DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

But if no detectable nitrate, how does it one know if there is enough N? Just coral observation?

Yes, observation, but getting nitrate to a few ppm is additional insurance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley would this affect ammonia test kits that test for total ammonia nh3/nh4 and make use of a conversion chart based on temp and ph to come up with free ammonia? I’m curious as I got help using a Red Sea ammonia test kit which showed .2 total ammonia (the first option over zero) which I think is ok (with a temp of 78 and ph of 8.2) but between me being blind as a bat, having a non-reefing helper, and the hazy instructions, I’m not certain as to what it actually converts to.

Edit. I guess I should add that I’ve been dosing 25ml (spread out over 8 daylight hours) of the ammonium chloride stock solution to roughly 160 gallons to maintain nitrate. Which should equate to less than .2ppm unless my brain hasn’t been working, which is often the case.

I don’t know if the 0.2 ppm total ammonia is accurate, but if it is, it’s an acceptable level.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I don’t know if the 0.2 ppm total ammonia is accurate, but if it is, it’s an acceptable level.

Thank you Randy. Ive been dosing ammonium for over a year now and never tested ammonia. Never felt the need. We just did it out of curiosity a few weeks ago as a yellow tang had a bad case of hlle. I’m confident it was due to carbon a long ways back but just wanted to check as someone had mentioned ammonia and I was pulling at straws.

 

[Necrodaemus]

My system is 100g total volume. Would it be ok to mix up my solution with 35 grams of NH3-HCO3 to 1000ml water just to simplify the dosage amount to achieve 0.1ppm (5ml solution would equal 0.1ppm Ammonium)?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My system is 100g total volume. Would it be ok to mix up my solution with 35 grams of NH3-HCO3 to 1000ml water just to simplify the dosage amount to achieve 0.1ppm (5ml solution would equal 0.1ppm Ammonium)?

Sure, changing the concentration up or down for convenience is fine. There’s going to be an upper limit of solubility, but that is over 200 g/L.

 

[Necrodaemus]

So what determines the maximum daily dosage? I’m doing 0.1ppm at a time but unsure on how frequently I should be dosing it. When NO3 reaches and stays at a desired level?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So what determines the maximum daily dosage? I’m doing 0.1ppm at a time but unsure on how frequently I should be dosing it. When NO3 reaches and stays at a desired level?

Well, maximum daily dose would be akin to asking if too many fish will overwhelm the nitrifying capacity in a tank and cause an ammonia rise. If added slowly, it's not likely limiting in most tanks.

I think you could keep adding spread out ammonia doses until something appears off in the water, or nitrate is rising too much.

 

[rw09903]

I'm interested in giving this a try. After mixing ammonium bicarbonate into RODI, how should it be stored (RT, refrigerated)? Also, does it have a shelf life? Thanks for any response!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It should be fine sealed up at room temp for a long time.

 

[Necrodaemus]

It should be fine sealed up at room temp for a long time.

This brings up another question I have. If put on an auto doser (NH4HCO3), would there be any significant gassing off at the end of the dosing line that’s exposed to air? Doses would take place 8-10 hours apart.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This brings up another question I have. If put on an auto doser (NH4HCO3), would there be any significant gassing off at the end of the dosing line that’s exposed to air? Doses would take place 8-10 hours apart.

I don’t think that will be a big deal. Any loss just reduces the potency, and since you will set a dose by trial and error anyway, it should not matter.

 

[ta_ibin]

Hello Mr. Randy

Thank you for the knowledge given
I try to implement the knowledge
I have an aquarium with MT 200x65x50 and Sump Filter 140x40x40
total water estimated 660 Liters (after reducing with rocks, coral, etc.)

test kit results before use, showed Nitrate 50 and phosphate 0.05 (using salifert test kit)
I use Ammonium Bicarbonate 20gr + 1000ml RO

the dose I use according to your article, which is 15ml for 660 L of aquarium water
for 2 weeks I use it without any changes

I increase the dose to 50ml divided into 5 times (@10 ml)
the results remain the same for 1 month

today I increase it again to 100ml divided into 5 times (@20 ml)

is there a mistake in this application?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hello Mr. Randy

Thank you for the knowledge given
I try to implement the knowledge
I have an aquarium with MT 200x65x50 and Sump Filter 140x40x40
total water estimated 660 Liters (after reducing with rocks, coral, etc.)

test kit results before use, showed Nitrate 50 and phosphate 0.05 (using salifert test kit)
I use Ammonium Bicarbonate 20gr + 1000ml RO

the dose I use according to your article, which is 15ml for 660 L of aquarium water
for 2 weeks I use it without any changes

I increase the dose to 50ml divided into 5 times (@10 ml)
the results remain the same for 1 month

today I increase it again to 100ml divided into 5 times (@20 ml)

is there a mistake in this application?

What is happening to nitrate over this past month of dosing?

 

[BetteMidler]

Curious about using Ammonium Sulfate? Commonly used as an addictive to herbicides. The 50lb bag I have claims 99.5% Ammonium Sulfate & 0.5% water.

 

[ta_ibin]

What is happening to nitrate over this past month of dosing?

nitrate is up at 50-100, I just want to lower it to a maximum of 1.
I saw this post thinking it was a way to lower nitrate
Did I misinterpret your post?
Is there a way that is close to effectively lowering nitrate? By dosing chemicals/others to make a nitrate-reducing solution

 

[rhaetuluscrenatus]

Hi Randy, if i want to add 2.0 PPM of nitrate in the tank (1.0 absorbed by corals, bacteria, etc..., so my aim is rising 1.0 ppm per day) , so should i dose NH4 0.1ppm each time x 6 times per day? meanwhile my tank has 550l / 150 gal of water, so :
2.3ml of Nh4 increase 100l of water 0,1 ppm NH4 or 0.36 ppm NO3,
if increase my tank 550l: 0.36ppm NO3 need 12,65ml of NH4
if increase my tank 2,0 ppm NO3 a day: need 70.27ml (is it Huge ? ), 12,5ml each timeX 6 times.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Curious about using Ammonium Sulfate? Commonly used as an addictive to herbicides. The 50lb bag I have claims 99.5% Ammonium Sulfate & 0.5% water.

I recommend food grade or other high grade. But the chemical itself would work.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hi Randy, if i want to add 2.0 PPM of nitrate in the tank (1.0 absorbed by corals, bacteria, etc..., so my aim is rising 1.0 ppm per day) , so should i dose NH4 0.1ppm each time x 6 times per day? meanwhile my tank has 550l / 150 gal of water, so :
2.3ml of Nh4 increase 100l of water 0,1 ppm NH4 or 0.36 ppm NO3,
if increase my tank 550l: 0.36ppm NO3 need 12,65ml of NH4
if increase my tank 2,0 ppm NO3 a day: need 70.27ml (is it Huge ? ), 12,5ml each timeX 6 times.

Sounds correct. If the volume dosed is too high for some reason, you can make it more concentrated.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

nitrate is up at 50-100, I just want to lower it to a maximum of 1.
I saw this post thinking it was a way to lower nitrate
Did I misinterpret your post?
Is there a way that is close to effectively lowering nitrate? By dosing chemicals/others to make a nitrate-reducing solution

This thread, with ammonium, is to INCREASE nitrate, not lower it. There is/are other threads for lowering nitrate using things like vinegar or vodka. Try searching for the thread by Miami about his new vodka charts. I would probably stop dosing ammonium if your intent is lower nitrate.

Edit. I shouldn’t say INCREASE nitrate, I guess I was trying to simply get a point across. It’s not the method for lowering nitrate.

 

[14A]

I recommend food grade or other high grade. But the chemical itself would work.

Wouldn't it raise S too much?