Do nutrients rise in balance?

[Dinodanger]

If my nitrate and phosphate are 16:1 will they rise in the same ratio or do they become unbalanced and need correcting?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Nitrates and phosphates are completely unrelated and can rise or fall completely independant of each other.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If my nitrate and phosphate are 16:1 will they rise in the same ratio or do they become unbalanced and need correcting?

It depends on what processes are causing them to rise and fall. Some change them in lock step (macroalgae growth, etc.), and others (denitrification, phosphate binding to rock and sand, etc.) are totally independent.