Zero Nitrates = Pastel Acros (dosing nitrates)
- Thread starter SchnitzelReef
- Start date
That is weird!
Do you hold it on or against the white part or partly (this is as it should)?
Perhaps you might want to post pictures from the top and from the side.
watchguy123
New member
When you look through the side, the color should intensify and you should divide the color match by ten. The difficulty is 2 is pretty darn light looking through the top and so maybe you are just seeing the slightest hint of pink.
But if you read 2 through the side view then the result should be 0.2 ppm of nitrate. And you should be placing your vial against the white background on the card and matching it to the displayed colors. Do not place your vial overlaying any of the pink samples displayed
At nitrate readings this low, you may want to consider using the Red Sea pro test kit although the salifert works too
SchnitzelReef
Active member
You want to put the test vial against the white part of the card, NOT against the colored part. Your goal should be 2-5ppm nitrate. If your barely at .2, STOP doing water changes.
BeanMachine
Active member
Maybe I missed it but are you having problems with your corals? I don't think there is really a set number to shoot for. Detectable to say 10? But I wouldn't chase numbers if your not having issues.
billyzbear
Active member
It's been a week or so and I think color is a little better maybe growth.
I am having more algae growth, cyano. I do use a little biopellets. Should I pull them?
Chaeto is growing like crazy and do need to increase the area for them to grow.
I am having more algae growth, cyano. I do use a little biopellets. Should I pull them?
Chaeto is growing like crazy and do need to increase the area for them to grow.
OC CJ
Crushed coral > sand
After reading this thread, I decided to try dosing nitrates with the stump remover.
Mixed it up via the directions from Randy Farley, (10 grams, about 1 table spoon per liter of water for the mix) and then dosed 1ml for every 2 gallons of water initially. For the past week, I've been dosing 15ml/day, keeping nitrates below 5ppm and I have to tell you my results are amazing. I have no before/after shots but my colors are developing nicely.
My strawberry shortcake and pink lemonade are coloring up, my red planet that was a very pale pink is turning red, a random purple acro that was no longer purple is now a lavender color.
Can't comment on growth but I have seen absolutely zero side affects and only positives. You know its working when even the wife stops to say, "Hey, your coral right there is now purple!".
I've struggled with colors for the past 5 years, tried different products, amino's, etc. but nothing has produced the results I'm seeing right now. Never would have thought I just needed some nitrates...
Mixed it up via the directions from Randy Farley, (10 grams, about 1 table spoon per liter of water for the mix) and then dosed 1ml for every 2 gallons of water initially. For the past week, I've been dosing 15ml/day, keeping nitrates below 5ppm and I have to tell you my results are amazing. I have no before/after shots but my colors are developing nicely.
My strawberry shortcake and pink lemonade are coloring up, my red planet that was a very pale pink is turning red, a random purple acro that was no longer purple is now a lavender color.
Can't comment on growth but I have seen absolutely zero side affects and only positives. You know its working when even the wife stops to say, "Hey, your coral right there is now purple!".
I've struggled with colors for the past 5 years, tried different products, amino's, etc. but nothing has produced the results I'm seeing right now. Never would have thought I just needed some nitrates...
SchnitzelReef
Active member
That's awesome. Glad it's working for you. I've def see a huge improvement on all corals.
Smite
Member
I've been battling this for a while now. After checking back in with this thread I plan to start dosing KNO3, starting today. I've had my refugium offline for a month now and still have zero for phosphates and nitrates. Hopefully this helps.
Most my sps have very pale/ bleached look to them. If I move them down, they'll brown, high they go pale but still encrust and grow. Hopefully this helps some.
Example of what i'm talking about:
Most my sps have very pale/ bleached look to them. If I move them down, they'll brown, high they go pale but still encrust and grow. Hopefully this helps some.
Example of what i'm talking about:
SchnitzelReef
Active member
Dosing nitrates + dosing Pohls Xtra seems to be making a big difference. Haven't done a water change in 4+ months. Seems my acros are really liking the higher nutrients.
I'm still dosing potassium nitrate weekly. Hadn't tested nitrates in a month +. Probably time to bust out the test kits. I'll report back in a bit. Wondering if anyone else has seen any improvements since they started dosing nitrates.
I'm still dosing potassium nitrate weekly. Hadn't tested nitrates in a month +. Probably time to bust out the test kits. I'll report back in a bit. Wondering if anyone else has seen any improvements since they started dosing nitrates.
dodgerblew
Team RC
Looks fantastic! Great thread and obviously great result
BeanMachine
Active member
I think the nitrates are helping your camera skills too! 
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