AZ-NO3 does this really work???
- Thread starter mikeguerrero
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Ramble On Rose
New member
I think it will depend on how high your nitrates are to begin with. Mine were at 20ppm and I used 1 bottle of it on 380 gallons of water. You have to gradually up the dosage. By day 7 you are at the full dosage and at that point you dose the full dosage till at 0. I only dosed the full amount for 3 days. So 10 days and I was at 0. The full dosage is 8ml per 50 gallons of water. Then you have to wean your system off it. I started running out so I kind of cheated it a little on the way down cause I didnt want to have to buy a second bottle. It says to dose 4ml (per 50 gallons) for 2-4 weeks. I just followed the same steps as I did on the way up.
It says it is developed by R.A.I.A.R and distributed by Bayside Aquarium Supply. I have no idea about buying a larger size or where to get it.
mikeguerrero
New member
Does it leave your water cloudy? Do you have to remove charcoal and shut off the skimmer?
Can you run it with Ozone? Will it affect the macros in the sump?
Thanks,
Mike G
Can you run it with Ozone? Will it affect the macros in the sump?
Thanks,
Mike G
I use this stuff at work (local to you actually, mermaid aquarium). It works rather well. I'm not too sure how it works but I think it attaches itself onto the nitrogen (probably breaking one of the oxygen bonds?) via one of the carbons (they state that it's an enzyme). Since the original enzyme is a surfactant, it gets dragged up into the skimmer.
But I guess in practical terms, it's effective. I've found that dosages don't really need to be too correct, as long as you dose daily. The reason for increasing the dosage is to promote a reaction ofNO2 to NO3, via le chatelier principle. After a while, no more reactants= no more products. I kept the system running as is, with ozone and everything. The only warning they really give is to be careful of your Alk and pH, which I would guess the H+ or one of the cations might also react with the hydrocarbon in the enzyme. The one time I checked, there was a slight drop in Mg levels, but nothing too offensive.
To be honest, I don't really even test the water or measure the stuff out anymore. I just squirt it in. I've seen no adverse affect so far, in terms of NO3. But admittedly, I need to monitor some of the other parameters more meticulously to confidently say there's no ill effects. Also, I use it as a preventative as well; so my NO3 never really rises too high.
I hope that helps. One of the better chemists out there should really check over my science though. It's almost 4:30 am and too much studying for me. I'm sorry if I gave any inaccurate chemical information. ::shurg:: pseudoscience... Anyway, hope that helps.
But I guess in practical terms, it's effective. I've found that dosages don't really need to be too correct, as long as you dose daily. The reason for increasing the dosage is to promote a reaction ofNO2 to NO3, via le chatelier principle. After a while, no more reactants= no more products. I kept the system running as is, with ozone and everything. The only warning they really give is to be careful of your Alk and pH, which I would guess the H+ or one of the cations might also react with the hydrocarbon in the enzyme. The one time I checked, there was a slight drop in Mg levels, but nothing too offensive.
To be honest, I don't really even test the water or measure the stuff out anymore. I just squirt it in. I've seen no adverse affect so far, in terms of NO3. But admittedly, I need to monitor some of the other parameters more meticulously to confidently say there's no ill effects. Also, I use it as a preventative as well; so my NO3 never really rises too high.
I hope that helps. One of the better chemists out there should really check over my science though. It's almost 4:30 am and too much studying for me. I'm sorry if I gave any inaccurate chemical information. ::shurg:: pseudoscience... Anyway, hope that helps.
Ramble On Rose
New member
It did not leave my water cloudy at all, but it does say on the bottle that it may cloud your water (I believe it says it peaks from days 3-5). Again, I did not have that happen at all. You do NOT want to turn your skimmer off. On the bottle the only prerequists are that you have a SG over 1.015 or something like that and that you have a protein skimmer. I believe it produces CO2 as biproduct so you want your skimmer there to drive that off, but as I said earier it will make your skimmer produce more foam then you have ever seen. I left my ozone running through out the proccess with seemingly no ill affects. I had cheato in my sump, but it was on it's way out before I started so I don't really think this product had a negative affect, but again I don't know for sure.
AZ-NO3 does seem to work to reduce measurable nitrate, and relatively few folks have reported problems. But the company does not reveal what is in it. The 'mechanism' that they claim in their literature does not make sense to me, even after a recent detailed exchange with the company on the chemistry involved (which is tricky since they won't say what is in it, but the email exchange is still going on).
It may work simply by driving bacterial growth, much as vodka, vinegar, or sugar addition will. That process clearly works.
In any case, I'm reluctant to recommend it without knowing what it is, how it works, or having confidence in the company to decide for me if the ingredients that they add are something I'd want in my reef tank.
It may work simply by driving bacterial growth, much as vodka, vinegar, or sugar addition will. That process clearly works.
In any case, I'm reluctant to recommend it without knowing what it is, how it works, or having confidence in the company to decide for me if the ingredients that they add are something I'd want in my reef tank.
Ramble On Rose
New member
Have you ever written about this at all? I have never heard of adding vodka till this thread (someone mentioned it earlier as well). What is the ratio of these products that would reduce nitrates?
Also, on the bottle itself, they do list a few ingrediants. Do you have those? I would be happy to post them when I get home if you do not.
As I mentioned, I've been (and still am) discussing the product with the manufacturer, and they've told me all they are willing to. So far it is not enough for me to understand it as being anything more than driving of bacteria.
Here's a long thread on vodka:
dosing vodka to bring down N and P
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288714
Vodka isn't for everyone. I prefer macroalgae and skimming, but some folks like it.
Here's a long thread on vodka:
dosing vodka to bring down N and P
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288714
Vodka isn't for everyone. I prefer macroalgae and skimming, but some folks like it.
Ramble On Rose
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6764927#post6764927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
As I mentioned, I've been (and still am) discussing the product with the manufacturer, and they've told me all they are willing to. So far it is not enough for me to understand it as being anything more than driving of bacteria.
Here's a long thread on vodka:
dosing vodka to bring down N and P
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288714
Vodka isn't for everyone. I prefer macroalgae and skimming, but some folks like it.
Well that link killed my Friday afternoon at work! Got to about page 11... There is a lot of information in there that is way over my head, but a lot of interesting points that are easier for us commoners to grasp as well. Thanks for the link. Should keep me busy tonight...
Billybeau1
Premium Member
I tried this stuff last year on my 72 gal that had 80 ppm of nitrates. Used it for 30 days and did not have any affect on my nitrates. Maybe this stuff works if you are starting at 20 ppm or so.
The thing that made me nervous about the product was that immediatley after dosing, my ORP dropped down to the high 80's and took a half a day to go back up. Yes I said high 80's mv
I also believe you have to have a really good skimmer for this stuff to be effective.
I dont use it anymore.
The thing that made me nervous about the product was that immediatley after dosing, my ORP dropped down to the high 80's and took a half a day to go back up. Yes I said high 80's mv
I also believe you have to have a really good skimmer for this stuff to be effective.
I dont use it anymore.
mikeguerrero
New member
Wow !!!!!
80's mv and he's not talking about cool 80's music.... Damn that's crazy....
80's mv and he's not talking about cool 80's music.... Damn that's crazy....
mikeguerrero
New member
Well,
Since I started this thread I decided to be a guinnea pig, today marks the last day of it's use. I've been dosing everyday until running out.
I run a 72 gallon mixed reef, SPS and LPS and about 18 fish. I run the AP 600 skimmer from Deltec and have 50 mg/hr ozone going through it.
I also have a 36 watt UV light working 24/7.
What I have noticed from the initial launch is a major drop in ORP. I use to run a ORP of 425 mv with ozone and now with full blast ozone, I can only reach 305 mv.
I have a crocea clam that never showed signs of stress, the only thing I lost was a colony of neon green mushrooms, but I cannot say for sure it was the AZN03.
On MarineDepots website, it says you should not run Ozone or UV while using this product that it can inhibit some of the effectiveness on it; well I wasn't going to shut off my ozone or UV and I kept it running.
I run salifert tests so tommorrow I will post my results. I started with a 20 ppm and have never gotten it to 10 ppm with water changes.
Lets see how well this product worked.
I hope to have my ORP rise back up to the 400 with ozone as the product leaves my system.
Mike G
Since I started this thread I decided to be a guinnea pig, today marks the last day of it's use. I've been dosing everyday until running out.
I run a 72 gallon mixed reef, SPS and LPS and about 18 fish. I run the AP 600 skimmer from Deltec and have 50 mg/hr ozone going through it.
I also have a 36 watt UV light working 24/7.
What I have noticed from the initial launch is a major drop in ORP. I use to run a ORP of 425 mv with ozone and now with full blast ozone, I can only reach 305 mv.
I have a crocea clam that never showed signs of stress, the only thing I lost was a colony of neon green mushrooms, but I cannot say for sure it was the AZN03.
On MarineDepots website, it says you should not run Ozone or UV while using this product that it can inhibit some of the effectiveness on it; well I wasn't going to shut off my ozone or UV and I kept it running.
I run salifert tests so tommorrow I will post my results. I started with a 20 ppm and have never gotten it to 10 ppm with water changes.
Lets see how well this product worked.
I hope to have my ORP rise back up to the 400 with ozone as the product leaves my system.
Mike G
mikeguerrero
New member
Here are my results with pictures...
About a month ago I inquired on the efficiency of Absolute Zero nitrates. Some users liked it and claimed it's fantastic just as the bottle states, while others have said they got no positive effects...
I want to share great results that I got with my reef. I run a 72 gallon reef with ozone and UV. I went through one bottle of the stuff in about a month...
My reef has had a nitrate problem for some time, I have not been able to go below 20 ppm. Even with water changes the best I have brought the nitrate has been to about 10 ppm just to see it climb back up to 20-25 in less than one week...
Well here are the pictures of my success the before and after; to any non-believers give it a try it brought my nitrates to Zero!!!
Before AZ-N03
After AZ-N03
Mike G
About a month ago I inquired on the efficiency of Absolute Zero nitrates. Some users liked it and claimed it's fantastic just as the bottle states, while others have said they got no positive effects...
I want to share great results that I got with my reef. I run a 72 gallon reef with ozone and UV. I went through one bottle of the stuff in about a month...
My reef has had a nitrate problem for some time, I have not been able to go below 20 ppm. Even with water changes the best I have brought the nitrate has been to about 10 ppm just to see it climb back up to 20-25 in less than one week...
Well here are the pictures of my success the before and after; to any non-believers give it a try it brought my nitrates to Zero!!!
Before AZ-N03
After AZ-N03
Mike G
