Sps nitrate and phosphate levels

[VanceL]

Been a while since I've tested my levels so thought I would do it just to appease my curiosity and found despite my po4 being undetectable I had a moderate amount of nitrate ~8ppm. Planning to remove the gfo reactor to allow the phosphate to build up so its not the limiting nutrient for the bacteria in my biopellet reactor, hopefully this will lower the nitrates a bit. If I'm wrong with this please let me know.



But on the main topic of this thread I thought it would be fun to see where other people keep their nutrient levels in their sps tanks. If anyone is willing could you list your nitrate and phosphate levels, along with how you feel the growth of your sps stands, and how you feel about the color of said corals.



I'll start:

Nitrate: 8ppm want to lower to 2ppm

Phosphate: undetectable

Growth: Never fast enough , but get less than but close to 1/2in a month

Color: Nice deep color, can tell zooxanthellae is happy, some could have more pigment but I think that's more lighting than nutrients (correct me if I'm wrong here)

 

[Froggy]

A thread about coral color is just words without pictures

 

[VanceL]

More interested in what everyone else nutrient levels are.

 

[Gumma 1]

zero nitrate, P04 .o8

zero nitrate, P04 .o8

P8

 

[VanceL]

Gumma: Do you keep your levels there by choice or is that just the balance you've achieved?



I though phosphate was the dangerous/growth suppressing nutrient?

 

[Braver69]

I dont think a exact number matters as much as keeping just a little in the water to feed the corals. As all corals need some food other then just light.

 

[Dapg8gt]

This is a good read
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2366953..

And while p04 may not be good to have in excess I think having none is a whole lot worse.

Fwiw I have my nitrates >10 and p04 between . 03 to . 1

I seem to be getting better color going above my initial goal of the famous . 03 =). This last check I was at . 06 (per Hanna ulr) but I firmly believe on not chasing an exact number. I have a zone I shoot for instead of a hard number.

 

[VanceL]

Awesome thread.



So what about nitrate?

 

[ssdawood]

I would not change a thing. 8 nitrates is just a number and clearly not doing any harm. Color is amazing on the pictured coral. Leave it alone brother.

 

[VanceL]

I would not change a thing. 8 nitrates is just a number and clearly not doing any harm. Color is amazing on the pictured coral. Leave it alone brother.

I wish I sps like that, making the transition to sps so haven't tried my hand at any acros and just getting the params in check and stable before I go full swing. Mostly have montis, birdsnest and my one blue tip stag that has great growth and color but seems a little washed out in the areas that get direct light and nice and deep in shaded areas so I'm thinking that's light.



Don't have a sps pic but here's my fts's

 

[Gumma 1]

Good information so for guys. Agree on not chasing numbers. Nitrate below 10 and Phosphate between .o3 and .1. Any changes need to be made slow. For me I was always fighting pale colors. So I slowly added more fish and increased feedings, while keeping nutrients low. I use water changes and a small amount of gfo. Firm believer in heavy in heavy out.Every tank is different, you need to find what works for you.Sps need to eat in order to get those deep colors we all want.