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Now no one looks at the stickies or FAQs.
My system is around 400g. I have a lot of larger clams so I do not run GFO on my system do to cost along with the health risk (PM) of my clams. I rely on a large skimmer as a back bone of my reef. My system always shows 0 Nitrates and I hover around .12 PO4. If I were to start dosing nitrates would that alone be enough bring my PO4 down? Would I have to start dosing a carbon source also? From what I am picking up in this thread is that I might be nitrate limited in my system. For the most part my coral growth is good and i am not having any algae issue but I think my colors could be improved on some. I am wondering if a lower PO4 could help with that.
I started dosing a week ago and can't believe the difference. I'm waiting on the Red Sea Algae Control test kit to see where my levels are. I'm currently using the Salifert Nitrate test and its very difficult to read. I'm trying to get my nitrates to 2-4ppm. I haven't reached 2ppm per the Salifert test.
I am facing similar problems with my acro frags. I don't have any colonies. My acro frags, except the green ones, have a washed out look. There is no stn or rtn, but the growth is slow. Colors faded. Polyp extension is decent during the Lights On hours and very good during the lights off hours. My red sea and Hanna tested parameters are:
Alk: 8.0
Calcium; 440, Magnesium: 1300.
Temp: 78-79. Ph: 8.0 - 8.2
Nitrate: 0 with red sea nitrate pro test
Phospahate: undetectable with home test. Triton says: 0.002.
I have 3 fishes in my RedSea reefer 170. I feed once or twice every day. I also feed corals every alternate day.
I am thinking if I should dose Nitrate. Will it help?
I'm sure it would work for you. I'd let your phosphate come up too (or dose some) as you raise the nitrates. It seems that imbalanced nutrients (having ample NO3 and almost no PO4) can result in a whole host of issues, including coral mortality. There is a balance between NO3 and PO4. I'm not saying your PO4 is too low (as it is probably pretty close to NSW levels). However allowing your PO4 levels to rise to a detectable level (.02ppm for example) is good insurance in my opinion (especially when you are trying to "maintain" them at a certain level)
On the sump cleanup i use a shopvac with a hack for the nozzle so i don't fill up the bucket in 10 seconds haha let me know if you think it will help you and want pictures of it. But the shopvac is definitely easy...
install a couple circulation power heads in the sump to prevent detritus from settling
I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of this if you don't mind.....I've had the same issue (I rush like a mad man trying to suck as much detritus out as fast as possible lol)