Dosing Nitrate

[Rakie]

Do you have a link to that analysis? I couldn't find it and I'm curious what they actually look for as impurities.

That used to be on their website, it's not anymore -- bummer :/

There's a huge FW planted site that's like the BRS of fresh water, can't recall the name.. if it comes to mind they have a whole ton of options, I'd be surprised if a few of them aren't certified.

 

[BigJohnny]

Why, exactly?

Just the worry about phosphate dropping?

Sorry I actually posted that a while ago I don't know why it just showed up, been having internet issues for a day or two from a snowstorm so maybe that's why. At the time I didn't realize the OP was battling dinos, dosing nutrients is a great way to battle them, but i would try reducing the refugium photoperiod first since that's already incorporated into the system and the less you have to dose the better imo. If that doesn't work then dose away.

My comment about not dosing nitrate until the fish population was maxed out assumed the OP was trying to improve coral coloration or growth, not fighting dino. I believe that for several reasons:

1. You likely won't need to with more fish (likely, not always true)
2. I know people who have basically crashed their tanks from accidentally bottoming out phosphates very quickly by dosing too much.
3. I believe fish waste is a better coral food
4. I don't like dosing more than I have to, and fish are just there, much easier.

That's just my opinion, dosing nitrate works great for tons of people, I just think its more risky/complicated than just adding fish.

 

[Evan West]

Okay the tank is a year and a half old, ive been off dosing phols for around 2-3 months now. The dinos came and then receded after i increased feeding in an attempt to up nitrate, then I went back to work and can no longer feed a bunch of small amounts of food through the day to keep the nitrate up so they came back (least this is what I suspect). So as such I need to do something as something isn't working right, im inclined to side with needing more nitrate and phosphate as this appears to be what solved it last time. Now as to how I accomplish this im not sure yet, I can either turn down the skimmer and fuge photo period, dose, or both.

A aproximate timeline:

3 months ago:
Started dosing Phols
Dinos Appear
Stop dosing Phols

2 months ago:
Dinos persist
Up feeding
Dios receed

Current Month:
Start work and cant feed as much
Dinos return
Current

 

[Reef of Fillory]

My nitrate bottomed out at 0, and I have always fed very heavily [~ 1 full cube of food/day + autofeeder pellets & flakes to a 32G biocube]

I started dosing stump remover, and now both my nitrates and phosphates are crazy low [0 nitrate, .003-.006 phosphate].

I haven't been dosing phosphates though - my chaeto is now dying so i'm going to open the drain tube from my skimmer to pour back into the sump and lower my lighting period.

Perhaps your fuge is over performing, and the light schedule could be reduced? That's my next attempt at raising nutrients.

I also have 5 fish in my tank and will likely be adding another fish once I get some feedback on which fish to add.

Goodluck

 

[Evan West]

Yeah I turned the light down from 100% to 70% on the fuge last night so we will see how that goes. The fuge is approximately 20% of the total water volume of the small system so I wouldn't be suprised if it's over performing a bit.

 

[Evan West]

Here is the dino situation

 

[Evan West]

Okay well I turned the fuge lights to 70%, turned off the skimmer, had my roommate feed the tank, crossed my fingers and left for the weekend. Today.....No dinos at all but still 0 nitrates so im gonna guess that while its still reading 0 its no longer actually at 0....not sure really.