How do I raise nitrates?

[be_ninja_pancake]

My nitrates constantly read out to be undetectable (0ppm according to API). How do I safely raise nitrates in a 15 gal?

Since it’s a nano tank, I’m worried about overfeeding or dosing nitrates since the tank is so small and sensitive to any changes.

 

[musel101]

My nitrates constantly read out to be undetectable (0ppm according to API). How do I safely raise nitrates in a 15 gal?

Since it’s a nano tank, I’m worried about overfeeding or dosing nitrates since the tank is so small and sensitive to any changes. Yeah

Feed more.

 

[musel101]

My nitrates constantly read out to be undetectable (0ppm according to API). How do I safely raise nitrates in a 15 gal?

Since it’s a nano tank, I’m worried about overfeeding or dosing nitrates since the tank is so small and sensitive to any changes.

I have 2 nano tanks My phosphate in nitrate are almost zero. My Phosphate is 0.03
Nitrate 0.1
It’s been like that for a while and my Corals and fish and clams are happy.

 

[Asm481]

More time between water changes.

 

[exnisstech]

Dose sodium or potasium nitrate if feeding more doesn't work. There is plenty of info, just use the search feature

 

[be_ninja_pancake]

Dose sodium or potasium nitrate if feeding more doesn't work. There is plenty of info, just use the search feature

I already did the search feature and read other threads. I made my own thread because I have a nano and didn’t know if dosing would be a bad idea for smaller tanks.

 

[Dan_P]

I already did the search feature and read other threads. I made my own thread because I have a nano and didn’t know if dosing would be a bad idea for smaller tanks.

Why would dosing be bad for a small aquarium?

 

[Propane]

I already did the search feature and read other threads. I made my own thread because I have a nano and didn’t know if dosing would be a bad idea for smaller tanks.

It’s not a bad idea to dose smaller tanks it’s just more of fine line. I have a nano that I need to dose phosphate and tanks doing fine. Just go below recommended dosing and be slow with it. Should be fine.

 

[be_ninja_pancake]

It’s not a bad idea to dose smaller tanks it’s just more of fine line. I have a nano that I need to dose phosphate and tanks doing fine. Just go below recommended dosing and be slow with it. Should be fine.

Why would dosing be bad for a small aquarium?

Ah, I figured it would be bad since they’re so sensitive to even the smallest changes. But yeah, just smaller doses and slow changes and only changing one thing at a time would work. Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Feeding more, or dosing sodium or calcium nitrate, ammonium chloride, or amino acids would all be useful.

I do not recommend potassium nitrate as it will raise potassium considerably.

There's nothing special about tank size that makes dosing complicated. You just need to dose a suitable amount for the tank size, and since all of these possible additives are easily diluted in fresh water, even the dosing volume being small isn't an issue.

Don't use a manufacturer specified dose. use a calculator like this one and use the entry for nitrate from potassium nitrate. Sodium nitrate and calcium nitrate are both is a little more potent than specified:

James' Planted Tank - Dosing Calculator

 

[MrGisonni]

Feed some frozen food. And back off a little on your maintenance until you get nitrates and phosphates up.

 

[be_ninja_pancake]

Feed some frozen food. And back off a little on your maintenance until you get nitrates and phosphates up.

I feed frozen food every night and pellets in the morning, but I’ve been feeding more for a few days now.

 

[officialreefbros]

It's fully cycled right? or was there something that could have messed up the nitrifying bacteria? I'd recommend testing with a different kit to verify and feed more