I just bought some Sodium Nitrate. I don’t like how it clumps up. I should have known. Potassium Nitrate was easier to weigh.
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Are you having any actual issues in the tank? Why do you want 3-5ppm nitrate?
If you look at that post I wasn't asking you I was responding to the guy asking for advice.Because that’s the sweet spot.
Once you start dosing sodium nitrate, which lower phosphates, should you dose some form of phosphate?
Also, how quickly should you test for nitrate after dosing? 214 hours later, 1 hour later?
If you look at that post I wasn't asking you I was responding to the guy asking for advice.
Man I don’t check for a bit and look what happens I will go with the “sweet spot” answer. I just dosed 2 hours ago, will check now.
Generally you will have to dose more in the beginning and it will get quickly consumed over a 24hr period. Eventually this will level off and you will need to dose less. As others have said watch PO4 closely. When it comes to acros low PO4 can potentially be a lot worse than low NO3.Man I don’t check for a bit and look what happens I will go with the “sweet spot” answer. I just dosed 2 hours ago, checked now and looks like I have it up close to 2, from just above zero. One challenge I see is that took 50ml 2 days in a row from the neonitro bottle. I will continue for a few more days, until I run out to get my consumption, but at that rate 1 bottle will last me 5 days.....not cost beneficial. Good thing I got the loudwolf sodium nitrate Randy suggested as well.
Once you start dosing sodium nitrate, which lower phosphates, should you dose some form of phosphate?
Also, how quickly should you test for nitrate after dosing? 214 hours later, 1 hour later?
Thats not what I meant. I forgot to add that I am dosing up to 5ppm as needed.@Makers Marc
.16 seems really kinda low for N. You might have a very difficult time maintaining those low values or verifying via a test kit. I would aim more towards 1ppm as the low end.
Thats not what I meant. I forgot to add that I am dosing up to 5ppm as needed.
Dosing nitrates won't necessarily lower PO4. It might, if something in your tank can't grow because there isn't enough nitrate present. Once the nitrate becomes present and growth resumes, the specimen could use both nitrate and phosphate. But dosing nitrate itself doesn't cause any reduction in phosphate directly.
Whether you should dose phosphate depends. Aragonite can bind an incredible amount of phosphate. It's likely that your rock and sand has phosphate bound to it already that it will release once conditions become favorable (unless you did an acid bath or related treatment to remove all nitrate and phosphate from your rocks). It's best to test and monitor to know for sure.
Sounds good.Ok makes a lot more sense
I dont think there will be noticeable difference between 5.8 and 5. I would follow your initial plan.
Sounds good.
Right now my No3 = 2ppm (Red Sea Pro) Po4=.02ppm. Its been consistent for a month now, testing daily.
Evidently that's not enough for my Acros and Montis as some are paling, others are starting to show minor tip burn.
Alk has been stable from 7.12-7.40 (geo612 and AP Carbon doser)since adding the frags. Only guess is too low nutrients.
That is kind of a contradictory statement. Considering that if your tank is LOW in nitrate with normal phosphate levels, Unless it is completely sterile of any form of marine life then when you add nitrate, phosphate will be dramatically reduced. Especially if you have a chaeto refugium. I've seen this personally many times when starting dosing nitrates the phosphates will plummet from the starved chaeto growth acceleration. Even without chaeto you will see a drop in phosphate in any established reef because there is tons of micro algae, filamentous algae, coral and bacteria that will all be nutrient limited by nitrate. As soon as you add it they will all begin utilizing phosphate at a much greater rate.
I guess you could say it is completely "indirect" but that is quite irrelevant since the result is dosing nitrates will lower phosphates if the tank is truly nitrate limited. Best bet is to be sure and have some sodium phosphate on hand as well if you plan to start nitrate dosing.