explain to me the importance of nutrients.

[Chad Vossen]

i have the idea that the water needs to be low in all nutrients. mostly phosphate and nitrates. i was talkin to a co-worker and he says that its bad to over skimm a tank because you need the nutrients in the water to allow the corals to grow. but doesnt phosphate reduce the growth of stony corals and caroline algae?

i relize this varies between corals. xenia needs some nutrients were montipora might not do so good with nutrients.

am i on the right track?

should a reef tank be without any nutrients as long as food like phytoplankton is fed regularly?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, some corals need more nutrients than others. All need nutrients in some form, and some may get them from solid particulates, others from dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients. Algae also thrives on elevated nutrients, and hard corals have a harder time calcifying when phosphate is elevated. But too low can also cause problems. So it is a trade off, and I do not think that optimal levels have really been established for every organism.

No, I do not believe that a reef can survive with no inorganic nutrients and only foods. But unless you aggressively use a lot of phosphate binders, you probably won't attain "no" nutrients, even if a kit indicates lower levels than it can detect.
These articles have more:


Phosphorus: Algaeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm