Dosing Nitrate to reduce Phosphate

[herring_fish]

??

There is one important think that I left out of my post, for those that have missed some of my earlier ones.

Yippee!

Final! After over 5 full years of running without export, I have algae growing (*IN MY ALGAE SCRUBBER, not on my rock!*)! I hope that helps.

I have a classic dump bucket style Algal Turf Scrubber® (ATS)that I designed and built. It worked great for many years but then I added a 55 gallon sump full of coral rubble in the garage. It had a flow trough rate of about 2 gallons per day in an attempt to create a cryptic zone. I also dosed some vodka for a short time.

Within a couple of weeks or so, the coralline algae stopped growing on the rock and the ATS stopped growing algae.

The reason that I am posting this return to growth on this thread is because, it looks like my nitrate to phosphate (Redfield) ratio was way off and that is why the algae stopped growing.

With a little nitrate dosing, my ATS is limping back to health. I think that Aspartic acid will work best for my application. Hopefully, when I get back, I can properly manage a good regiment of dosing so that my scrubber can get back to full production and I can get back to exporting phosphate by harvesting algae instead of bacteria like many other people who are using something like vodka and a skimmer.

I want the bacteria to stay in the tank because I am trying to grow NPS corals so I don't use a skimmer. Dosing vodka is more tricky when you are not using a skimmer. I use much less.

I hope that fills in a few blanks for some without boring others.

 

[hypnoj]

lol.. That helps a lot I wanna come see your ATS sometime. I've been brewing with the idea of starting one and need input!
Jim

(I'm in Mt. Airy)


I also need to post a follow up here. After dosing 15ml of concentrated nitrates into my 80g cube (/head slap), my nitrates shot through the roof (after being 0 for 2 years). I stopped dosing daily and started dosing NOPOX 10ml per day for 2 days then tested again. My nitrates had dropped to 5 ppm. I dosed NOPOX 5ml on day 3. I noticed some bleaching of one of my Monti caps; I figure I'm doing things a little too quick. I'll will dose NOPOX 5ml today and then stop all together and just rely on my set amount of vinegar in my ATO to hold my bacteria numbers to where they're needed. I'll probably start dosing 1ml of NO3 per week to start. I will be shutting off my GFO reactor this week as well, and then I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed to see how it all pans out. Hoping to end up with fairly low nitrates, low phosphates, no algae, and do this with only dosing vinegar in my kalk ATO, along with NO3 once a week or so; no GFO needed

 

[ReefKeeper64]

All,

Someone in the UK has brought this research article entitled "High levels of dissolved inorganic nitrogen increase coral bleaching probability" to my attention.

Has anyone experienced coral bleaching shortly after dosing nitrates?

I have never experienced bleaching after dosing nitrates. I use a dosing pump to dose just enough daily to keep nitrates in balance in the 3-5ppm range. I also add plenty of food daily, which contains a good supply of PO4 to maintain 0.00 - 0.03ppm. I also dose carbon.

 

[the_real_brian]

I found liquid nitrate under the brand name of NeoNitro by brightwellaquatics at my lfs for $10. The bottle is large, about 20oz, and is concentrated. Its easy to use and dosage info is right on the label.

Sent from my PM23300 using Board Express

I'm giving this a shot, thank you.

 

[ReefKeeper64]

I'm giving this a shot, thank you.

Happy to help out.

Here is an update on the NeoNitro. 20oz lasted about 6 weeks in my case (150 gal), which isn't bad but it probably isn't as concentrated as I would have liked to have thought. I've since switched over to potassium nitrate powder. I dose this powder at a rate of one salifert spoonful added directly to the sump in dry form every other day. I also carbon dose and between the two adds, nitrates stay at around 2ppm and PO4 at around 0.04. My source for potassium nitrate is Spectracide Stump Remover Granules. Its found on the shelves at the big box stores and at just $8 for a pound of granules, it should last a long time. There are other posts on RC where folks have had long term success using potassium nitrate sourced as stump remover so I wanted to try it and I'm glad I did.

 

[Prodigy]

Stop the true actual nonsense !!!

Stop the true actual nonsense !!!

It is joke how most all of you just paraphrase or re do in your own word what others before you have already say many times over and take that as if you own that. As if you have discover something new for everyone hehe

TMZ is worst one around not just this topic too and is follow close by many others ones. So Tom you cut through all nonsense [big sir nobody] just to pretend you know what you are talking about with this issue of topic ? Wow sir you do us all great favor yet again. Ever thought maybe those before know way more info and expertise than you do -------- I have term for those who are people like you: SEARCH ENGINE SCIENTIST !!!

Many of those on here [you are the clear leader] but moderator do not a thing about them. At least some have true background with marine science knowledge. Let them speak for us. Help get nonsense out for them to keep going. No you just play pretend authority figure with your mouse and a keyboard. A true fake

And why reefkeeper64 you you just find out about this few weeks back now you are instant figure of recommending on this subject like were warned about ? ... What is that your joke . try to be people like TMZ ha ? This are what mess others up who seek answers and cause only problems making suggestions they don't really know nothing about !

This all over top of the ones before who seem to had true expert knowledge but go away after all you or get banned from it. I learn many great things from banned people and very small or bad from all the big shot keyboards --- It is true why topic like this go no place but stay on same level sense those real expert people are want to leave due to others that have no place even typing here against them. Others like this please GO AWAY OR SHUT IT !!! You cause just disservice and less to everybody here

 

[Nanook]

It is joke how most all of you just paraphrase or re do in your own word what others before you have already say many times over and take that as if you own that. As if you have discover something new for everyone hehe

TMZ is worst one around not just this topic too and is follow close by many others ones. So Tom you cut through all nonsense [big sir nobody] just to pretend you know what you are talking about with this issue of topic ? Wow sir you do us all great favor yet again. Ever thought maybe those before know way more info and expertise than you do -------- I have term for those who are people like you: SEARCH ENGINE SCIENTIST !!!

Many of those on here [you are the clear leader] but moderator do not a thing about them. At least some have true background with marine science knowledge. Let them speak for us. Help get nonsense out for them to keep going. No you just play pretend authority figure with your mouse and a keyboard. A true fake

And why reefkeeper64 you you just find out about this few weeks back now you are instant figure of recommending on this subject like were warned about ? ... What is that your joke . try to be people like TMZ ha ? This are what mess others up who seek answers and cause only problems making suggestions they don't really know nothing about !

This all over top of the ones before who seem to had true expert knowledge but go away after all you or get banned from it. I learn many great things from banned people and very small or bad from all the big shot keyboards --- It is true why topic like this go no place but stay on same level sense those real expert people are want to leave due to others that have no place even typing here against them. Others like this please GO AWAY OR SHUT IT !!! You cause just disservice and less to everybody here

Wow, really? Take a ride on the other reef board express my friend:wavehand:

 

[pfoxgrover]

wow, really? Take a ride on the other reef board express my friend:wavehand:

+1

 

[lokii_37]

Happy to help out.
My source for potassium nitrate is Spectracide Stump Remover Granules. Its found on the shelves at the big box stores and at just $8 for a pound of granules, it should last a long time

I buy potassium nitrate from Aquariumfertilizer.com for my planted tank. $4.00 a pound. Pure KNO powder plus nothing else.

 

[ReefKeeper64]

I buy potassium nitrate from Aquariumfertilizer.com for my planted tank. $4.00 a pound. Pure KNO powder plus nothing else.

Even better. Thanks!

 

[reefmutt]

Seriously, prodigy?.. That post demonstrates that you are worse than all the people you criticize..
People trying to help and share info..
I was going to go buy that neo intro but I think I'll look into stump remover for my po4 issues..
Although tumultuous, this thread had been extremely enlightening and very useful..

 

[ReefKeeper64]

Seriously, prodigy?.. That post demonstrates that you are worse than all the people you criticize..
People trying to help and share info..
I was going to go buy that neo intro but I think I'll look into stump remover for my po4 issues..
Although tumultuous, this thread had been extremely enlightening and very useful..

Good luck with your own nitrate dosing regimen. I've found it very effective for PO4 reduction myself but that is just my observation. A little goes a surprisingly long way so be sure to start with a salifert sized spoonful and measure NO3 the next day.

Fortunately I don't think we'll be hearing from Prodigy again. He was booted out of RC permanently by the Mods about 10 minutes after he made that rude post. You can tell because the text under his name promptly changed from "Registered user" to "Moved On". Thanks mods!

 

[reefmutt]

Well, good to know..
I'm using a dsb in compartments and have had 0 no3 since set up. I made the mistake of using some old and used live rock in my set up which I can only assume was loaded with po4..
I'm using what seems like a huge amount of gfo to control po4. atm.
I should be able to use that dsb to my advantage by dosing no3.
Thanks for the dosage suggestion, I will start out slow..

 

[the_real_brian]

Happy to help out.

Here is an update on the NeoNitro. 20oz lasted about 6 weeks in my case (150 gal), which isn't bad but it probably isn't as concentrated as I would have liked to have thought. I've since switched over to potassium nitrate powder. I dose this powder at a rate of one salifert spoonful added directly to the sump in dry form every other day. I also carbon dose and between the two adds, nitrates stay at around 2ppm and PO4 at around 0.04. My source for potassium nitrate is Spectracide Stump Remover Granules. Its found on the shelves at the big box stores and at just $8 for a pound of granules, it should last a long time. There are other posts on RC where folks have had long term success using potassium nitrate sourced as stump remover so I wanted to try it and I'm glad I did.

I hate to say it, but the NeoNitro is going back to AquaCave.

I dosed about half the recommended dosage the first night, about 2.5 ppm worth and tested the next day, nothing. My tank gobbled it up. I also tested my phosphates with my Hanna low range checker and they had crept up a little bit from 0.13 to 0.17, odd.

Last night I gave it a full dose, 5ppm worth. I tested today and noticed just a twinge of pink on my Salifert Nitrate test. Whoot! Right? Wrong...:mad2:

I tested my phosphates again and I knew immediately something was wrong when my sample turned blue as soon as I added the reagent. Sure enough my phosphates had doubled over night! 0.40!!!

I managed to keep my cool long enough to test the NeoNitro although I already knew what I was going to find. The first thing I noticed was 'stuff' floating in the sample. As soon as I added the reagent, it turned blue. Results? It - maxed - out - my - checker.

I'm stoopid, I know. I used a product from a company I'd never dealt with without testing it first. Never again. Brightwell Aquatics is at the top of my ****-list now, and forever more. I could've taken a leak in my tank and done less damage.


Blue...

Maxed the hell out....

The culprit...

I know others here have found clean sources of nitrate. I believe in this method and I want to give it another try. What do y'all recommend?

 

[ormet]

I buy NaNo3 at the grocery store. Its used as a preservative for meats. Here it is commonly known as "Salpeter" also known as Sodium nitrate.

I add 40 grams to ½ a litre water. 1ml of this solution then raise No3 0.5ppm per 100 litres tank water.

So this i recommend!

 

[DiscusHeckel]

This thread may help decide how much NaNO3 to dose to raise nitrates by a certain amount.

I have decided to experiment with it.

 

[the_real_brian]

I buy NaNo3 at the grocery store. Its used as a preservative for meats. Here it is commonly known as "Salpeter" also known as Sodium nitrate.

I add 40 grams to ½ a litre water. 1ml of this solution then raise No3 0.5ppm per 100 litres tank water.

So this i recommend!

I'll see if I can find some. Thank you.

 

[Uglyman]

I have dosed Seachem florish before to help get my Po4 down when both No3 and Po4 were out of balance but I experienced cyano problems so changed over to using GFO and found it much easier to just reduce the Po4 than mess around with No3 dosing.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I have dosed Seachem florish before to help get my Po4 down when both No3 and Po4 were out of balance but I experienced cyano problems so changed over to using GFO and found it much easier to just reduce the Po4 than mess around with No3 dosing.

I concur with your observations.

If the sole main aim of dosing NaNo3 is to tackle cyano, then cyano is able to extract PO4 from dissolved organics anyway even if there is no traceable PO4 in the water column.

To tackle cyano, I would tackle organics directly by running fluidised carbon (and possibly Seachem purigen) along with GFO and stop dosing trace elements, iron supplements, etc. to avoid encouraging cyano as certain trace elements (e.g. molybdenum) are said to encourage cyano growth (refer to Habib of Salifert for more information).

 

[pfoxgrover]

I'm using 99.3% pure NaNO3 from LoudWolfLimited on ebay. Solution of 1 gram per liter and dosing about 20 to 60 mil per day for my 240 gallon tank. shooting for around .5 to 2 ppm but still dialing in the dosage. Hope that helps.
-Paul