How to manage a nutrient poor fish tank

xenon · 02/12/2007, 02:42 PM

I am running bare bottom and have enough flow (45x) to keep my bottom 100% clean. I catch everything in a filter sock in my sump.

Does this mean I must over feed my tank?

I am also thinking a setup like mine would not be ideal for LPS.

xenon · 02/12/2007, 04:59 PM

Anyone?

johnnstacy · 02/12/2007, 05:20 PM

I have a 180g bb with tons of flow and by bottom stays fairly clean. I will vacuum about once every 3-4 months and also use a powerhead on the rock occasionally. Would that be considered nutrient poor? Not in and of itself. If you throw on a big skimmer running 24 hours, phosban, carbon, etc, then yes, that would be considered nutrient poor. Your parameters really tell the story. If you cannot ever detect PO3 or PO4 then I consider that nutrient poor. Good for SPS. Not so good for LPS but it depends a lot on the which corals you are referring to. My sps tank has a candy cane coral that does terrific. It is slightly sheltered from the light with no direct flow.

You can get around a nutrient poor tank by feeding more. I have a primarily SPS tank and I supplemental feed the corals at night. Many don't agree that this is necessary but I get way better growth and coloration when I do. I like to keep it nutrient poor and add more food, trace elements as neccessary. Affords you more control over the tank.

dippin61 · 02/12/2007, 06:01 PM

more fish..

xenon · 02/12/2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dippin61
more fish..

That's an interesting idea.

So more fish waste is good? What if it does not have a chance to settle on the bottom and gets collected inot a filter sock that is replaced every few days?

02/12/2007, 02:42 PM	#1
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	How to manage a nutrient poor fish tank I am running bare bottom and have enough flow (45x) to keep my bottom 100% clean. I catch everything in a filter sock in my sump. Does this mean I must over feed my tank? I am also thinking a setup like mine would not be ideal for LPS.

02/12/2007, 06:01 PM	#4
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	more fish.. __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

02/12/2007, 04:59 PM	#2
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Anyone?

02/12/2007, 05:20 PM	#3
johnnstacy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,043	I have a 180g bb with tons of flow and by bottom stays fairly clean. I will vacuum about once every 3-4 months and also use a powerhead on the rock occasionally. Would that be considered nutrient poor? Not in and of itself. If you throw on a big skimmer running 24 hours, phosban, carbon, etc, then yes, that would be considered nutrient poor. Your parameters really tell the story. If you cannot ever detect PO3 or PO4 then I consider that nutrient poor. Good for SPS. Not so good for LPS but it depends a lot on the which corals you are referring to. My sps tank has a candy cane coral that does terrific. It is slightly sheltered from the light with no direct flow. You can get around a nutrient poor tank by feeding more. I have a primarily SPS tank and I supplemental feed the corals at night. Many don't agree that this is necessary but I get way better growth and coloration when I do. I like to keep it nutrient poor and add more food, trace elements as neccessary. Affords you more control over the tank.