Confused about dosing nitrates

[Mike646]

hello everyone,

After carbon dosing for some time I ran into a issue of high phosphate and no nitrates. I stopped carbon dosing and began dosing nitrates using the stump remover method. While my phosphates were handled with water changes and phosphate rx, I have noticed a large amount of Cyano breaking out across my tank. My question is should I continue to dose nitrates to maintain a .5-1 level or stop? My current after 24 hours of dosing settles at .5 where phosphate has settled at .25, I feel like I am feeding the issue of Cyano. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ndrwater]

This seems to be a common problem. If you are at .25 Phosphate, you should be right around 1-1 1/2 ppm nitrate for a good ratio.
Cyano will come and go, I wouldnt worry too awfully much unless it gets too out if if control.

 

[Mike646]

This seems to be a common problem. If you are at .25 Phosphate, you should be right around 1-1 1/2 ppm nitrate for a good ratio.
Cyano will come and go, I wouldnt worry too awfully much unless it gets too out if if control.

Perfect! Thanks for the quick response

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It may well be helping many organisms, including the cyano. I personally think the ratio idea is not appropriate, but it is (IMO) appropriate to keep levels of both N and P.

 

[Elegance Coral]

It may well be helping many organisms, including the cyano. I personally think the ratio idea is not appropriate, but it is (IMO) appropriate to keep levels of both N and P.

In your opinion, what would the appropriate level of inorganic N and P be in a reef tank?
Peace
EC

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In your opinion, what would the appropriate level of inorganic N and P be in a reef tank?
Peace
EC

Depends on the goals of the tank and the desire (or not) to drive hard coral growth as fast as possible with high alkalinity , but typically, 0.5-5 ppm nitrate and 0.01 to 0.04 ppm phosphate seems like a good range to target, IMO.