trouble with ultra low nutrients

[rmacedo2010]

Ok so i am having trouble with my nutrients.. they are to low im talking 0 no3 0 po4 i have a full mixed reef, LPS, SPS, Zoas and Palys. i know that my problem is zero nutrients because majority of my zoas are closing up. I also noticed that my sunset monti has a very pale edge and i dont want it to get worst. i test with a hanna phos checker and got 0 on multiple tests. and red sea nitrates also 0. my system specs are:
ph-8.3
ammonia-0
nitrate-0
nitrite-0
calcium-440
alk-9.3
mag-1400
temp 79.1
these parimeters have been super stable, i have a eshopps psk100 skimmer i run carbon and gfo. (not overkill just recommended dose) about a month and a half ago i noticed i was getting minor gha so i built a downflow algae scrubber and IT WORKS!!!! i think just to well. I usually feed a cube of p.e mysis a day rinsed well with a drop of garlic extreme. every other day i add 3 drops of pohls coral vitalizer. So my question isnt y are my nutrients so low because i know that but what should i do, feed alot more because it clearly wouldnt have a effect. or remove the gfo and run just the skimmer carbon and algae scubber? any input would help. also forgot to mention i just started dosing acropower 2.25 per day

[Bingo1213]

I have had many ULNS over the years. My current tank is a 40 breeder with 20 gallon sump, refugium, skimmer, GFO and carbon reactors. Oh and I also vodka dose the tank, so there are 0 phosphates and nitrates. It is a mixed reef much like yours, I used to have problems keeping certain LPS and softies that like dirtier water until I started feeding the corals more. I feed my fish daily with a mix of brine, mysis, clam, squid, cyclopeze, and algae sheets and I feed my corals every other day. My corals get a mixture of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and seachem's Fuel. The product that seems to help the most is the Fuel as it is an amino acid and fatty acid supplement, which helps the corals thrive in very low nutrients. Since I have started this feeding routine, I have had great luck with any and every coral including gorgonians and gonioporas. My current goniopora is a neon green and is almost 2 years old now, which according to many people is not possible due to lack of food and low nutrients. My SPS have also colored up dramatically. My calcium is around 400, alk around 9 and mag around 1300 (Very similar to your system). Hope this helps!

[rmacedo2010]

Great thanks. How does fuel compare do acro power I believe acropower is just amino acids though. Have you tried that before?

[Bingo1213]

I have not here are the ingredients of Feul!

 

http://www.aquavitro.com/products/fuel.html

[GHill762]

I've been having issues with underfeeding my tank as well, I've been feeding a lot heavier the last couple moths and I've noticed great improvement to corals and an improvement to fish behavior too imo.

[Bingo1213]

This is a very common problem and if you think about it, it makes sense. In the ocean corals, clams, anemones etc. are constantly filter feeding. This is something that can't happen in our closed loop systems. It would only make sense that corals require frequent feedings to be at their healthiest. You would never go without feeding your fish, so even though your corals have symbiotic algae, you should feed them often. Vodka dosing helps with feeding in a sense too as the corals consume some of the bacteria living off the vodka. That is one of the reasons why carbon dosed tanks often have better colors! Carbon dosing also allows for more frequent feedings, which helps replicate the ocean.

[farkwar]

You don't have a problem, other than being underfed.

 

Feed your corals.

 

That mysis juice that you're rinsing is primo coral food. Stop that. Doubt me? take some and squirt some on your acros, they will immediately exhibit feeding behavior with mesenterial filaments extension.

 

Get a couple fish.

 

Some corals like a little fish poop in their diet, and the bacteria that's on the poop is a good carbon source. So the theory goes.