Dosing Nitrate & Phosphate

[T-J]

Recently I've had a Dino outbreak, and I've been unable to raise nitrates and phosphates. I'm overfeeding (as far as I'm concerned), as well as turned off my skimmer for over 2 day...to no gains.

My 2 1/2 month old tank is currently sitting at 0 Phosphate and 2.5 Nitrates.

I purchased some NeoPhos as well as NeoNitro. Is it safe to dose both of these together? I've never used these methods before and want to make sure I'm doing it right. I also have MicroBacter 7, which seems to go hand in hand with these products.

Ultimately, what levels should I target to help rid the tank of Dino, and what levels should I keep for a mixed reef (higher on the SPS side)?
Because it'll be asked, below are all of my tank parameters.

Any and all advice is appreciated!

Ammonia: .01
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 2.5
Phosphate 0
Calcium 480-500
Alk 8.2
Salinity 35
PH 8.26 (fluctuates between 8.35 & 8.12 during day/night cycle)
Temp 77.5

 

[Salt & Peper]

Tank size? Cuc? Filtration? Fish? What do you think is over feeding? If nothing else I got p04 to spare I'll mail you some of my water lol!

 

[T-J]

Tank size? Cuc? Filtration? Fish? What do you think is over feeding? If nothing else I got p04 to spare I'll mail you some of my water lol!

Thanks for the offer!
My tank is a 40g cube. CUC of some hermits, cleaner shrimp and 3 turbo snails. 3 fish: two clown and a Midas Blenny. Filtration is some filter pad in the overflow (can't do a sock), skimmer, 9w UV sterilizer and ceramic bio rings (came with the Aquatop Receife AIO tank I'm running).

 

[SeaDweller]

remove the filter pad, turn off the skimmer or at least run it dry. Should help. I bet your "overfeeding" really isn't. I'd let some food rot in the tank (to add to the N and P), and wouldn't clean the glass for a while. See if that helps.

 

[T-J]

remove the filter pad, turn off the skimmer or at least run it dry. Should help. I bet your "overfeeding" really isn't. I'd let some food rot in the tank (to add to the N and P), and wouldn't clean the glass for a while. See if that helps.

Having food rot in the tank was part of the reason for the filter pad. It traps a bunch of the uneaten food and I was hoping it would help with the nitrates.

 

[SeaDweller]

Having food rot in the tank was part of the reason for the filter pad. It traps a bunch of the uneaten food and I was hoping it would help with the nitrates.

Id just let it float around man. I haven't ran a sock in years and I can honestly say my corals are so much healthier. Have to vacuum the sump every few weeks, but little price to pay for the health of the tank. I'd never run a sock again.

 

[Salt & Peper]

I believe my p.o.4 problem is from feeding reef roids twice a week. Seadweller is right on letting food rot!

 

[chayes991]

I recently beat a Dino issue I had in my nano and it took around 3 months. I had to attack it on a few fronts.

just remember the reason your trying to increase the nutrients is to encourage micro fauna and things to compete with the Dino.

I used a combination of
Zero water changes
Feed everyday as normal
Installed a uv steriliser
10 micron filter sock
Removed GFO
Ran carbon

Once I noticed Dino declining I started adding dr Tim’s waste away.
After a few months it was completely gone.
Then once I was ready to water change I used a synthetic salt for a couple of months.
You CAN beat it!

 

[amazongb]

To answer your question, yes, you can dose both. I run mine in auto dosers over 24 hour period, slow and steady.. If you dose once a day, you may notice you're back to zero in 24 hours. I agree with removing skimmer cup, this will raise NO3/P04, but may take a few weeks to notice steady numbers. I do use filter socks and was still able to increase nutrients by dosing and skimmer cup removal. Over time, you'll notice you can dose less as the tank settles with more organics in the water due to not skimming.

NeoPhos dosing for 40 gallons to raise P04 to .01 is 1.5ML. NeoPhos is potent, so keep that in mind.

I use tree strump remover for Nitrates (Randy's recipe), so can't help with NeoNitro.

 

[T-J]

To answer your question, yes, you can dose both. I run mine in auto dosers over 24 hour period, slow and steady.. If you dose once a day, you may notice you're back to zero in 24 hours. I agree with removing skimmer cup, this will raise NO3/P04, but may take a few weeks to notice steady numbers. I do use filter socks and was still able to increase nutrients by dosing and skimmer cup removal. Over time, you'll notice you can dose less as the tank settles with more organics in the water due to not skimming.

NeoPhos dosing for 40 gallons to raise P04 to .01 is 1.5ML. NeoPhos is potent, so keep that in mind.

I use tree strump remover for Nitrates (Randy's recipe), so can't help with NeoNitro.

Thank you! This is exactly the info I needed.

 

[Bacon505]

You tank is only 2 months old. Give it time to cycle.

 

[T-J]

You tank is only 2 months old. Give it time to cycle.

So, don’t do anything about the Dinos?

 

[chayes991]

Have you confirmed it’s Dino? If so how?
Post a picture if possible?

 

[T-J]

Have you confirmed it’s Dino? If so how?
Post a picture if possible?

 

[chayes991]

It looks like Dino, best way to fight it would really know would be to look at it under a microscope. Then it’s a bit easier to deal with once you know exactly what it is

 

[PicassoDan]

Confirming with a microscope is fun - but that's definitely dinos.
I'm in the same boat: relatively new tank, slight dino infestation, and I've been wondering what to do, if anything. I had dino issues years ago in a different tank (when it was new and too clean) and it killed corals, so...

Currently:
PO4 = .03 ppm using Hanna 736
NO3 = 1-2 ppm (my test resolution is only about ±1ppm)

My plan:
1. Dose nitrate and phosphate until PO4 = 0.04 - 0.10 ppm and NO3 = 2-5 ppm.
-->Loudwolf Sodium Phosphate Dibasic (Na2HPO4)
-->Loudwolf Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3)
2. Maybe a 3 day black-out
3. Once I get nitrate and phosphate up, I'll add beneficial bacteria - still trying to determine good brands/types.

If I don't see results in a couple weeks, then I move on to more drastic ideas:
4. UV sterilizer ($$$)
5. Dino-X - I tried this on the previous tank, and it didn't seem to do much

What's your plan, T-J?

 

[Cory]

For me what worked was use some tsp from home depot to raise po4. Po4 was zero before and nitrate was maxed out like 150 ppm due to big fish and no deep sand bed. I just dumped a capful in 200 gallons. Raised po4 to .65ppm. Dinos gone in a weekish.

 

[PicassoDan]

Interesting - didn't know HD carried TSP. I wonder how pure it is though...

I wonder if there's a preffered (more reef safe) form of sodium phosphate:
sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate monobasic, sodium triphosphate, etc...

 

[T-J]

Confirming with a microscope is fun - but that's definitely dinos.
I'm in the same boat: relatively new tank, slight dino infestation, and I've been wondering what to do, if anything. I had dino issues years ago in a different tank (when it was new and too clean) and it killed corals, so...

Currently:
PO4 = .03 ppm using Hanna 736
NO3 = 1-2 ppm (my test resolution is only about ±1ppm)

My plan:
1. Dose nitrate and phosphate until PO4 = 0.04 - 0.10 ppm and NO3 = 2-5 ppm.
-->Loudwolf Sodium Phosphate Dibasic (Na2HPO4)
-->Loudwolf Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3)
2. Maybe a 3 day black-out
3. Once I get nitrate and phosphate up, I'll add beneficial bacteria - still trying to determine good brands/types.

If I don't see results in a couple weeks, then I move on to more drastic ideas:
4. UV sterilizer ($$$)
5. Dino-X - I tried this on the previous tank, and it didn't seem to do much

What's your plan, T-J?

I dosed NeoNitro and NeoPhos for several days. Currently Phos is at .08 and Nitrate at 5.0. Also dosing MicroBacter7. Its been about a week and Dinos are significantly reduced. Almost gone.
Corals also appear to be responding to the higher levels nicely. As well as me adjusting my lights to more blue.

 

[PicassoDan]

good deal! Hmmm, maybe I'll try MicroBacter7. I kind of want to see if just bumping nitrate and phosphate alone works...