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I personally also had constant brown-outs and acro deaths when I was running super low no3/po4. I'm at ~10/~0.1 now and the acropora are staying alive and growing, with pretty decent color.
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My 120 is 4 months old in a week so its new. Following what I did in my nano.I keep mine as close to NSW as possible. 1-3 ppb of phosphate on Hannah Ultra Low and "clear" on Hobby grade nitrate test kits which ends up being about .1 on IC/ICP.
I find this works the best for all types of acropora including deep waters and some of the trickier ones.
I keep mine as close to NSW as possible. 1-3 ppb of phosphate on Hannah Ultra Low and "clear" on Hobby grade nitrate test kits which ends up being about .1 on IC/ICP.
I find this works the best for all types of acropora including deep waters and some of the trickier ones.
Right on about lower NO3's. I've been maintaining low levels with NOPOx. PO4's around .04 and NO3's at 1-2. Ca at 430, KH at 8.4, and Mg at 1350. Sounds good, but now have outbreak of bryopsis. No happy about that. And coral color could be better. I'm using LED's: Two AI 52's and two AI 26's on a 240 gal setup, running mostly blues and white at 60% during daylight.While I cant lie, the colors some of you LED+ elevated NO³ & PO⁴ SPS guys are pulling is really nice, and look pretty but the growth isnt anything compared to what I have seen with systems running halides, T5s and much lower nutrients, (not trying to start a lighting debate) Its a known fact that PO⁴ inhibits calcification, at what level? it seems to be genus specific at which levels calcification is inhibited according to the studies I have read.
Again, to each their own but, I know I wouldnt cool with my SPS tank at .15ppm PO⁴
Here’s a couple moreWell all I know is what is working for me and more importantly what did not work for me. These before and afters are all less than a year apart. Maybe this is considered slow growth to some but it’s definitely growth and way better than death.
All of these have been frag’d several times
Thanks for the shout out @AngryMike2016Apologies for the thread hi-jack, but I'd like to thank Chaswood and Bubba for often talking about the nutrients they run. After I read their information I personally started having much more success.
Looks good!If you look closely there is a single accidental frag polyp at the top of my first pic. This is her now.
Is your profile pic from speedreefercorals?from my understanding of available articles, acros when exposed to >.1 po4 begins to get into an inhibited state of calcification, though I would have to go back and do some digging for my supporting docs. Still, I like to be in the .06-.08 range as I run my alk a bit higher. To the same point (calcification), I find that I successfully get better and stronger growth at lower temps (75-76). I attribute this to a more strontium based uptake, but again would need to do some more digging into supporting info
Bubba, no fair! You’re on a whole different level! What I appreciate about your thread and posts is that you show success and progress, I don’t think I’ve come across a failure yet in your thread. Also, you acknowledge what works for others as well. Anyway I think I speak for many when I tell you most of us are jelly of your systems!Nutrients matter. I personally would never want to be 0 or .01 on phosphate and 0 on nitrate. Doing so is just playing a dangerous game where things can go wrong fast.
This first pic my tank would always be close to 0 for phosphate. I decided to raise my phosphate up some to .05 and within a week or two my polyp extension got much better and growth took off.
Four months difference in pics with higher phosphate.
Also take advice from people who can show you their successes.
Depends on what article you read. A study done in 2014 showed higher phosphate increased growth while nitrate slowed it slightly. It showed it matters where your source of nutrients comes from.from my understanding of available articles, acros when exposed to >.1 po4 begins to get into an inhibited state of calcification, though I would have to go back and do some digging for my supporting docs. Still, I like to be in the .06-.08 range as I run my alk a bit higher. To the same point (calcification), I find that I successfully get better and stronger growth at lower temps (75-76). I attribute this to a more strontium based uptake, but again would need to do some more digging into supporting info
Is your profile pic from speedreefercorals?
Depends on what article you read. A study done in 2014 showed higher phosphate increased growth while nitrate slowed it slightly. It showed it matters where your source of nutrients comes from.
I wonder if is also dependent on coral type. I have some corals with off the charts colour at near 0 but others are pale, soon as I raise nitrate the pale ones colour up but the others lose some of their colour.