Will nitrate at 0 cause birdsnest to die?

[Formulator]

I think it depends on how you interpret the outcome. The corals in nutrient deplete studies don't seem to RTN/STN like the birdsnest in this thread. Also, I could search up many other threads that have reported similar birdsnest coral problems that have >10ppm nitrate.
While I'll stay away from the ideal nutrient level discussion, there certainly seems a difference in the way corals decline in scientific studies vs hobby, in regards to nutrient limitation.

I agree with that. I actually suspect there is a flow issue in this case. This inside-out die off is common of dense branching corals like birdsnest and anacropora. High flow is necessary to penetrate into the dense interior or it will STN from inside-out like that.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Did you keep the refuge?

I am trying to switch things up. I have always kept a refuge on all my tanks in the past. Three weeks ago I threw away all the cheato and removed the container from the sump that held it. No change yet, still zero no3.

I still have the refugium - but try and keep the chaeto to about softball size vs letting it get bigger than a basketball like the past. i dosed neonitrate until levels became more stable - now don't dose any longer as long as nitrate tests show some trace amount (usually 5 - 10 )

 

[Reeferbadness]

Can I see your refugium? I added some chaeto too, they grown very fast that quickly depletes the KH in my tank. I'd like to know what a reasonable range for maintaining it is.

light is off now but as far as size - i like to keep my chaeto around the size of a softball vs a basketball or bigger when it get's out of control. Usually harvest 1x a week

 

[Solo McReefer]

Those are some nice acros

Clarification

Those are not mine. They are nice, not my glass of ice tea

I did an image search

I like what Zeovit does to bring down nutrients, I am not one who likes the Easter Egg look. I like the no algae look though

All my acros, are

little nubbins still stuck on frag plugs