Salinity for an Ultra Low Nutrient System?

[Chris918]

Hello,

I'm setting up a new aquarium and will be using Red Sea's reef care program. Their site has two different recipes that appeal to me. I'm stuck between the Ultra Low Nutrient and SPS Dominant recipes. I'll be having an SPS dominant tank for sure. The Ultra Low nutrient recommends a salinity of 1.023. As I expected the foundation elements are lower due to the lower nutrient levels. I've always kept my tanks at 1.026. Is this lower salinity just to account for the lower levels of foundation elements? Can anyone explain? Which of these two do you think would be the best path to take with the SPS corals needs in mind?

Low Nutrient Parameters:
Salinity: 1.023
Ca: 410 ppm
Alk: 7 dKH
Mg: 1220 ppm
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: 0

SPS Dominant:
Salinity: 1.026
Ca: 430
Alk: 8
Mg: 1280
Nitrate: 0.25-0.50 ppm
Phosphate: 0.01-0.02 ppm.



Thanks!

 

[homer1475]

I find my corals(SPS, and LPS) look the best and grow the best with parameters very close to their recommended levels for SPS tanks. Although I run nitrates and phosphates a tad higher.

 

[Chris918]

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.