Dosing Nitrate and phosphate

[Mhart032]

When i was more ULM if i didnt feed super heavy i had to dose both. now i run at .07-.08 p04 and 7 nitrates and dont worry to much about it. i still run a chaeto driven fuge as well.

 

[Diver Down Corals]

I suggest that this calculator is a good one to use:

James' Planted Tank - Dosing Calculator

I recommend food grade sodium nitrate (or a little less desirably unless you measure potassium, potassium nitrate), and sodium or potassium phosphate. For the sodium entries in the calculator, use the potassium entry and just use a little less (exact dose isn't critical anyway).

I'm not a fan of the products sold by hobby companies that do not include any recognized purity grade on the product.

After battling low to zero nitrates and phosphates in my frag tank resulting in a devastating cyano outbreak killing about 100 frags, I took the advice to buy and suppliment sodium nitrate and TSP (havent used yet). Using the calculator on the planted tank website I dosed Sodium Nitrate raising my Nitrates to 5-7 ppm resulting in an immediate irradication of Cyano and rebounding of remaining coral health.

Now to my question : Without dosing the TSP, 4 days after dosing the sodium nitrate, my phosphates are now at .06. Is this from the natural break down for the nitrates? Is there a need to dose phosphates in a low nutrient environment or should dosing nitrates alone naturally fix the problem?

 

[t5Nitro]

How fast do you want to raise NO3 and phosphate with dosing? I don't get any measurable nitrates dosing 1-2ppm.

 

[Piranhapat]

I been using a company called Green Leaf Aquarium. 1 lb jar cost $5. You can make a few 500ml bottles by just adding water. I add 5 ml a day and see increase nitrates. Very cheap compare to buying a 500 ml already made. Check them out if you haven’t heard about them at https://greenleafaquariums.com/categories/shop/aquarium-fertilizer/macronutrients.html