Nitrates phosphate ratio

[Billyreef-ita]

Hi everybody,
It’s been some time my nitrates are at zero and PO4 at 0,1-0,12 (Hanna checker).
My tank is 75G sps dominant. I run a skimmer and an Ats. I wonder if the combination of the two is too much, as NO2 at zero is not considered advisable and I’m thinking to shut down the ats. But before doing so I would like your advice as I am concerned if I shut down the Ats my PO4 will start rising, they are borderline today. Corals overall are fine but I have just lost two small frags.
Without considering the redfield ratio, which I understand is very much disputed, how can I rebalance my NO3/PO4 ratio.
Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The phosphate is fine. I’d either feed more or dose nitrate or ammonia to bring up the N.

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Last week I started dosing Nyos Nitrate+ without tangible results. I also started feeding more the corals (I use Evo SPS), but still NO2 at zero

 

[14 foot reef]

I would look at you foods your using with Nitrate 0.00 and pO4 .1-.12
Most likely pellets or something like reefroids or Nori could be trowing off that balance

Most hobbyist today will follow a 1-100 ratio ( but there is no science to this )
ex .... pO4 =.03 nO3 =3 pO4 .12 nO3 =12 this is a generalization not a strict rule at all to follow.

What test kits are you using

 

[rishma]

Seems like a perfect situation to dose ammonia. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

I don’t subscribe to the idea that a ratio is important. I aim for stable PO4 in fairly tight range (yours looks good) and some nitrate. How much? Not sure but I don’t worry if I am 1ppm or 15 ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Last week I started dosing Nyos Nitrate+ without tangible results. I also started feeding more the corals (I use Evo SPS), but still NO2 at zero

Needs more.

 

[Billyreef-ita]

I use Shg food and from time to time Nori, is this the Nori algae to increase PO4?
As for the tests use Hanna checkers

 

[rtparty]

No such as thing as a nitrate to phosphate “ratio”

Dose ammonia, nitrates, or feed a lot more with a nitrogen heavy food.

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Needs more.

I have to admit I’ve been a little bit shy with N as I started with half of the recommended dose. Now I feel authorized to pump it up

 

[Billyreef-ita]

No such as thing as a nitrate to phosphate “ratio”

Dose ammonia, nitrates, or feed a lot more with a nitrogen heavy food.

Any suggestion of the high nitrates food?

 

[rtparty]

Any suggestion of the high nitrates food?

I believe most frozen has more nitrogen than phosphorus. Much easier and cleaner to dose nitrogen IME. Ammonium bicarbonate should be easy enough to get and cheap. The link above has Randy’s recipe for it. Better than dosing straight nitrates IMO

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Seems like a perfect situation to dose ammonia. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

I don’t subscribe to the idea that a ratio is important. I aim for stable PO4 in fairly tight range (yours looks good) and some nitrate. How much? Not sure but I don’t worry if I am 1ppm or 15 ppm.

Thanks I have been following with very much interest the Randy’s thread on ammonia. Actually I suggested it as a good read to my Italian friends
If I’m not wrong that is very innovative and it’s still at the level of diy. Since I’m not very good at diy, is there a commercial product I could use?

 

[14 foot reef]

I use Shg food and from time to time Nori, is this the Nori algae to increase PO4?
As for the tests use Hanna checkers

Nori will raise pO4 so limit that, then concentrate on bringing nO3 up with dosing as Randy said.

He might also chime in on if the tank is newer, he might have different thoughts of dosing ammonia.

I have read a lot about new hobbyists and new tanks to maybe be careful dosing ammonia. Randys page sent to you above probably covers that.

 

[Billyreef-ita]

Nori will raise pO4 so limit that, then concentrate on bringing nO3 up with dosing as Randy said.

He might also chime in on if the tank is newer, he might have different thoughts of dosing ammonia.

I have read a lot about new hobbyists and new tanks to maybe be careful dosing ammonia. Randys page sent to you above probably covers that.

The tank is six months old, it’s been an upgrade from a previous one. I moved fishes and corals but I used synthetic rocks, I didn’t transfer the old rocks in the new aquarium to avoid transferring pests I had on them

 

[sixty_reefer]

Last week I started dosing Nyos Nitrate+ without tangible results. I also started feeding more the corals (I use Evo SPS), but still NO2 at zero

Id say go easy on the Evo SPS or add more ammonia to restore the balance.

 

[rishma]

I have had a hard time raising nutrients with food in a predictable/controlled way, especially with my current small tank. I seem to ether end up with no change, or overshooting phosphate in particular. My tank seems to consume nitrate very quickly, but not phosphate. When I try to use food to bump nitrate, even lower phosphate foods, I still got phosphate increases before nitrate.

There is nothing wrong in theory with that approach, but I can never seem to get it right. I reverted back to just feeding what the inhabitants want and then adjusting with chemical additives to dial it in when needed. That lets me add a known amount of N or P.

 

[ReneReef]

If I’m not wrong that is very innovative and it’s still at the level of diy. Since I’m not very good at diy, is there a commercial product I could use?

Fish have been exhaling ammonia for millions of years and thus dosing the sea with it.
Likewise have corals been taking up ammonia for millions of years.
I think that novelty has worn off by now

It is us finally catching up.

 

[Stevorino]

If you haven't already, I'd make sure you test nitrate with two different kits before dosing anything.

Years ago, I had a 0 Nitrate reading on my tank with a Nyos test kit, and started dosing.... even the dosing was hardly budging my Nitrate reading.

I tried a different test kit and Nitrates were actually 30+ and I should have never dosed in the first place.

Since then I always try 2 test kits before dosing anything new.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If I’m not wrong that is very innovative and it’s still at the level of diy. Since I’m not very good at diy, is there a commercial product I could use?

Innovative, yes, but it’s no more diy than buying a powder additive from a hobby reseller and using it.

 

[rishma]

Innovative, yes, but it’s no more diy than buying a powder additive from a hobby reseller and using it.

I object! If you buy it in fancy packages with pictures of corals on them, labels with miraculous claims, words like “Professional”, a very high price it means it’s a legit reef aquarium product.