Starting the nitrates dosing

[ericrodriguez]

Something that I have noticed it’s how different and good is the PE on the encrusting part versus the Frag that came in.
It’s a bit disappointing to see how much some pieces encrust that much when you just want them to shut up Instead.

 

[Deleted member 27248]

I run my nutrients “high” at .1-.25 phosphate and 15-30ppm, I daily dose and find it extremely hard to keep these numbers at or above. My lps and sps are colored up and growing quite fast in my opinion. Many people have bought or traded frags with me and seem to have success with corals from my system. An object in motion stays in motion…a growing and thriving coral wants to keep growing and thriving. IMO

 

[eholceker]

Something that I have noticed it’s how different and good is the PE on the encrusting part versus the Frag that came in.
It’s a bit disappointing to see how much some pieces encrust that much when you just want them to shut up Instead.

Most sps puddle down and around before growing out. In fact most your acros will grow from the entrusting part and not the original branches.

 

[ericrodriguez]

Most sps puddle down and around before growing out. In fact most your acros will grow from the entrusting part and not the original branches.

So when we get some bigger pieces they will just stay like that and look different from the rest of the colony

 

[eholceker]

So when we get some bigger pieces they will just stay like that and look different from the rest of the colony

To a degree.

 

[DangerDave]

You’ll all kinds of awkward growth like this in our little reefs. I have an acro that mostly only encrusts on a plate. Cut it off frag squares and it starts branching.

 

[ericrodriguez]

I run my nutrients “high” at .1-.25 phosphate and 15-30ppm, I daily dose and find it extremely hard to keep these numbers at or above. My lps and sps are colored up and growing quite fast in my opinion. Many people have bought or traded frags with me and seem to have success with corals from my system. An object in motion stays in motion…a growing and thriving coral wants to keep growing and thriving. IMO

I totally agree! The Frags I got from you are doing great!!
My Frags normally grow fast (lps) the thing starts when I noticed this acros just encountered and the pe was not the desired.
It’s been better thanks God after nitrates dosing

 

[ericrodriguez]

Just an update:
The nitrates dosing it’s working thanks God, I’m getting better color, encrust and PE.
My vivid confetti encrusted the top part of the plot already and going down.

 

[eholceker]

Just an update:
The nitrates dosing it’s working thanks God, I’m getting better color, encrust and PE.
My vivid confetti encrusted the top part of the plot already and going down.

You should look into the reef moomshiners method for meaningful color.

 

[ericrodriguez]

You should look into the reef moomshiners method for meaningful color.

First time I heard about it! lol

 

[ericrodriguez]

I’ll google it!

 

[ericrodriguez]

Thanks God I finally got the Hanna checker and also started dosing phytoplankton.
It’s been nice especially since I noticed the phosphate dropping because of the phytoplankton.
I even dose reef roids and Ab+ last night and phosphates still were 0.08 as the day before…

 

[erics210]

Anything over 20, but I’m happy with 40-60. Gives me more room for error. I never got the worry over high nitrates. I’ve miscalculated my mix and overdosed for weeks, lol most people wouldn’t believe the number. Nothing cared. It took a while but they slowly came down with no issues. Now I’m dosing again.

Dave, what are our phosphates?

 

[paintman27]

Thanks God I finally got the Hanna checker and also started dosing phytoplankton.
It’s been nice especially since I noticed the phosphate dropping because of the phytoplankton.
I even dose reef roids and Ab+ last night and phosphates still were 0.08 as the day before…

I thought phyto added phosphate????????

 

[ericrodriguez]

I thought phyto added phosphate????????

I did as well but when Mikey told me this I was surprised.
Now I see it!
It’s really nice to see

 

[eholceker]

Phyto will actually suck up nitrates but if it dies in your tank will release it back plus more. Certainly it's not a method I would recommend for reducing phosphates

 

[ericrodriguez]

Phyto will actually suck up nitrates but if it dies in your tank will release it back plus more. Certainly it's not a method I would recommend for reducing phosphates

This is just an extra, it’s also natural and for sure the coral will love it.

 

[eholceker]

This is just an extra, it’s also natural and for sure the coral will love it.

It's natural but it cut be maintained in your tank. What you add gets eaten and the rest dies in water. Imo dosing phyto is kind of a waste unless your looking to increase pods or feed rotifers.

 

[DangerDave]

Dave, what are our phosphates?

We’ll today it’s at .42. I don’t like it this high, I’d prefer around .1ish. I’m using a new feeder and it’s been going 24x7. I stopped phosphate dosing in response to see where I end up. Sure hope my clean up crew can keep up in the meantime.

 

[DangerDave]

I agree that Phyto shouldn’t be used to control anything. I view it as another food source, and I manage phosphates separately.