Ideal no3 and po4
- Thread starter Ernie C
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Ernie C
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So I’ve been dealing with crazy new tank ugliest after a tank transfer to a new tank. Finally got the algae under control and everyone seems happy. Still wasn’t getting any readings for po and no and they had told me to try and feed or dose some. Finally have some readings. 1ppm no3 and .02 po4 using Red Sea Algea Control Pro kit. Should I stop dosing and just continue to feed fish and retest in a day or so? Corals have survived the uglies but coral colors are awful.
Oshengems
Valuable Member
What he said , I’m sure you’ve heard this before don’t chase the numbers see we’re your tank is settle and try to keep a 16:1 ratio to keep the correct balance, once you see where your tank is settle if you need to adjust do it slow, from what I see in my tank 5-10ppm(salifert No3 test kit Im color blind I can’t tell the difference between 5-10ppm and .02-.05 Po4 is a good range good growth great colors but, so there’s no really “ideal” set of numbers my friend is running is fully stocked tank at 1.5 PO4 and nitrates Above 50ppm I would not recommend that but his tank is great but also old and mature 4+ years
Keep PO4 to NO3 ratio 1:100 with PO4 in the 0.02-0.05 ppm range (so NO3 in the 2-5 ppm range). But don't worry if your aquarium tends to balance to a ratio with a slightly higher NO3 as long as PO4 is in the 0.02-0.05 ppm range and NO3 is in the 2-5 ppm range you are fine. With PO4 within this range, but NO3 exceeding 5ppm results in a high(er) risk of algea growth, whilst NO3 within this range, but PO4 exceeding 0.05 ppm results in a high(er) risk of cyano growth.
CMO
Valuable Member
In the current day of a lot of tanks starting with dry rock I don't know that those ranges of NO3 and PO4 starting at 0.00 should be advised without a disclaimer. I and a lot of others have gone through bad dinos outbreaks from our tanks hitting true zero levels of NO3 and PO4 before they were fully matured.
jtl
Well-Known Member
Don't know about that. A 1:100 ratio is very high, but I have seen tanks that do well at that level. I think starting out it is best to go low. I agree with the PO4 but not the high end of the NO3.
Oshengems
Valuable Member
I seen a few tanks in person with crazy No3 and Po4 looking awesome and healthy, I just felt for the number chasing and gave up if the tank is looking good I’m happy
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Ernie C
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. Still getting everything back in order so I'll shoot to keep it stable based on your advice and see how things behave. Just worried about more algae or other issues. How often should I be testing while it stabalizes?
The 1:100 ratio is actually low, all it means is that with a PO4 of 0.02 ppm you should strive for 2ppm NO3 (low end of the range) and with 0.05 ppm PO4 you should strive for 5ppm NO3 (high end of the range). Within this range and with that ratio you have a rather trouble free aquarium for sps and lps. At the low end sps will color lighter/brighter and certain lps will require target feeding to look the best, at the high end sps will color darker and lps won't need target feeding.
And with a PO4 value of 0.02ppm and NO3 value of 5ppm everything will thrive as well, you'll only need to clean the glass more often and you may see some other algea growth. And with a PO4 of 0.05ppm and NO3 value of 2ppm everything will thrive as well, you may only see some localized cyano growth.
No aquarium is the same as there are other factors in play, cuc, overal establishment of bacterial population, lighting, waterflow, local 'micro-climates' (PO4 may be balanced to NO3 and at the low end of the range but you are still seeing localized cyano because there is a higher amount of PO4 available at that spot due to leeching of PO4),etc.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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IMO, I see little justification to target a ratio as opposed to absolute numbers. Just because one is off high or low does not seem to be a good reason to target the other to be off.
OP
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Ernie C
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Just tested again a few days later without dosing and I’m back to no readings. Should I continue to dose then? I also still have some algae in the display and have cheato in the sump. I really don’t want another algae outbreak. Suggestions?
CMO
Valuable Member
What about in terms of macroalgae health and growth? Specifically, chaeto? Is there any science behind Pax Bellum's (maker of algae reactors) recommendation of 100:1?
