How fast can I raise Nitrates?

[Ian Baxter]

I have been testing 0 nitrates for about a month with my Hanna tester. PO4 has been around 0 as well. Today it was .015 (Hanna). I have been feeding twice a day for two weeks and moved my WC to every other week instead of weekly. Today was my last WC. I have NeoNitro and NeoPhos to dose. Only have 4 fish in my 65g, but have 3 in QT for another month or so. How fast can I raise my nitrates?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Neonitro says to shoot for 3ppm additions. Any reason why you aren't doing that?

 

[NonstopSoda]

i second neonitro especially if already on hand

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you have neonitro, it is ok, but I think there are several better options that are less expensive, have a purity assurance, and may provide a better source of N.

In any case, there’s no concern about bringing it up too fast if nitrate is what you dose. A few ppm per day is a good starting point.

 

[Ian Baxter]

Neonitro says to shoot for 3ppm additions. Any reason why you aren't doing that?

Just got it delivered today and haven’t started yet. I’ve read in other places that you can raise Nitrates more than 3ppm per day, so I’m just checking.

 

[Ian Baxter]

If you have neonitro, it is ok, but I think there are several better options that are less expensive, have a purity assurance, and may provide a better source of N.

In any case, there’s no concern about bringing it up too fast if nitrate is what you dose. A few ppm per day is a good starting point.

I’m hoping it’s just short term. I’ve never had this issue with low nitrates and phosphates in any other tanks. I know my stocking is low, but I think I over feed when I do it once a day let alone twice. I have no algae on my rocks, but have some tufts on the sand bed. But I think Nitrates should at least register.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just got it delivered today and haven’t started yet. I’ve read in other places that you can raise Nitrates more than 3ppm per day, so I’m just checking.

There’s no limit to the amount of nitrate one can dose to maintain a target level.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m hoping it’s just short term. I’ve never had this issue with low nitrates and phosphates in any other tanks. I know my stocking is low, but I think I over feed when I do it once a day let alone twice. I have no algae on my rocks, but have some tufts on the sand bed. But I think Nitrates should at least register.

Low N is a long term issue in many reef tanks.

 

[Ian Baxter]

Low N is a long term issue in many reef tanks.

What are some of the other less expensive options to use?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What are some of the other less expensive options to use?

Food grades of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, sodium nitrate or calcium nitrate.

Each has some pros and cons, but all have purity assurances that most hobby products lack, and are substantially less expensive. I would not ever elect a hobby nitrate dosing solution over one of these unless I had it already.

 

[Ian Baxter]

Food grades of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, sodium nitrate or calcium nitrate.

Each has some pros and cons, but all have purity assurances that most hobby products lack, and are substantially less expensive. I would not ever elect a hobby nitrate dosing solution over one of these unless I had it already.

Awesome, thanks! I'll just use this bottle and then switch to something else. Do you think that with dosing nitrates, it will help keep phosphates level as well? I want to stop feeding twice a day. I will continue the twice weekly reef roids.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Awesome, thanks! I'll just use this bottle and then switch to something else. Do you think that with dosing nitrates, it will help keep phosphates level as well? I want to stop feeding twice a day. I will continue the twice weekly reef roids.

Making sure N is not too low may increase consumption of phosphate if it makes some organisms grow faster.