coralreefdoc: Ts asked one simple question.
And no, its not blasphemy and yes its possible, doable, used and very very effective.
I dont recall ever stating otherwise, in fact I was the one who initially addressed it as the best "chemical option", other than Granular Ferric Oxide, long before you showed up.
and yes, kno3 will raise k but long before that you will have a seriuos no3 problem. So in a reef tank when used to help export po4 using carbon dosing its in not a relevant problem.
I tend to agree, for those with some skill in dosing, it likely would not become a legitimate problem ... However, it should be tested for (long before dosing kno3 for those in the advanced/carbon dosing category) if one is dosing kno3 or any other k derivative for that matter !
we are in the "advanced topics" forum after all, right? Isnt this exactly what this part of the forum is for? In the beginners forum, no, i might not have even bothered posting.
Im here to learn and share the little bit of knowledge i have.
I agree here as well. Didnt realize this was in the Advanced Topics forum, was under the impression it was a Reef Discussion thread ... However, if you read through all the posts in this thread a great deal of them are implying lack of knowledge/experience in regards to this topic, are they not ?
Not to pick on anybody that doesnt deserve it, as that isnt my M.O. nor the goal of this statement, but if you look at one of the previous posts after i stated using bbs, etc to increase no3, in order to more efficiently lower po4, a gentleman stated something to the effect of "im going to do that too and start making some nitrates" ... Now, if I would have stated, from the utter beginning of this conversation/thread, that I had been dosing kno3 religiously, multiple times daily do you think that his reef, or anyother similar individuals reef, would be in a better condition for it ?
Im simply looking out for the best interest of the all of the fellow reefkeepers here, and even moreso the organisms in which they keep that ive been passionate about since before i can remember ! I couldve simply regurgitated all the information, and related material, on this topic and left it carelessly for many others to have failed attempts trying to emulate. That wouldve resulted in a great deal of coral stress/death which couldve been easily avoided by recommending/speaking about other less aggressive forms of no3 production.
and i fail to se how it is more advanced and hard to dose a little no3 then "implementing bioballs correctly".
Seriously ? A concentrated chemical compound versus a porous material which enhances the ability of bacteria to adhere to ...
and speaking of that, i am very very curious of what that implementation is. I have never used bioballs myself and i am in no way saying it wont work. Please explain, it sounds like to good to be true.
Are you ...
Basically, it involves placing the BBs after a quality source of mechanical filtration, in an area of adequate flow and o2/co2 gas exchange, in order to ensure relatively large particulates do not become trapped within the complex structure of the BBs.
What is it that sounds too good to be true to you ?
Feel free to research other specifics, in regards to "implementing bioballs correctly", on your own time ... Im sure youll find a wealth of information on the topic.
sirreal63 & gweston: Yes, gfo and water changes is an excellent way of reducing po4, i dont think anyone will deny that

it was not wat ts asked about tho, was it?
Yes, you are correct. No, it wasnt what the TS/OP asked about originally ... However, other than too much water flow through a GFO Rx, thus rapidly decreasing alkalinity, a quality gfo/po4 remover has far less serious overdosage consequences and should be considered before kno3 by most reefkeepers out there.
and no, its not "ludicrous" to dose no3. It's just a lack of understanding. Also gfo costs money, a bit of nano3 or kno3 is almost free
Yes it is less expensive, but many of us including myself are not in this hobby to penny pinch on the important/not very expensive to begin with items/chemicals/etc. Again, its alot more aggressive/easily overdosed form of increasing NO3s, " its NOT ... "just a lack of understanding" !
If you still think so then, please, enlighten us all ...