Amino acids maximum dose

[CoralClasher]

How do you know if you are adding enough amino acids or too much?

I’m using Seachem’s Reef Plus. Following the directions one cap full for 40 gallons. I notice my nitrate goes up the next day then drop again the next day.

Would a smaller daily dose be better to keep No3 stable?

 

[KrisReef]

Hard to say, a large dose applied slowly through a metering pump might give less nitrate rise and more nutrients for your corals? I don't dose amino acids. Suggest you post the change in the nitrate ppm that you are measuring for folks who do this to have better info to comment upon. HTH>

Bump!

 

[CoralClasher]

Tank is about 120 gallons total.
A 30ml dose on Saturday raised No3 from 2.4 to 3.4 the next day. And down to 1.8 today.

 

[Garf]

Tank is about 120 gallons total.
A 30ml dose on Saturday raised No3 from 2.4 to 3.4 the next day. And down to 1.8 today.

Are you sure that’s just not the range of accuracy of the test, playing with you.

 

[CoralClasher]

Are you sure that’s just not the range of accuracy of the test, playing with you.

I have no idea. Using Hanna HR checker.

 

[CoralClasher]

 

[CoralClasher]

Then No3 fluctuations have been repeated with every dose of Reef Plus.

 

[CoralClasher]

Okay maybe Reef Plus isn’t responsible for the No3 this morning was 1.8, I did a 30ml dose 6 hours ago and now No3 is 1.6. I’ll see what it’s at tomorrow morning.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Nitrate getting too high would indicate excessive amino acid dosing. If it is not, then I’d base the dose on what seems to benefit corals the most.

 

[CoralClasher]

Nitrate getting too high would indicate excessive amino acid dosing. If it is not, then I’d base the dose on what seems to benefit corals the most.

Would adding more amino acids be a good plan for trying to increase No3? Or would that just fuel my slight Cyano problem?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would adding more amino acids be a good plan for trying to increase No3? Or would that just fuel my slight Cyano problem?

It might boost cyano. If not, it’s a good choice. lol

 

[sneekapeek]

Would adding more amino acids be a good plan for trying to increase No3? Or would that just fuel my slight Cyano problem?

I’m a big fan of running a tank at a set range of healthy parameters and manually removing what looks unsightly. In time things will settle in as inhabitants grow and mature. Consistency is the name of the game. I’d put aminos on a doser without a doubt. Just one less thing I have to do daily!

 

[CoralClasher]

I’m a big fan of running a tank at a set range of healthy parameters and manually removing what looks unsightly. In time things will settle in as inhabitants grow and mature. Consistency is the name of the game. I’d put aminos on a doser without a doubt. Just one less thing I have to do daily!

I think things are looking better than a few weeks ago but I can’t give credit to reef plus. My dosing pumps ran empty and ALK was down to 4.1. I’m hoping things will bounce back and Cyano will go away with a little help from me cleaning.

 

[CoralClasher]

It might boost cyano. If not, it’s a good choice. lol

If I were to use reef plus to increase No3, should it be done by using the recommended dose more frequently than the twice a week or double the dose one time and see what happens?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If I were to use reef plus to increase No3, should it be done by using the recommended dose more frequently than the twice a week or double the dose one time and see what happens?

If you want to use it to boost nitrate, I’d slowly ramp up the dose until nitrate gets where you want, or anything seems to change for the worse.

Of course, dosing nitrate is also cheap and easy.

 

[CoralClasher]

If you want to use it to boost nitrate, I’d slowly ramp up the dose until nitrate gets where you want, or anything seems to change for the worse.

Of course, dosing nitrate is also cheap and easy.

I thought anything over 1ppm No3 was just extra, but I keep hearing 5-10 is needed. I do have NeoNitro but was thinking the extra stuff in reef plus would be more beneficial for the tank?

 

[old salt reefer]

My 2 cents, nice tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I thought anything over 1ppm No3 was just extra, but I keep hearing 5-10 is needed. I do have NeoNitro but was thinking the extra stuff in reef plus would be more beneficial for the tank?

I personally recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I thought anything over 1ppm No3 was just extra, but I keep hearing 5-10 is needed. I do have NeoNitro but was thinking the extra stuff in reef plus would be more beneficial for the tank?

I did not realize you were dosing more than amino acids. The other ingredients in reef plus may be useful, or not, but I would not recommend it as a way to boost nitrate via amino acids since certain metals may get too high.

That’s the drawback to the “it does everything” supplement.

 

[sneekapeek]

Might drive your p04 down with added nitrate. Check p04 also!