reef