I have battled low nitrate and phosphate since I started my 36 gallon bowfront in July of 2022. (Upgraded to a 40 breeder about six months ago) I eventually had to put neo-nitrate and neo-phos on dosers (Kamoer X1 dosing pumps- total dose is spread out over 24 times per day) to keep up with the tank's demand in order to keep phosphate at 0.02 with hanna's ULR checker and nitrate and 5 with salifert's nitrate test kit.
Currently I am dosing 13mls of neo-phos daily and 10mls of neo-nitrate in order to keep the parameters as described. (I have also always battled low PH- and have only bumped it up to 8.0 in the day and 7.8 at night with kalkwasser dosing)
Additionally, I find that I have to up the dosage every few months to keep up with the demand of the aquarium . If I do not dose- I zero out within a week and the tank is over-run with chrysophytes. The aquarium does not have an algae problem as long as I maintain the dosing.
My question though is why? It seems that most reefers are having to carbon dose, over skim, underfeed, perform massive water changes etc to manage their nutrients. In my case however it has always been the opposite.
Why are some tanks always battling high nutrients and other tanks always low? I am trying to understand the process of what is happening inside my aquarium versus the next reefers?
Current Parameters:
Alk 8.5 (attempt to keep it at about 9) Tested with anna alk checker
Magnesium: 1400 (Red Sea)
Calcium 420 (Red Sea)
Phospate: 0.01
Nitrate: 3
I do have a lower bioload with two clown fish and a single damsel.
Currently I am dosing 13mls of neo-phos daily and 10mls of neo-nitrate in order to keep the parameters as described. (I have also always battled low PH- and have only bumped it up to 8.0 in the day and 7.8 at night with kalkwasser dosing)
Additionally, I find that I have to up the dosage every few months to keep up with the demand of the aquarium . If I do not dose- I zero out within a week and the tank is over-run with chrysophytes. The aquarium does not have an algae problem as long as I maintain the dosing.
My question though is why? It seems that most reefers are having to carbon dose, over skim, underfeed, perform massive water changes etc to manage their nutrients. In my case however it has always been the opposite.
Why are some tanks always battling high nutrients and other tanks always low? I am trying to understand the process of what is happening inside my aquarium versus the next reefers?
Current Parameters:
Alk 8.5 (attempt to keep it at about 9) Tested with anna alk checker
Magnesium: 1400 (Red Sea)
Calcium 420 (Red Sea)
Phospate: 0.01
Nitrate: 3
I do have a lower bioload with two clown fish and a single damsel.