Nitrate dosing

blkhawk10 · Nov 7, 2018

I've been dosing nitrates and phosphates for the past couple days. After I dose I get a reading of 2 ppm and .02 respectively but the next day when I test they both read 0. My question is do I keep dosing the same amount maybe 2 times a day or do I raise the dosage until I have readings that are measurable throughout the day?

Art2249 · Nov 7, 2018

I have to dose everyday. I slowly dosed more until it started climbing and then i backed off. But you still gotta keep checking because the amount will change over time.

cracker · Nov 7, 2018

Iv'e been dosing Po4 & No3 . Consider dosing the same amount. The nutrients are slowly gathering & soon they will stay where Ya want them. be careful it's real easy to overdose &overshoot your desired numbers. Please go slow .

blkhawk10 · Nov 7, 2018

Ok that's pretty much what I was planning on doing so that's perfect. Will the tank ever get to a place where you won't have to dose anymore?

Art2249 · Nov 7, 2018

I expect to get to a place where I have too many nutrients. At this point I'm only dosing to keep levels above zero. probably later I expect to have the opposite problem.

blkhawk10 · Nov 7, 2018

Art2249 said:
I expect to get to a place where I have too many nutrients. At this point I'm only dosing to keep levels above zero. probably later I expect to have the opposite problem.

Your in the same boat as me...I tried to feed more, take my filter socks off, add more fish and nothing helped as far as getting measurable nitrates and phosphates. Yesterday was the first time in two years that I have seen measurable nitrates and phosphates and it felt really good

. Best of luck to ya!

Mark Gray · Nov 7, 2018

blkhawk10 said:
Your in the same boat as me...I tried to feed more, take my filter socks off, add more fish and nothing helped as far as getting measurable nitrates and phosphates. Yesterday was the first time in two years that I have seen measurable nitrates and phosphates and it felt really good . Best of luck to ya!

Mine is the same way

MTBake · Nov 7, 2018

I get the same thing as well. Just stay on the course you're on. Test often. Eventually, the nutrients won't be taken up as quickly and you'll need to adjust your dose.