0ppm Nitrates and 0ppm Phosphates is not always ideal.

[xenon]

I have come to the realization that chasing 0ppm nitrates and 0ppm phosphates is causing me problems.

When keeping SPS, we all know low nitrates and low phosphates is desirable but having low nutrients in a system with low bioload is not the same as having low nutrients in a system with a high bioload.

Some of the best looking tanks usually have plenty of fish. Keeping nutrients low in a system with lots of fish means the SPS are getting plenty of food but then the waste is being quickly removed.

The same cannot be replicated easily for a system with just a few fish.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Agreed. When I first started my system I had SPS with only a few small fish. I found that over time my pale SPS colors were due to me stripping the tank of almost all nutirents. I now run my tank at Nitrate: 3-5ppm and PO4: .03-.05ppm

 

[rds85]

If you guys can look at my most recent thread. Would you think I am in the same boat you guys were? I am thinking I am

 

[Benar]

My colours were insane at .03 po4 and .2-.5 trates. I can't seem to get back to those levels just yet, more experimenting required!

 

[jackson6745]

My po4 is 0.0 on the low range hanna meter but my no3 is 15ppm. SPS have been looking awesome at these level and super healthy.

 

[ssscuz]

I've been stuck down at the zero phos for a while now. I have lost a few birdsnest and some montis. Biopellets can be pretty brutal once u get down low. I'm currently feeding the hell out of my tank just to keep some nutrients in the water.

 

[shih87]

I prefer to use "undetectable" instead of "zero"... Zero is definitely no good, but I don't know about undetectable on NO3/PO4 is good or bad....

 

[GatorAlum05]

I feel that GFO, Carbon, Biopellet suggested amounts are all gimmicky. Whatever manufacture ask you to use, put HALF that amount in. Otherwise, your water will just be overstripped of nutrients. My SPS didn't take off until I removed GFO, Carbon and used only 1/4 amount of biopellets. Refugium is still the best method to keep nutrients under control while your corals grow.

 

[FranktheTankTx]

So if your husbandry is so good that you reach 0 levels - What do you do to add PO4/NO3? Feed more?

 

[xenon]

So if your husbandry is so good that you reach 0 levels - What do you do to add PO4/NO3? Feed more?

YES! :bounce3:

 

[jda]

My best color and grow comes when both N and P are "clear" in my salifert test kits. I know that there is some in there, but I have no idea how low (or high, if you will) it is.

I have never needed any organic carbon or GFO and bad things have happened when I used either.

 

[MabuyaQ]

So if your husbandry is so good that you reach 0 levels - What do you do to add PO4/NO3? Feed more?

Possibly yes if that organic source of N and P will get processed to its full extend and not end up building up organic waste in an undesired location. Otherwise manual dosing of N (and/or P), through calcium nitrate for example would be a better solution.

 

[jda]

If your husbandry is good and tank is well equipped with in-tank processors and mechanical export (there are many good ways to do this), then the bacteria and micro fauna in the sand and rocks will come to equilibrium with how you feed (which also introduces organic carbon for them to grow) and the tank will stay near zero on it's own - more load, more fauna... less load, less fauna... automagically.

I have added sodium nitrate before. I thought that it made a difference in my SPS color. I really did. Then I quit adding it and the color did not change.

 

[crn005]

As someone that likes to run a clean shop in regards to my tank, I agree. I have a 36 gallon bow front and I do 5% water changes twice a week. I only have two fish and was wondering why I wasn't seeing the growth that I wanted. I let it set for a couple of weeks and discovered that I had a little more algae but my SPS we're doing much better. Since then I've started using Reef Chili, feeding more, and plan on getting another fish or two soon. The results have been undeniable since I started putting more nutrients in the water. I'm willing to put up with a few spots of algae here and there if it means my corals will be healthier. Not to mention, my turf scrubber has finally started developing more. Hopefully, it will starve out the few small spots of algae I have soon!

 

[dvanacker]

This subject has been discussed so many times.

I always say the nicest tanks I've witnessed have had a healthy amount of fish and feedings but have good filtration systems (mech,bio) to process the break down of the food.