Biodiversity through KNO3 and NA3PO4

[Ert]

Hi all

As everyone knows, stability is key to a successful reef tank but we are often taught that low nutrients is the goal. Throughout the years, everything from carbon dosing to GFO have been sold as essential tools of the trade.

For a while now, ULNS was the thing.

However, from my personal observation, the best long term successful tanks run detectable levels of NO3 and PO4. The theory is nutrients provide the biodiversity and balance to tanks which lead to success.

I personally throughout the years have ran ULNS with mixed success. Every tank is different but I have NEVER had detectable NO3 and have often struggled with algae, cyno and dinos.

My new plan is to start dosing potassium nitrates and tri-sodium phosphates with the goal of bolstering my tanks biodiversity. My goal is 5-10 ppm nitrates and 0,03-.10 ppm phosphates. I do run chaeto as well.

Anyways, just wanted to share my thoughts so pls feel free to chime in. I'm always happy to learn from other reeefers!!

 

[kecked]

Head over to the 4000 plus posts thread on Dino’s. Works very well.

 

[Ert]

Head over to the 4000 plus posts thread on Dino’s. Works very well.

LOL Read them all

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Those are reasonable targets, of course, but it isn’t necessarily all good news. Algae problems can be worse than at lower levels.

 

[ajm83]

Raising nutrients has certainly got rid of my dinos and cyano. I'm dosing monopotassium phopshate and potassium nitrate to keep the levels around 0.03 and 3ppm respectively. If I don't dose them, they drop to zero (hanna ULR phosphorus and elos HR tests) in just a day or two.

I do now have (very) small amounts of algae, some hair, some weird red stuff, and some weird fuzz growing on the glass. Compared to dinos though, I really couldn't care less. In fact I'm happy giving the CUC something to eat.

 

[Ert]

My nitrates are pretty stable now at 5 ppm but my tank's phosphate consumption is crazy high. I dosed 24 ml of NA3PO4 increasing it to 0.13 ppm and within 24hrs dropped to 0 ppm. I'll have to continue dosing and monitoring. I've been dosing kno3 for a week now and na3po4 for 4 days.

The dinos are still everywhere, but patience is key. The SPS look great through.