Do I need to dose PO4?

[maddox]

Hello,

Tank 220gal,1 year old, having 2nd cyano outbrake more than month, I think it is because of imbalance between no3 and po4, while NO3 were 5ppm my PO4 0.12, then I decided to start dosing DYI NOPOX, two weeks Dosing 20ml a day, every other day doing tests, and my PO4 were not dropping, so I started to dose potassium nitrate about 2ppm per day after few days my PO4 were 0.08, a left it with no adjustments, after 4days done test. and them my NO3 were about 20ppm salifert test kit, and my po4 0.06, then stopped dosing NO3, and today I have done tests, and now my NO3 still about 20ppm and PO4 0.04ppm,so my Nitrates not falling down at all, My target is about 10ppm NO3 and pho4 0.05. DO I NEED to start dosing trisodium phosphate to drop Nitrate or just increase NOPOX? I also have refugium 12hours working, but grape caulerpa growing very slowly... Cyano still going strong, I vacum it, not helped. I want to found best ratio dosing NOPOX to control low phos and low nitrate, also if need i will be dosing nitrate to not bottom out them. Going to shut down refugium later.

 

[MnFish1]

Hello,

Tank 220gal,1 year old, having 2nd cyano outbrake more than month, I think it is because of imbalance between no3 and po4, while NO3 were 5ppm my PO4 0.12, then I decided to start dosing DYI NOPOX, two weeks Dosing 20ml a day, every other day doing tests, and my PO4 were not dropping, so I started to dose potassium nitrate about 2ppm per day after few days my PO4 were 0.08, a left it with no adjustments, after 4days done test. and them my NO3 were about 20ppm salifert test kit, and my po4 0.06, then stopped dosing NO3, and today I have done tests, and now my NO3 still about 20ppm and PO4 0.04ppm,so my Nitrates not falling down at all, My target is about 10ppm NO3 and pho4 0.05. DO I NEED to start dosing trisodium phosphate to drop Nitrate or just increase NOPOX? I also have refugium 12hours working, but grape caulerpa growing very slowly... Cyano still going strong, I vacum it, not helped.

IMHO there is no right or wrong answer here. BUT - I would caution you to try to avoid doing multiple things at one time (i.e. shutting down refugium, changing your dosing often (of whatever). These things usually resolve with time - in other words - no matter what you do with N and P - your cyanobacteria may take a while to resolve.

I do not understand your comment (maybe I'm reading it incorrectly) - "I want to found best ratio dosing NOPOX to control low phos and low nitrate, also if need i will be dosing nitrate to not bottom out them. Going to shut down refugium later."

NOPOX reduces both nitrate and P - so I'm not sure what you're saying about it in the quote above.

To be honest - I would stop everything (except your refugium) - consider lighting that 24 hours rather than 12. And let things settle at whatever balance they are going to settle at. THEN - decide what you need to do - and the best way to do it.

I've only done it twice in decades - but chemiclean can be quite helpful - with a water change as in the directions. Many people do not like it - thinking that it can cause other algae outbreaks/Dinos. I have not seen this. I know it sounds like I'm contradicting myself by commenting on a 'chemical solution' after telling you to stop dosing things - but I'm just mentioning it as a possibility as compared to recommending it.

Good luck - hope this helps.

 

[maddox]

I mean NOPOX always dropping more nitrates than phosphates so if nitrates bottoms out just keep dosing potassium nitrate to make nitrate and phosphate stable at 5-10ppm and 0.05ppm.
I am just not a fan of these chemiclean because its just a band aid. Want to go in natural way to solve this cyano problem.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I mean NOPOX always dropping more nitrates than phosphates so if nitrates bottoms out just keep dosing potassium nitrate to make nitrate and phosphate stable at 5-10ppm and 0.05ppm.

I agree except that unless you are closely watching potassium, using potassium nitrate risks excessive potassium. Sodium or calcium nitrate are better bets for that reason, IMO.

 

[MnFish1]

I mean NOPOX always dropping more nitrates than phosphates so if nitrates bottoms out just keep dosing potassium nitrate to make nitrate and phosphate stable at 5-10ppm and 0.05ppm.
I am just not a fan of these chemiclean because its just a band aid. Want to go in natural way to solve this cyano problem.

I agree with you about chemiclean. I only mentioned it in the sense that when you use it - you do a big water change - and that will drop your nitrates - without needing NOPOX.