Zero Nitrates = Pastel Acros (dosing nitrates)

[SchnitzelReef]

I've been dosing this stuff for quite awhile, and it's still working great. I dose it every week. But I've been lazy lately, and haven't texted nitrates in a couple months. I'm 99% sure they are still extremely low. (I can tell by looking at my acros)

If your on the fence about this, def give it a shot.

 

[Rakie]

I've been dosing this stuff for quite awhile, and it's still working great. I dose it every week. But I've been lazy lately, and haven't texted nitrates in a couple months. I'm 99% sure they are still extremely low. (I can tell by looking at my acros)

If your on the fence about this, def give it a shot.

You happen to have any Zoa's? I've noticed a few times now dosing nitrates plummets p04, and my zoa's have all reacted badly.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

You happen to have any Zoa's? I've noticed a few times now dosing nitrates plummets p04, and my zoa's have all reacted badly.

Nope. No softies in the tank. Minimal lps

 

[organism]

I got the reagent grade KNO3 and it's not the same quality as the stump remover. The stump remover has a distinct smell to it, this one has nothing. imo there's some impurities in the stump remover.

Having great results with dosing though, this is 7 days between photos. Keeping track of a bunch of different SPS with weekly shots and this was the biggest change so far.

 

[dodgerblew]

Wow, big difference

 

[Rakie]

You sure that isn't that general 'too many nutrients' green? That's what happened when i first dosed it because I dosed too aggressively. But if it is, it will go away of course!

I got the reagent grade KNO3 and it's not the same quality as the stump remover. The stump remover has a distinct smell to it, this one has nothing. imo there's some impurities in the stump remover.

That's what I've been saying, but people got quite up in arms about how that was 'an absolutely stupid and foolish argument', to put it more kindly. But I don't feel it is a foolish argument..

It may technically be 'the same thing', but if your options are:

1) Mass produce chemical made for a use that will not negatively impact anything regardless of purity

vs

2) Something sourced and made by passionate enthusiasts who care about their customers and their products

The choice should be obvious. Whether the item in question is Reef Suppliments (or, FW planted supps), clothing, cars, jewelry, or meat. If it's mass produced there's a high chance of impurities. If it's 'regulated' by a governmental ABC (FDA, EPA, etc etc) there's room to slack on labelling. Passionate enthusiasts always bring it quality wise. And they actually care.

I had a conversation with the guy from NilocG talking about our use of his product and linked him this thread. he could have said "cool" and ignored me, but we chatted for awhile, and he found this pretty interesting -- Because he actually cares. He was also the first person who told me dosing nitrates can negatively impact phosphates (po4), which I hadn't heard about until he told me and I searched (then asked) at the Chemistry forum.

Sorry, got a bit ranty... I guess to sum it up simply -- I agree. lol.

 

[organism]

You sure that isn't that general 'too many nutrients' green? That's what happened when i first dosed it because I dosed too aggressively. But if it is, it will go away of course!

I don't think so, there's a few red corals that are starting to pop too. It's weird a lot of my SPS that I've had for a while are ok, but anything from the last 8 months just kind of sat there and turned grey. I think maybe my older stuff was used to ULN, not sure...

My (incorrect) theory is that we've had bacteria in captivity for so long that they evolved to be super efficient at eating the higher nitrate levels in captive systems and spread throughout the hobby. or aliens.

 

[Rakie]

Alien bacteria* clearly.

I like dosing bacteria's. No matter what you have in your system they will compete until there are only 1 or 2 left. They'll be the organisms which consume the largest variant of food matter that will survive.

Because of that, dosing bacteria every now and again is awesome! it adds the other players back in the game -- And who knows, after a year or two of one bacteria doing its thing, there may be a slow buildup of organics which that sole species of bacterium in your tank wont utilize.

But I like alien bacteria theory best

 

[organism]

2 weeks dosing KNO3. It's been about 4-6 months since I've seen polyps on this one, they're starting to think about peeking out now though.

 

[Jimbo327]

I've been out of the hobby for 6 years, and it's crazy now that we are dosing for nitrates. LOL.

 

[Rakie]

I've been out of the hobby for 6 years, and it's crazy now that we are dosing for nitrates. LOL.

I think Cody nailed it above. The level of understanding we've gained is only overshadowed by the quality of inexpensive gear today. The average and even below average stuff of today blows away the higher end stuff from when I was first in the hobby.

Essentially, we can strip our tanks completely clean if were not careful.

I checked into this thread because I noticed stagnation in the improvement of my corals. They're encrusting and coloring, but the rate slowed as I added more and more frags to my smallish system. Undetectable no3/po4. Back to Nitrate dosing, in small amounts.

It doesn't help that right now my tank has only 2 fish. As new fish come in and go through QT this will hopefully subside

 

[bif24701]

I think Cody nailed it above. The level of understanding we've gained is only overshadowed by the quality of inexpensive gear today. The average and even below average stuff of today blows away the higher end stuff from when I was first in the hobby.

Essentially, we can strip our tanks completely clean if were not careful.

I checked into this thread because I noticed stagnation in the improvement of my corals. They're encrusting and coloring, but the rate slowed as I added more and more frags to my smallish system. Undetectable no3/po4. Back to Nitrate dosing, in small amounts.

It doesn't help that right now my tank has only 2 fish. As new fish come in and go through QT this will hopefully subside

My tank is fallow and all my corals are starving because nutrients are low. Nitrate and phosphates are very low, PO4 is undetectable (Hanna ULNS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rakie]

My tank is fallow and all my corals are starving because nutrients are low. Nitrate and phosphates are very low, PO4 is undetectable (Hanna ULNS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had actually dosed up to 2ppm Nitrates and .01 po4, kept dosing Aminos and AquaForest Coral E, and made sure to overfeed the hell out of the tank so bacteria could establish. But I stopped Nitrate dosing, and within a few days it must have hit 0 and I waited too long to test (like a week).

 

[DamonG]

I have calcium nitrate in a dry form.. Can I use that also?

From note 5

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I have calcium nitrate in a dry form.. Can I use that also?

From note 5

I think so, just keep an eye on calcium after you dose it. It may raise levels, probably not much though.

 

[DamonG]

I think so, just keep an eye on calcium after you dose it. It may raise levels, probably not much though.

Ok thanks much..

I mixed up 500 grand into a empty Gatorade bottle.. I'm only trying to get too maybe 2ppm nitrate.. I have added 13ml to my 240 gallon twv system and still no reading thus far. I may let it sit for a few hours and test again..

From note 5

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Ok thanks much..

I mixed up 500 grand into a empty Gatorade bottle.. I'm only trying to get too maybe 2ppm nitrate.. I have added 13ml to my 240 gallon twv system and still no reading thus far. I may let it sit for a few hours and test again..

From note 5

Yea. Just start slow and test every day. That's what I did. The few minutes you take to test is well worth it. Once you got it figured out, test once every 4-8 weeks.

 

[DamonG]

Yea. Just start slow and test every day. That's what I did. The few minutes you take to test is well worth it. Once you got it figured out, test once every 4-8 weeks.

Thanks again.. I will do just that.. I let it be for a little while and will go down in a bit to test again.. And your suggestion sounds great.. I am having quite a bit of stn, so I'm a little noided.. But I've done all I can, and this is where I am at..

Hopefully this helps some..

And really, only test that often once it's figured out? You mentioned you no longer dose correct?

From note 5

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Thanks again.. I will do just that.. I let it be for a little while and will go down in a bit to test again.. And your suggestion sounds great.. I am having quite a bit of stn, so I'm a little noided.. But I've done all I can, and this is where I am at..

Hopefully this helps some..

And really, only test that often once it's figured out? You mentioned you no longer dose correct?

From note 5

I still dose, but only like 2-3 times a week. Usually every other day or every two days.

First I would try to find why your corals are STNing, sounds like you have another problem to me.

 

[DamonG]

I still dose, but only like 2-3 times a week. Usually every other day or every two days.

First I would try to find why your corals are STNing, sounds like you have another problem to me.

I have tested everything.. And tried everything(i have even taken equipment off). The only thing I can possibly think of was that I tried switching salts from red sea regular to instant ocean.. Besides that, I can only think of no nitrate.. I see no bugs, no webs, nothing.. It's frustrating and I'm literally trying everything.. My alk has remained stable at 7.5(what it always has been)..

I even, purchased a poly filter, just to see if it would change color.. Nothing.. But it's really breaking my heart because things have gone so well and looked and grew awesome for so long..

From note 5