Low range NO3 test

[nhlives]

I’m trying to find the sweet spot for NO3 dosing. Using the Red Seas NO3 Professional test kit, I find that I tend to overshoot causing my monti distress. Any level within the range of the test kit is just too high.

I’m looking for .05 to .1 ppm. The Red Sea kit shows this as zero.

Would it make sense to use 8ml of tank sea water instead of the standard 16 ml to get an approximate test? Or some ratio that would make the test more sensitive?

Any other options?

 

[JimWelsh]

Use Salifert instead.

 

[sghera64]

I’m trying to find the sweet spot for NO3 dosing. Using the Red Seas NO3 Professional test kit, I find that I tend to overshoot causing my monti distress. Any level within the range of the test kit is just too high.

I’m looking for .05 to .1 ppm. The Red Sea kit shows this as zero.

Would it make sense to use 8ml of tank sea water instead of the standard 16 ml to get an approximate test? Or some ratio that would make the test more sensitive?

Any other options?

Are you using the PRO version of Red Sea.

Red Sea Pro reads down to 0.125ppm.

What is the precision on the Salifert?

 

[nhlives]

I use the Pro. The low end is where I want to be. Problem is that I over shoot the mark. An example is I am driving in my car and need to be at a location precisely at 1 pm. I need to pieces of information: my speed and where I am NOW. I need to see below the range.

 

[nhlives]

I use the Pro. The low end is where I want to be. Problem is that I over shoot the mark. An example is I am driving in my car and need to be at a location precisely at 1 pm. I need to pieces of information: my speed and where I am NOW. I need to see below the range.

 

[nhlives]

I use the Pro. The low end is where I want to be. Problem is that I over shoot the mark. An example is I am driving in my car and need to be at a location precisely at 1 pm. I need to pieces of information: my speed and where I am NOW. I need to see below the range.

 

[rkpetersen]

There's this:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/u...-hi-736-to-test-for-low-levels-of-no3.350062/

 

[sghera64]

I’m trying to find the sweet spot for NO3 dosing. Using the Red Seas NO3 Professional test kit, I find that I tend to overshoot causing my monti distress. Any level within the range of the test kit is just too high.

I’m looking for .05 to .1 ppm. The Red Sea kit shows this as zero.

Would it make sense to use 8ml of tank sea water instead of the standard 16 ml to get an approximate test? Or some ratio that would make the test more sensitive?

Any other options?

If you can not measure, now, below 0.125ppm-NO3, how did you set a target range of 0.05 -0.1?

I feel that below 0.125ppm takes you into that ULNS space. At that point, I would skip analytical chemistry and simply start with small frequent dosing until your coral signal to you that you hit the zone. Call it coral titration if you will.

 

[nhlives]

The coral titration is basically how I came up with the range. At .5 ppm is begin to see some montipora distress. I would be happy with a slight pink to the Red Sea Pro test if could sneak up on it. That is what I’m trying to do now.

 

[Gareth elliott]

What are you dosing with?
Sodium nitrate is readily available and its no3 effect pretty predictable with some math. The testing really is to see what your tank actually needs, start slow and test often, dont set a target but something that isnt absolutely clear on the red sea test. If its tinged pink you have no3.
Make sure you are testing po4 at the same time if you were no3 limited before, it isnt a hard stretch dosing too much no3 could make it po4 limited.

 

[nhlives]

Brightwell but I’m fine with switching to a high quality Sodium Nitrate. NeoNitro has suggested dosing levels but they have been too high.

 

[sghera64]

The coral titration is basically how I came up with the range. At .5 ppm is begin to see some montipora distress. I would be happy with a slight pink to the Red Sea Pro test if could sneak up on it. That is what I’m trying to do now.

I can’t get hardly a hint of pink in my Red Sea Pro. I suspect I’m well below 0.05ppm. So I simply dose a calculated amount of Ca(NO3)2 twice per day and feed heavy. I know that means there has to be some nitrate in the tank for a few hours twice per day.

My chaeto must simply remove it pretty quickly. I run the chaeto lights only 6 hours off-cycle.

 

[Gareth elliott]

https://rotalabutterfly.com/nutrient-calculator.php
Chose kno3 you can make a stock solution at your target, then dose via a syringe for accuracy. Will last a long time btw [emoji23]

 

[nhlives]

Using the NeoNitro directions you multiply tank volume x ppm you want to raise to x .3785. Using that as a guide I’ll start dosing 1ml per day and test daily. Seems like NO3 testing needs a wider range but sneaking up on the endpoint gradually looks like the only solution. The problem remains to determine consumption and steady state dosing requirement. Being able to test well below the Red Sea range would help.

Of course, at the same time carbon dosing is removing it so you have at least two variables.

 

[nhlives]

What are you dosing with?
Sodium nitrate is readily available and its no3 effect pretty predictable with some math. The testing really is to see what your tank actually needs, start slow and test often, dont set a target but something that isnt absolutely clear on the red sea test. If its tinged pink you have no3.
Make sure you are testing po4 at the same time if you were no3 limited before, it isnt a hard stretch dosing too much no3 could make it po4 limited.

Please explain PO4 limited. I’ve heard the term but don’t understand the relationship to nitrate

 

[Gareth elliott]

All organisms require nitrate and phosphate for cellular metabolism. Most use more nitrate than phosphate. If your tank had limited nitrate and you add nitrate this could cause your tank’s phosphate levels to drop below an amount your desirable organisms require. If adding one its best to test for both.

 

[nhlives]

All organisms require nitrate and phosphate for cellular metabolism. Most use more nitrate than phosphate. If your tank had limited nitrate and you add nitrate this could cause your tank’s phosphate levels to drop below an amount your desirable organisms require. If adding one its best to test for both.

.1ppm do that is probably not an issue right now anyway. It hasn’t changed since the last test.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

How old is the tank? Seems like your making it more complicated than it has to be with carbon dosing

 

[nhlives]

How old is the tank? Seems like your making it more complicated than it has to be with carbon dosing

21 months but not sure I understand

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Why do you want nitrates to be a tenth of a part per million or less? You state that your tank reacts negatively to going much higher than this? Something else must be going on here. Many SPS reefers maintain nitrates above 5 ppm, some even above 10 ppm, and have no issues with coral health or color. If anything, some say the higher nitrates improve colors.

 

[nhlives]

Why do you want nitrates to be a tenth of a part per million or less? You state that your tank reacts negatively to going much higher than this? Something else must be going on here. Many SPS reefers maintain nitrates above 5 ppm, some even above 10 ppm, and have no issues with coral health or color. If anything, some say the higher nitrates improve colors.

I suppose that is possible but think it unlikely. Probably more important is a very gradual raise to those levels which doesn’t change the current goal. I do see that one monti is reasonably happy at 5ppm. Again I believe long with others that it is important to maintain stable levels. A rapid rise to those levels killed off a couple corals during an unusual two week absence. The Zoa’s didn’t care much for rapid change either.

Triton Lab test doesn’t show anything unusual other than lithium which I believe most US testers have similar elevated levels.

I would love to maintain higher levels of nitrate but think it will a slow and steady effort to get there.

But thanks for the thought.

 

[nhlives]

Just an update. I have slowly raised NO3 to 4 ppm. It’s been awhile since I ran a reef at that level. The monti’s seem to be adapting and look good. The Zoa are still a bit funky but with a recent large water change seem to be slowly recovering. I’m not dosing NO3 but instead cut way back on the NOPOX.