Question on curing DIY rock with an ATS and Nitrate Shortage

[muttley000]

I have an idea and I'm looking to have some holes poked in it:hmm3: I am thinking about making some rock myself although this would possible be useful to regenerating previously abused live rock. After I have been able to regulate the ph I expect to have some problems with phosphates. I have an idea to do this outside with a kiddie pool and and ATS. With no life added purposely to the tub I expect to be nitrate limited when it comes to the algae growth on the ATS. Could I dose something for the nitrate so the phosphates will continue to be removed with algae growth?

 

[Tigé21v]

There's a few different options

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2210947

Lanthanum chloride is also another cheap alternative.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1474839

If you go the route of the ATS with nitrate additions, please post your results, I'd like to know how this works out.

 

[sabbath]

I started a tank with a ATS and old algae covered rocks. I ran it for about a month with no lights in the DT and the rocks cleared up to like new dry rock. It has been running now for a few months and there is no algae on the rocks still. It also did a good job of kick starting the ats screen. My Nephew did the same thing starting with a ATS. But he ran his DT lights and he got algae in the DT. It now after a few months is slowly dieing off.

So it appears to me that an ATS is a great way to cook rocks. No water change needed, just clean the screen once a week.

 

[muttley000]

I started a tank with a ATS and old algae covered rocks. I ran it for about a month with no lights in the DT and the rocks cleared up to like new dry rock. It has been running now for a few months and there is no algae on the rocks still. It also did a good job of kick starting the ats screen. My Nephew did the same thing starting with a ATS. But he ran his DT lights and he got algae in the DT. It now after a few months is slowly dieing off.

So it appears to me that an ATS is a great way to cook rocks. No water change needed, just clean the screen once a week.

I am cooking some algae covered rock the same way. 6 weeks in I am scraping a thick mat off my screen every 2 weeks

 

[Epicreefer]

If you are truly nitrate limited then two things come to mind, potassium nitrate, which will also help by adding potassium a necessary element to plants. Or you could add liquid ammonia which is more easily available at most supermarkets or drugstores. Amonia will also boost bacteria populations which may be beneficial down the line. If you are still harvesting lots of algae I wouldn't worry about it as you don't seem to have nitrate limitation. I would only add nitrogen if you have phosphates and no algae growth in the ATS.

 

[muttley000]

Good point and good idea on the ammonia,
Thanks