Dosing fertilizer

biom · Aug 19, 2015

The nitrogen in this fertilizers comes from Urea which is not best nitrogen source for aquatic purposes, because it degrades to ammonia not to nitrate, and you will need well established nitrogen cycle in your tank to convert ammonia to nitrate and this takes time, that's why you did't find nitrates, but if you you test for ammonia you'll find quite a big amount of it. Best source of nitrates is Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and for phosphate is Disodium phosphate (Na2HPO4).

Cory · Aug 19, 2015

Ah yeah that makes sense. I was looking for my ammonia test kit and couldnt find it. Ill see if i can find it and give it another try. I did have a bacterial cloud it seeed in the first few days.

Cory · Aug 19, 2015

I tested ammonia and it came out to 1 or 2 ppm. I thought algae loved ammonia? Im thinking ill add some iron gluconate. Perhaps it will fuel the algae and bacteria. Thoughts?

Cory · Aug 19, 2015

So i added some iron gluconate to the water and lets see what happens.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 20, 2015

Sounds good.

Cory · Aug 24, 2015

Ok well after all this time still no algae growth. I dont get it. Im thinking of either making a waterfall type version or adding some seed material. Thoughts?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 25, 2015

I'd add some algae somehow if you didn't.

twilliard · Aug 25, 2015

biom said:
The nitrogen in this fertilizers comes from Urea which is not best nitrogen source for aquatic purposes, because it degrades to ammonia not to nitrate, and you will need well established nitrogen cycle in your tank to convert ammonia to nitrate and this takes time, that's why you did't find nitrates, but if you you test for ammonia you'll find quite a big amount of it. Best source of nitrates is Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and for phosphate is Disodium phosphate (Na2HPO4).

What's your thought on potassium nitrate?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 25, 2015

twilliard said:
What's your thought on potassium nitrate?

Potassium nitrate is equally good as sodium nitrate in this application. Neither the sodium nor potassium will be important, unless you go for a very long time and potssium begins to be depleted.

twilliard · Aug 25, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Potassium nitrate is equally good as sodium nitrate in this application. Neither the sodium nor potassium will be important, unless you go for a very long time and potssium begins to be depleted.

Good morning Randy and thank you!

biom · Aug 26, 2015

Cory said:
Ok well after all this time still no algae growth. I dont get it. Im thinking of either making a waterfall type version or adding some seed material. Thoughts?

I believe there will be no algae growth until cycle is finished and most of ammonia is converted to nitrate, ammonia is toxic for algae, even for bacteria in some concentrations.

Cory · Aug 30, 2015

I agree ill test for nitrate and see what happens

Cory · Sep 27, 2015

So after all this time ive finally got algae. Not much but its there and just got diffuse sunlight a few times per day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 27, 2015

Cory said:
So after all this time ive finally got algae. Not much but its there and just got diffuse sunlight a few times per day.

Is that good?

Cory · Sep 27, 2015

Well for an algal turf scrubber algae is good for sure. However it did take longer than expected. I suspect algae needs nitrate rather than ammonia to start seeding, but i never tested for it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 27, 2015

Cory said:
Well for an algal turf scrubber algae is good for sure. However it did take longer than expected. I suspect algae needs nitrate rather than ammonia to start seeding, but i never tested for it.

So the algae you see is in the ATS?

Cory · Sep 27, 2015

Yes its growing On the plastic screen, which will be used in a waterfall type ATS. Im in the process of desighning and building the sump with a waterfall ats incorporated into the sump. It will hopefully be the only filtration, along with a filter sock and if needed a skimmer.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 27, 2015

OK sounds good!

Happy Reefing.

Cory · Jan 11, 2016

Heres some updates of the scrubber:
This was two weeks cleaning but its the same after 7days. Of course i dont dose fertilizer because the tank does that now.