DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems

[Reefahholic]

I’ve not seen anyone report a dose that is too strong from an ammonia tox perspective, but some folks do see rising nitrate.

If the nitrate is rising, the dose may be too potent, but I’m sure these are doses that are much higher than 0.1 ppm.

The same effect happens when reefers try to dose too much organic carbon… too quickly…in a system that is young, never seen it, etc. Initially nitrate will elevate instead of fall.

I think the 0.1 is a good place to start.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the nitrate is rising, the dose may be too potent, but I’m sure these are doses that are much higher than 0.1 ppm.

The same effect happens when reefers try to dose too much organic carbon… too quickly…in a system that is young, never seen it, etc. Initially nitrate will elevate instead of fall.

I think the 0.1 is a good place to start.

I understand the reasoning, but one likely wants nitrate stable or rising at at least a few ppm to know you are adding all that is needed.

My 0.1 ppm dose is a single dose. I recommend upping the number of doses to give more, not the size of the doses.

 

[.AcroKiller.]

I understand the reasoning, but one likely wants nitrate stable or rising at at least a few ppm to know you are adding all that is needed.

My 0.1 ppm dose is a single dose. I recommend upping the number of doses to give more, not the size of the doses.

So you don’t recommend splitting the 0.1 dose into 24 small doses to equal the amount of the 0.1 dose

 

[bcarl77]

This is a great discussion. There was a similar concept in planted tanks where we used to dose KN03 (Potassium Nitrate) and they figured out the Urea was more effective for Nitrogen uptake as similarly plants absorbed the Ammonia better than Nitrate.

I am thinking of trying this on my tank as a way to feed corals in addition to other methods. I don't have low nitrates (range from 10-20ppm). Have people seem a positive effect from dosing a tank which has not bottomed out Nitrate? I would assume you'd have a positive impact as the corals would be able to use the ammonium easier than the NO3 we are testing for?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So you don’t recommend splitting the 0.1 dose into 24 small doses to equal the amount of the 0.1 dose

There’s nothing wrong with that. I just would add more doses at 0.1 as opposed to one bigger one when you want to go up in size.

 

[PeterErc]

Dosing 1 tbsp ammonium bicarbonate over 14 days via litermeter in 150 total gallon. Bio pellets, small amount, tee'd off return pump. Fish continue being over fed frequently. Little nuisance algae on power heads and cables

Stopped using vinegar in lime water top off and cyano has decreased to minimal.

Alkalinity demand is increasing, possible silicate dosing contributing to demand.. Feather dusters, tube worms, sponges, snails all doing well and multiplying. Unfortunately aptasia as well.

Overall, dosing ammonia is a win, along with silicate, a double header.


Thank you

 

[Reefahholic]

I understand the reasoning, but one likely wants nitrate stable or rising at at least a few ppm to know you are adding all that is needed.

My 0.1 ppm dose is a single dose. I recommend upping the number of doses to give more, not the size of the doses.

I’m thinking at least stable for sure, but if falling it could be due to happy corals/consumption. I’d assume we could watch the Alk fall with it if that were the case. I definitely want to keep the nitrate at a detectable level, but also likely target a lower ratio since the ammonia will be the primary juice.

I think the 0.1 is good! Or even .025 - .05 and upping the number of doses throughout the day to spread out more for most minimal impact.

 

[Reefahholic]

So you don’t recommend splitting the 0.1 dose into 24 small doses to equal the amount of the 0.1 dose

I think you could do that, but it may not be enough ammonia going in. You may need to increase the small doses.

.0041667 per dose isn’t a lot.

For example if 0.1 is not enough. Make it 0.2 and split into 24 doses throughout the day.

 

[Reefahholic]

I’ll make my 0.1 ppm dose at 5mL.

This way I can dose 10mL daily at 100 doses per day (0.1 mL per dose) that equals 0.2 ppm ammonia going into the system every 24 hrs.

.002 ppm ammonia per dose about every 15-30 minutes all day long.

 

[Reefahholic]

Dosing 1 tbsp ammonium bicarbonate over 14 days via litermeter in 150 total gallon. Bio pellets, small amount, tee'd off return pump. Fish continue being over fed frequently. Little nuisance algae on power heads and cables

Stopped using vinegar in lime water top off and cyano has decreased to minimal.

Alkalinity demand is increasing, possible silicate dosing contributing to demand.. Feather dusters, tube worms, sponges, snails all doing well and multiplying. Unfortunately aptasia as well.

Overall, dosing ammonia is a win, along with silicate, a double header.


Thank you

Freshwater nitrate color card. lol

 

[PeterErc]

Freshwater nitrate color card. lol

Good catch, must have flipped it over , value doesn't matter to me as long as test shows available nitrate and not through the roof, ymmv

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

@Randy Holmes-Farley now that I’m a year into ammonium dosing and recently started vinegar, I’m curious as to your thoughts on both going hand in hand for low n systems (specifically something like bare bottom, dry rock, light on fish, heavy on coral)? I’m pretty much thinking that it would have been best practice to start ammonium and vinegar from go on a system like this. Of course every system is different and blanket statements like that never hold true in practice but boy did I struggle with this setup. Sans starting two similar tanks from scratch to study the differences it’s purely speculative but I’m now under the impression that I was bacteria deficient for years, if that’s possible.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’m now under the impression that I was bacteria deficient for years, if that’s possible.

What symptom do you think insufficient bacteria caused?

 

[seahuy]

So what should you expect when testing nitrate? A rise if the ammonia is too potent or overdosed, and a decline or stable value if the dose is desirable.


Do you know your actual dose in ppm though? Talking in mL is like a foreign language to me.

I’m suppose to dose 1.27ml for my size tank to achieve 0.1ppm ammonia. But I causally just dose 2ml each time so it’s a bit over 0.1ppm—so far my system can process it and I haven’t seen any ill effect -- i see ammonia at 0 on API kit after 30 mins consistently so something is eatting it up

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

What symptom do you think insufficient bacteria caused?

Going back to the beginning, the biggest issue was the overly long and rough start. Lack of coralline, coral health and growth issues. Semi frequent stn/rtn events. Even after a couple years of settling in, coral growth was much less than what I had encountered in previous systems that were more traditional (live rock, live sand, seawater start). In a nutshell this system has been what I would call stagnant but stable after a few years from the start. Once switching from dosing nitrate to ammonium there was a slight increase in alk consumption and after adding vinegar to the equation the alk consumption has been steadily increasing day over day. I’m assuming, as no other changes have been made, that the perceived growth (based on alk) is all due to ammonium and vinegar. Again, I’m no scientist or biologist so pardon my ignorance with this, but some of what I’m gathering is that ammonium is preferred over nitrate by corals and that both ammonium and vinegar feed bacteria which in turn are being consumed by coral. It appears that whatever the process is, that it is working for my situation. To what extent, I don’t know. I can’t see well enough to account for coloration, growth, etc but I am able to take note of the alk consumption.

 

[Reefahholic]

I’m suppose to dose 1.27ml for my size tank to achieve 0.1ppm ammonia. But I causally just dose 2ml each time so it’s a bit over 0.1ppm—so far my system can process it and I haven’t seen any ill effect -- i see ammonia at 0 on API kit after 30 mins consistently so something is eatting it up

If you test immediately the ammonia is there, but when you test 30 minutes later it’s consumed?

Has to be the corals or bacteria. If it’s being consumed that quickly, it must be needed or beneficial.

 

[KStatefan]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Do corals consume the ammonia 24 hrs per day or just during lights on?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Do corals consume the ammonia 24 hrs per day or just during lights on?

I don’t know.

 

[seahuy]

If you test immediately the ammonia is there, but when you test 30 minutes later it’s consumed?

Has to be the corals or bacteria. If it’s being consumed that quickly, it must be needed or beneficial.

true tru, thats why i keep dosing like a mad-man until i can get another doser setup lol

 

[Reefahholic]

true tru, thats why i keep dosing like a mad-man until i can get another doser setup lol

Just watch out for the nitrate spike. Then you know you’re at your limit or the upper range.