Optimal Rate of Nutrient Removal?

[MechEng99]

*Sigh* Let's just say someone added a weeee bit too much food to the tank (that wasn't noticed in time to remove it) that caused nutrients in the tank to jump up just long enough for my SPS to start browning out (and lost one to RTN). Also got a lovely outbreak of algae. Yay for "the fish looked hungry".

I'm doing water changes (of course), but is there a better way to bring down the high nitrate/phosphate level at an optimal rate? I don't want it to drop too quickly or too slowly. I run GFO/carbon, have a RDSB, etc. anyway...

My tanks all normally sit at 0 Nitrate, 0.03 Phosphate, so I'm not really sure how to bring the parameters back at an optimal rate. Water changes just feels like I'm not doing enough. Thoughts?

 

[reefyourself]

What is your nitrates at now???? I doubt that over feeding 1 day would cause so much harm........What are your water parameters like (Alk Cal Mag)?

 

[serpentman]

You may want to change out your GFO. Just be sure to go slowly. IME, once optimal nutrient levels are achieved, it takes a good 3-6wks for browned corals to return to their normal color.

 

[MechEng99]

Nitrates are at about 5. Phosphates aren't registering with a normal test kit (but I had them tested previously with one of those nice tests at 0.03) It wasn't a simple "overfeeding for one day". I'm leaving out the story on purpose. Parameters like Alk, Ca, Mag are all good & constant (9 dkh, 450, 1350), as well as pH (8.2) and temp (79.8). Bulbs are less than a month old, good flow (~60x turnover), etc. I know the issue is a nutrient spike.

I guess I'll just continue with what I'm doing and hope I don't lose anything in the meantime. I'll change out the GFO & carbon...run the skimmers a bit more wet. I'll blow out the rocks better too just to make sure I'm not missing much when I do another water change. Uggh...frustrating to go slow again.

 

[reefyourself]

imo keeping nitrates < 5 is target for me..... what i would do is get ur phospates to < 0.03.... change/add GFO and change ur carbon... only thing dont change both at the same time do 1 one day and other...

Do you still have coral growth? I know when to change my GFO as i see my corals start loosing there growth tips/rims.. once i change my gfo rims/tips look good again...

 

[MechEng99]

I haven't noticed a loss in coral growth...just browning and RTN. I just lost my Crayola Plana I got directly from Tyree several years ago. That just plain sucked!! I have backups of all my corals in other tanks except that one.

I've been working all day on the tanks - blowing out the rocks, cleaning skimmers, cleaning pumps/sponges, stirring the sandbed, changing filter socks, etc. Going to do another water change tonight as well as change out the carbon/GFO. I'm changing out the RO/DI filters tonight, but that was planned anyway.

It's funny what you forget over time. I haven't had nitrates above 0 in 4 years...just didn't know if there was some quick safe way to lower it back down...or if I should just keep up with good husbandry.