Nitrate Dosing Leading to GHA?

[VR28man]

Happy New Year to All!

So, assuming that my zero nitrate level is one of the causes of the fact my corals haven't been doing well (just an assumption for purposes of this thread)....

What is the best way to dose nitrates? I'm worried that if I dose nitrates it will immediately be taken up by algae of some sort.



Brief relevant history of my tank:

- for its first 9 months or so, nitrates were in the 10-30 ppm range. I had a marine pure at the time, which i set up in a way that only nitrifies but not denitrifies. I fed very badly at the time, for a variety of reasons, leading I think to detritus accumulating in the rock and sandbed.

- for the past 9 months or so, nitrate and phosphate have been at or near zero, and I've been unable to get nitrates to go much beyond 1-2 ppm even for a day, and it quickly goes to zero. I got in the shape by suctioning out a lot of detritus, replacing the marine pure with seachem matrix, dosing about 1.3ml vinegar/10ml of tank size (the approximate amount that does not result in cloudy blooms of probably bacteria), possible denitrifying bacteria colonies growing in live rock, GHA and sometimes cyano growing prolifically in the rocks, and an algae turf scrubber. I assume nitrate and phosphate are present but are just being taken up by the algae.

As of now, all of that has stopped save for the matrix, detritus vacuuming, ats, and much lower rate of nuisance algae growth (possibly kept in check by numerous trochus snails and a pincushion urchin). I am also dosing ATI essentials, have nothing weird going on in the tank according to ICP tests, and not doing water changes per their instructions.




Anyway, in this situation I'm still constantly at 0 nitrates/0 phospates, probably from algae absorbtion (and harvest) and my corals are growing only OK. I'm thinking of bringing nitrate up to between 2-5ppm by adding a, say, potassium nitrate solution that amounts to keeping it constantly at, say, 3ppm a day.

But am worried that (even if this were the correct diagnosis for may coral problems) this would promptly fuel algae growth either in the display tank or in the ATS. (part of me would feed more, but I'm worried that this would have the same problem, at a worse level because of the potential side effects of feeding versus nitrate dosing).

 

[glb]

Happy New Year to All!

So, assuming that my zero nitrate level is one of the causes of the fact my corals haven't been doing well (just an assumption for purposes of this thread)....

What is the best way to dose nitrates? I'm worried that if I dose nitrates it will immediately be taken up by algae of some sort.



Brief relevant history of my tank:

- for its first 9 months or so, nitrates were in the 10-30 ppm range. I had a marine pure at the time, which i set up in a way that only nitrifies but not denitrifies. I fed very badly at the time, for a variety of reasons, leading I think to detritus accumulating in the rock and sandbed.

- for the past 9 months or so, nitrate and phosphate have been at or near zero, and I've been unable to get nitrates to go much beyond 1-2 ppm even for a day, and it quickly goes to zero. I got in the shape by suctioning out a lot of detritus, replacing the marine pure with seachem matrix, dosing about 1.3ml vinegar/10ml of tank size (the approximate amount that does not result in cloudy blooms of probably bacteria), possible denitrifying bacteria colonies growing in live rock, GHA and sometimes cyano growing prolifically in the rocks, and an algae turf scrubber. I assume nitrate and phosphate are present but are just being taken up by the algae.

As of now, all of that has stopped save for the matrix, detritus vacuuming, ats, and much lower rate of nuisance algae growth (possibly kept in check by numerous trochus snails and a pincushion urchin). I am also dosing ATI essentials, have nothing weird going on in the tank according to ICP tests, and not doing water changes per their instructions.




Anyway, in this situation I'm still constantly at 0 nitrates/0 phospates, probably from algae absorbtion (and harvest) and my corals are growing only OK. I'm thinking of bringing nitrate up to between 2-5ppm by adding a, say, potassium nitrate solution that amounts to keeping it constantly at, say, 3ppm a day.

But am worried that (even if this were the correct diagnosis for may coral problems) this would promptly fuel algae growth either in the display tank or in the ATS. (part of me would feed more, but I'm worried that this would have the same problem, at a worse level because of the potential side effects of feeding versus nitrate dosing).

I’ve had the same problem with nitrates. It’s a long story, but I had a massive outbreak of furry brown algae (or something else) that took up all the nitrates and phosphates. It stuck to the rock and I couldn’t remove it. The reef squad recommended a dose of Reef Flux to wipe it out (the types of algae you have sounds different). It worked, but I still had the problems with 0 nitrates and phosphates. I dosed Brightwell Neonitro daily for several weeks until the nitrates rose to 5-10ppm. I did get some cyano and gha, but I think they’re just part of the “ugly” stage of cycling since I added lights. I’m still at 0 PO4 but dosing the brighwell phosphate additive to address that. I’m going to call in the #reefsquad to help with this. How old is your tank? What livestock do you have?

 

[saltyhog]

If you want to raise nitrates/phosphates, another option would be just to turn off your ATS. Zero nitrates and phosphates can do lots of things that are not good for our tanks.....dinos is the worse one.

I dosed sodium nitrate since I didn't want to have to monitor potassium levels. It's available in pharmaceutical grade on Amazon for very little. Seachem makes a product called Flourish that is good for raising phosphates.

Everything is about balance. Yes raising nutrients can have some effect on visible algae levels but many people have nitrates that are much higher than you are aiming for without significant algae problems. I would not over feed to raise nutrients as that adds organic compounds, not just nitrate/phosphate.

 

[Big G]

I would not over feed to raise nutrients as that adds organic compounds, not just nitrate/phosphate.

Yep. Been there done that. Caused a tremendous GHA growth all over the rocks and back wall of the tank. Just to give you and idea how sensitive our tanks are, all I did was quit rinsing frozen cubes that I use to make up the fish "smoothie" I feed the fish. Just that little step, and BOOM GHA everywhere.

 

[VR28man]

Thanks!

I’ve had the same problem with nitrates. It’s a long story, but I had a massive outbreak of furry brown algae (or something else) that took up all the nitrates and phosphates. It stuck to the rock and I couldn’t remove it. The reef squad recommended a dose of Reef Flux to wipe it out (the types of algae you have sounds different). It worked, but I still had the problems with 0 nitrates and phosphates. I dosed Brightwell Neonitro daily for several weeks until the nitrates rose to 5-10ppm. I did get some cyano and gha, but I think they’re just part of the “ugly” stage of cycling since I added lights. I’m still at 0 PO4 but dosing the brighwell phosphate additive to address that. I’m going to call in the #reefsquad to help with this. How old is your tank? What livestock do you have?

Thanks, glb. The tank is 30x13x18 inches (29 gal standard, 110L) and is about a year and a half old. It hasn't been as stable as I would have liked, but that's again a separate issue (and one almost certainly as, maybe more, relevant to bad coral growth as no nitrate and phosphate). Current livestock is a branching acro (doing decently; i think it's a shortcake/A. microclados type), a montipora capitata, some zoas, two pocci frags, an A. millepora frag, a war coral that's growing well, and (my baby) a Porites lobata or lutea frag (no joke, it's a pain to get it in the hobby). Higher animals are two ocellari, a firefish, a yellow headed jawfish, and maybe 7 snails and a tuxedo urchin.

today's fts:

If you want to raise nitrates/phosphates, another option would be just to turn off your ATS. Zero nitrates and phosphates can do lots of things that are not good for our tanks.....dinos is the worse one.

I dosed sodium nitrate since I didn't want to have to monitor potassium levels. It's available in pharmaceutical grade on Amazon for very little. Seachem makes a product called Flourish that is good for raising phosphates.

Everything is about balance. Yes raising nutrients can have some effect on visible algae levels but many people have nitrates that are much higher than you are aiming for without significant algae problems. I would not over feed to raise nutrients as that adds organic compounds, not just nitrate/phosphate.

Maybe I will turn down the (Santa Monica) ATS at some point. It's running like 22 hours a day, I'm hoping it will beat out algae in the rest of the tank (something that's working OK at this point; I think algae growth in the ATS has exceeded growth in the rest of the tank. I'm quite satisfied with the product; at some point I'll write a review).

What sodium nitrate do you use? I'm looking for one preferably covered by prime.

 

[theMeat]

Feed a lil more and cut down on ats light cycle time until you find the balance

 

[saltyhog]

Thanks!



Thanks, glb. The tank is 30x13x18 inches (29 gal standard, 110L) and is about a year and a half old. It hasn't been as stable as I would have liked, but that's again a separate issue (and one almost certainly as, maybe more, relevant to bad coral growth as no nitrate and phosphate). Current livestock is a branching acro (doing decently; i think it's a shortcake/A. microclados type), a montipora capitata, some zoas, two pocci frags, an A. millepora frag, a war coral that's growing well, and (my baby) a Porites lobata or lutea frag (no joke, it's a pain to get it in the hobby). Higher animals are two ocellari, a firefish, a yellow headed jawfish, and maybe 7 snails and a tuxedo urchin.

today's fts:



Maybe I will turn down the (Santa Monica) ATS at some point. It's running like 22 hours a day, I'm hoping it will beat out algae in the rest of the tank (something that's working OK at this point; I think algae growth in the ATS has exceeded growth in the rest of the tank. I'm quite satisfied with the product; at some point I'll write a review).

What sodium nitrate do you use? I'm looking for one preferably covered by prime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0190TOJUS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not Prime but has free shipping.