Algae is Gone, Nutrients are Low, Now What?

[toothman]

you will have better success with low nutrients if you keep your kh 7 to 7.5 like nsw 7.2. Amino acids really help also. They really should not die even if you do not feed too much or have many fish. Not a big fan of rox carbon also. Feeding does help a lot, as above oyster feast is great. Selco additive mixed with something like reef roids or golden pearls is also great. Pe mysis is also a great fish food.

 

[lynchmob3000]

Yes it does.

 

[Patrick Cox]

is it just me or does the first bonsai valida look like it got bit by some aefw?

Which picture are you referring to? I am not aware that I have purchased a valida.

+1. Reef roids does the trick

How often do you feed the Reef Roids? I bought some and target fed last night.

Quit chasing your tail. Do nothing. Observe. Based on what you see tweak. If things are looking pale add more fish. If things get dark re-evaluate your feeding and maintenance. Quit messing with the tank. This is something I'm really starting to realize now. Also what is your cleanup crew? I think just enough algae to keep a modest sized clean up crew healthy is right where you want to be. My dos centavos....

Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately my experience has been there is very little latitude to be reactive with SPS. If they start to fade, I generally lose them. When my nutrients were vey high, I did not lose any corals. They were very dark in color and seemed healthy. The problem was I had GHA all over the place. So I took care of that and my nutrients are low again, but my experience in the past with low nutrients is that the corals get pale and weak and die. I am trying to avoid that while also trying to avoid a tank full of GHA. So that is the advice I am looking for. I am now dosing Prodibio so maybe that will help, not sure. I am also using a better salt, hoping that will help, and I plan to target feed my corals and maybe dose some amino acids or other additive but I have not decided on a specific path. I think I have enough fish and I feed them once per day. Maybe I should feed twice while ensuring they eat what I feed.

I do have some small crabs and a variety of snails. Not sure how many but I did add maybe 15-20 recently.

Thanks again.

 

[rovster]

Dude, multiple small feedings is where it's at. On the weekends I do 4-5 feedings per day. I'm in a similar boat. My sps are all loving the multiple feedings and high import. You do have a little latitude with sps. Just check out my tank is in a funk thread. Things are back on track now that I've got a good routine. Good luck!

 

[Patrick Cox]

you will have better success with low nutrients if you keep your kh 7 to 7.5 like nsw 7.2....

I have tried lower alkalinity and I don't seem to get any growth that way. When my alk is up around 8.5-9, the growth in my tank is much better. Is that normal?

 

[BrentH]

I switched to matrix carbon and it seemed to help I was getting burnt tips and problems while useing rox

 

[Patrick Cox]

I switched to matrix carbon and it seemed to help I was getting burnt tips and problems while useing rox

Do you run carbon constantly or just at times? Also why do you run it? I ran carbon early on but then stopped because I wasn't really sure why I was running it.

Thanks

 

[Hockeynut120]

Larger bio load with a great skimmer and 10% WC per week is what works for me I hav 18 fish in a 90 gal I feed heavy and never run GFO, no nusence alge