The big NO3/PO4 question! Expert opinions appreciated!

[Flokstra]

Dear fellow nanoreefers,

 

In trying to find out how to make my Monti Digitata a bit happyer, I've been reading a lot about nitrate and phosphate levels. It has has only given me headaches......

For every 'specialist' that says that the ideal system has zero NO3 and PO4, there is also a 'specialist' that can explain to you that your corals actually need the two to feed and thrive on! In that case it is being said that 0,20 mg/l PO4 and 15-25 mg/l NO3 should be ok. There are even 'specialists' out there claiming to have had succes with double those values!

 

Now what i would like to do, as you all do regular chemistry tests, is to know what your values and experiences are running those values. If we could set up a list of values, tank buildup (fish, coral, sps, lps, cleanup crew, etc.), setup and overall satisfaction with these running systems, we could make an average based on experience and not on what is said to be ideal. 

 

For the record, my setup:

 

36 liter tank

Tunze 9001 skimmer

Minimal mechanical filtration

900 l/h pump turnover

 

2 Mangrove plants living in filter chamber

6kg live rock

 

1 toadstool (doing great!)

2 hammer corals (doing great!)

1 small colony of star polyps (doing great!)

1 goniopora (did great, then not so good due to feeding problem, now coming back)

1 (very) small Montipora capricornus (almost completely died, small piece survived and starts growing again)

2 clwonfish (doing great!)

1 cleaner shrimp (doing great!)

1 blue legged hermit (doing great!)

4 turban snails (doing great!)

1 nassarius snail (doing great!)

2 bristle worms (don't see them a lot)

1 peanut worm (doing great! i guess...)

few dozen feather dusters, brittlestars, spaghettiworms, copepods, etc.. (dong great)

and beautiful coraline algae over the rock!

Minimal algae (a bit of green i like...)

 

All the above has been running nice for the past 8 months!

Added last week:

 

1 bit bigger montipora capricornus (showing some white spots)

1 montipora digitata (minimum polyp extension and a pale skeleton)

 

values:

PH: 8,2

Sal: 1,026

Temp: 26C

Alk.: 10,6

Calc.: 475

Mg: 1450

NH3: 0

NO3: 4 mg/l

PO4: 0,3 mg/l

 

All in all i would rate my system a 7/10, just due to the monti's not being happy.

 

 

 

 

  

[xthunt]

Following. I started dosing stump remover a few weeks ago and got my no3 to a steady 5ppm. Started dosing po4 the other day to see what happens. But my no3 and po4 have been bottomed out for a while according to Salifert and Hanna ULR, respectively.  

[Clown79]

Most hobbyists don't recommend 0 p04 and n03, that's a very old method and belief.

 

There is no benefit to 0 nutrients but a lot of negatives: dino's, lack of coral growth, loss of coral colour.

 

 

There are ideal/average numbers but many hobbyists run their systems out of these and have beautiful reefs.

 

My tanks params

Ca 440-450(test 1/mnth)

Alk 8.4-9

No3 2-5

Po4 0.07-0.17

Mag- haven't tested in a long time

Ph - don't test

Temp- 78-79

Sg 1.026

 

 

[xM3THODx]

11 hours ago, Flokstra said:

In trying to find out how to make my Monti Digitata a bit happyer, I've been reading a lot about nitrate and phosphate levels. It has has only given me headaches......

For every 'specialist' that says that the ideal system has zero NO3 and PO4, there is also a 'specialist' that can explain to you that your corals actually need the two to feed and thrive on! In that case it is being said that 0,20 mg/l PO4 and 15-25 mg/l NO3 should be ok. There are even 'specialists' out there claiming to have had succes with double those values!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

This would only tell you that every tank or system is different right? One hobbyist success with certain numbers can be others detriment. Your params look okay and the rest of your inhabitants are doing well so maybe it's something other than phosphate and nitrate.

Mont Cap and Digitata are known for easy to keep and lower light demand sps. Could it be possible that the lighting is an issue? Post pics if you can, it would definitely help us.