Increase nitrate but not phosphate

[kuansreef]

Has anyone found a way to increase nitrate without adding too much phosphate like through feeding? My nitrate is 0 no matter how much I feed and if I feed more, my phosphate keeps rising. I run biopllets which pretty strips off nitrate. Thanks for any info!

 

[Akida17th]

I've never utilized bio-pellets but if your nitrates are 0 and you want them higher can't you stop running the BP reactor or run it intermittently like some do with other media reactors?

 

[kuansreef]

I think you can't stop the BP reactor. I slow down the tumbling and looking to add nitrate source.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Adding more fish will increase your nitrates. I know you said you fed more but that should increase nitrate.

As to decrease your po4, GFO/reactor.

 

[kuansreef]

Thanks! I plan to run GFO. I was wondering how biopellets take care of both nitrate and phosphate. It seems to leave phosphate behind.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Thanks! I plan to run GFO. I was wondering how biopellets take care of both nitrate and phosphate. It seems to leave phosphate behind.

I used Biopellets at one point but I was starting to see my corals struggling. I think biopellets need to be ran when you first start your tank so everything is used to it. If you try to switch from non-biopellets to biopellets, my corals did not like the water being stripped too clean.

 

[jluspo]

You can dose Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer. I have not actually done this but have been researching this topic.

I'm in the same boat. I have several de-nitrification methods (biopellets, cheto, deep sand bed) and my nitrate is always 0.00 but my phosphate is 0.1. I tried to feed a lot to get the nitrates up but all that does is raise phosphate and my nitrate is still 0.00. I also run GFO but I don't think its making any dent. I think my low nitrate is limiting my system's ability to lower phosphates. Remember the "Redfield Ratio" CNP of 106:16:1 ? (CNP=Carbon - Nitrogen - Phosphorous ).

The reason I haven't done it is because my tank is doing well - other than having to clean the glass every other day. I don't really have algae to speak off so I just let it be.

 

[kuansreef]

I was surprised that some algae grows like crazy even without nitrate

 

[kuansreef]

I know some reefers dose calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate or Seachem nitrogen. just no idea of how successfully it is

 

[Akida17th]

I wouldn't run bio pellets myself. Don't you want your bacteria growing on your live rock not pellets? I heard some reefers had success. What type of corals do you have? I used Seachem phosguard and that stuff is no joke. Droppped my phosphates so quick that I bleached my montis. 2 months later I finally have my po4 levels back to normal around .04. I wouldn't worry about the nitrates too much unless you see your corals struggling.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In addition to inorganic sources, such as potassium or sodium or calcium nitrate, amino acids will boost N and not P and feed corals as well.

 

[kuansreef]

Thanks! I dose amino acid and it seems to boost algae grow. I can't be the only person having this issue. Someone needs to make/sell nitrate in a bottle

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why do you think dosing nitrate itself wouldn't boost algae?

I doubt the algae are directly taking up the amino acids. They likely get the ammonia or nitrate after it is metabolized.

 

[Chaz D]

Why not just remove some of the pellets?

 

[kuansreef]

I will post my plan here to share my experiment.

Condition:
0 nitrate
0.04 phosphate
Some sps looks dull, pale, bleaching and cheato translucent.

Action:
Slow down bio pellet tumbling and turn down water from the bio pellet reactor to the skimmer.
Dose amino acid and fuel.
Turn off skimmer for 2 days
Feed fish and corals

Mission:

To save my fav acro
Day 1:

 

[Jon Warner]

Just feed the tank more

 

[kuansreef]

I found nitrogen in a bottle which may work.

Synthesis by Seachem. Here is product description:

Nitrogen comes in a variety of forms (nitrate, ammoniacal, urea). While plants can use all three forms the form that is preferred varies by species. Thus nitrogen supplements derived solely from just one form (nitrates) will not be as effective as a supplement that provides all three forms.

synthesis™ is a concentrated (32,000 mg/L N) nitrogen source. synthesis™ is unique in that it provides nitrogen in all three forms. Approximately 50% of the nitrogen in synthesis™ is derived from an organic source (urea), while the remaining nitrogen splits at about 25% each from nitrate and ammoniacal sources.

 

[Marquiseo]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_188198-316-HG-66420_0__?productId=4764059

Cheaper than Seachem Flourish/Synthesis, larger quantity, and raises Nitrate and Potassium. Just use a calculator like this for creating your mixture: http://www.theaquatools.com/fertilization-calculator

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I found nitrogen in a bottle which may work.

Synthesis by Seachem. Here is product description:

Nitrogen comes in a variety of forms (nitrate, ammoniacal, urea). While plants can use all three forms the form that is preferred varies by species. Thus nitrogen supplements derived solely from just one form (nitrates) will not be as effective as a supplement that provides all three forms.

synthesis™ is a concentrated (32,000 mg/L N) nitrogen source. synthesis™ is unique in that it provides nitrogen in all three forms. Approximately 50% of the nitrogen in synthesis™ is derived from an organic source (urea), while the remaining nitrogen splits at about 25% each from nitrate and ammoniacal sources.

I personally would prefer amino acids or nitrate. Urea may not be used by creatures such as corals.

 

[twilliard]

I personally would prefer amino acids or nitrate. Urea may not be used by creatures such as corals.

Thank you Randy for this post.
So urea salts may be a buildup issue in the tank?
I have been dosing flourish nitrogen to raise my no3
If what you say is correct dosing amino acids is better than nitrate introduction?