Increasing "nutrients" in tank

[t4zalews]

I know there's info scattered all over about how to add "nutrients" to the tank. Most of them consist of increase feeding to the fish. But does this method only rely on the fact that you have a heavy fish load? What other factors go into "nutrients"? Is it essential elements replaced in water changes? I'm trying to provide my SPS with more to feed on. What about phytoplankton, would that add "nutrients" to the water? Would reducing the number of water changes be beneficial to increasing "nutrients"? Any input would be beneficial.

 

[toothman]

amino acids, oyster feast.

 

[franklypre]

Increasing nutrients should be done slowly and only if there is a specific issue you are trying to resolve. What is the reason you want to do this?

 

[kuyatwo]

amino acids, oyster feast.

I dose these also about 45 after lights are off. I turn off my return pump and just let power heads run for 45 min then turn on return pump


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[29reef]

There's many vitamin and amino acid supplements made for fish foods. Pick one or several and soak the food in it before feeding the fish. Corals and fish will both benefit.

 

[Met3112]

+1 for Oyster Feast

You can also try reefbooster from Prodibio. Feed more seaweed to the tangs.

 

[dvanacker]

If by nutrients we are talking NO3 and PO4, I wouldn't be looking to increase these. If by nutrients we are talking food.....than I think that is a good thing as long as it doesn't make harmful increases to NO3 and PO4.

 

[t4zalews]

If by nutrients we are talking NO3 and PO4, I wouldn't be looking to increase these. If by nutrients we are talking food.....than I think that is a good thing as long as it doesn't make harmful increases to NO3 and PO4.

This is what I was confused about. When talking about nutrients are we talking actual food the coral feed on, or elements in the water?

 

[franklypre]

Raising NO and PO are a definate benefit if you have very very little of them or run a removal system(reactor/media). Typically if you run a system like this then any of the name brand products or DIY recipes will help to feed and sustain the colors. I am a big believer in feeding but you definately don't want to overdo it.

 

[dvanacker]

This is what I was confused about. When talking about nutrients are we talking actual food the coral feed on, or elements in the water?

Im not sure, I was asking for your definition...nutrients can mean food to living organisms.....but nutrients can also mean things like NO3 and PO4 (food) to things like plants.

To get on with the real discussion though...I think increasing the bioload and quality food introduced to the system is beneficial to the point where your total filtration system (biological and mechanical) can not process the load and you are left with rising (and high) nitrate and phosphate.

 

[dvanacker]

Raising NO and PO are a definate benefit if you have very very little of them or run a removal system(reactor/media). Typically if you run a system like this then any of the name brand products or DIY recipes will help to feed and sustain the colors. I am a big believer in feeding but you definately don't want to overdo it.

Statements like this are kind of misleading I believe. It makes people believe that measurable (by our hobbyist means) NO3 and PO4 is beneficial. To what level?

Yes, many people starve their tank. Yes increased bioload/food and things like AA can and will help. Yes they will raise PO4 and NO3...but it may only be small fractions that are hard to quantify and measure by our means. SPS tanks may not be bothered by larger increases to PO4 and NO3 (such as 10ppm NO3 and .06ppm PO4) but I suggest that these higher levels are not the reason for improvement....the food that was added that raised the levels are.

 

[LISound]

amino acids, oyster feast.

i don't know about the amino's but Oyster feast is a big hit in my tank.
polyps are out big time. One drop and some start to feed and pull food in. pretty cool to watch.

i guess the amino's just prime the corals, but mine are always fully extended anyway so i don't see the need.

 

[elegance coral]

Statements like this are kind of misleading I believe. It makes people believe that measurable (by our hobbyist means) NO3 and PO4 is beneficial. To what level?

Yes, many people starve their tank. Yes increased bioload/food and things like AA can and will help. Yes they will raise PO4 and NO3...but it may only be small fractions that are hard to quantify and measure by our means. SPS tanks may not be bothered by larger increases to PO4 and NO3 (such as 10ppm NO3 and .06ppm PO4) but I suggest that these higher levels are not the reason for improvement....the food that was added that raised the levels are.

+1

IMHO, stony corals benefit from nutrients like protein, amino acids, and vitamins. This is easily provided with foods, or additives. The problem is that these nutrients/foods quickly get broken down into nitrogen and phosphorous. I believe the key is to provide plenty of good quality food/nutrients, then remove as much as possible, before it's broken down.

When people see an improvement in their corals that seems to coincide with a slight increase in nitrogen and/or phosphorous, I believe it's due to an increase in nutrients like protein, and not the nitrogen and phosphorus it becomes. We just don't have test kits for protein, so we see it as nitrogen and phosphorus, after it's broken down.