Raising Nitrates Fast or Slow?

[Boss]

I'm about to add Brightwell's NeoNitro in an effort to raise my nitrates from 0 to 3 ppm.

This is the first time I'm using it so I was hoping someone could tell me if it is safe to add the full dose to raise it to 3 ppm all at once or if I should raise it slowly from 0 to 3 ppm over the course of several days?

Thanks!

 

[Spare time]

I did so all at once and didn't notice anything wrong.

 

[LRT]

How are you testing? What kit?
Recommended is 1ppm/day. I'd stick with that.
Everything in baby steps dont rush it no need to.
How are your phosphates?

 

[Boss]

How are you testing? What kit?
Recommended is 1ppm/day. I'd stick with that.
Everything in baby steps dont rush it no need to.
How are your phosphates?

I'm testing nitrates with an API test kit and phosphates with a Salifert test kit (using the directions for high sensitivity). My phosphates are high (0.25 depending on the day). Note: I also run GFO.

The reason I was thinking about dosing it all at once is b/c the Brightwell bottle didn't warn against it and instead implied doing it all at once.

My worry with doing it at 1PPM / day is that I'll never get it up to 3PPM due to the existing nitrate uptake in the tank. Not sure if that is a valid concern though.

Thanks for the help.

 

[jx.reef]

Yeah I agree with LRT on testing your phosphates. You don’t want it to bottom out once your tank sucks up all the extra nitrates. That’ll kill your corals overnight. I’ve used Brightwell FaststartM that combines both nitrate and phosphate to avoid that situation.

 

[Spare time]

Dosing nitrate, how fast can I raise it?

I'm dosing back some nitrates in my system after an incident with carbon "dosing" that dropped my nitrates from 10 to 0 in a matter of days. What's the maximum increase that is tolerated by my mixed tank? I'm trying to get it to 5-10.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[LRT]

I'm testing nitrates with an API test kit and phosphates with a Salifert test kit (using the directions for high sensitivity). My phosphates are high (0.25 depending on the day). Note: I also run GFO.

The reason I was thinking about dosing it all at once is b/c the Brightwell bottle didn't warn against it and instead implied doing it all at once.

My worry with doing it at 1PPM / day is that I'll never get it up to 3PPM due to the existing nitrate uptake in the tank. Not sure if that is a valid concern though.

Thanks for the help.

Alright that explains it.
Do yourself a huge favor before you dose any nitrates. API Nitrate kit is known to be faulty and give false readings it's been documented time and time again.
Pick up a red sea or nyos nitrate test kit to cross reference your api reading. Or have your lfs test nitrates to confirm your actually reading 0 as well. Dont trust that if they are also using API nitrate kit.

Last of all. How do your corals look?
If it's not broken dont fix it until you can confirm numbers on Nitrates.

 

[Boss]

Alright that explains it.
Do yourself a huge favor before you dose any nitrates. API Nitrate kit is known to be faulty and give false readings it's been documented time and time again.
Pick up a red sea or nyos nitrate test kit to cross reference your api reading. Or have your lfs test nitrates to confirm your actually reading 0 as well. Dont trust that if they are also using API nitrate kit.

Last of all. How do your corals look?
If it's not broken dont fix it until you can confirm numbers on Nitrates.

Thanks. Ironically I have a Nyos kit showing up Monday.

Regarding the corals, I have what I think is a Dino problem I'm trying to control. Some corals are good and some bad. Here are pics of some bad spots. I notice this brown algae go away at night which is why I think it is Dinos.

 

[LRT]

Thanks. Ironically I have a Nyos kit showing up Monday.

Regarding the corals, I have what I think is a Dino problem I'm trying to control. Some corals are good and some bad. Here are pics of some bad spots. I notice this brown algae go away at night which is why I think it is Dinos.

Ok how new old is your grow?
What kind of lights are you running?
What are your other parameters?
Cal
Alk
Mag
Salinity
Temps

Start here first before your start dosing get Nitrates confirmed. 0 nitrates and phosphates can be causing the dinos which is does sound like you have.
That could also be that your system is new and going through the grow phases.

Do you run dry rock in your system or rock from the ocean?

 

[Boss]

Ok how new old is your grow?
What kind of lights are you running?
What are your other parameters?
Cal
Alk
Mag
Salinity
Temps

Start here first before your start dosing get Nitrates confirmed. 0 nitrates and phosphates can be causing the dinos which is does sound like you have.
That could also be that your system is new and going through the grow phases.

Do you run dry rock in your system or rock from the ocean?

My tank is about 10 years old. Here is a quick summary of equipment: Radion Gen 3 lights in main tank, Kessil H380 fuge light, Ca = 425, Alk = 9, Mag = 1600, Salinity = 35 , Temp = 80F. Also using UV light filter and GFO.

By the way, my nitrates went to zero after adding the Kessil H380 fuge light recently.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Spare time]

While API gives you a ballpark answer of 0, the dinos are providing more evidence that your nitrates are 0. Go ahead and dose the nitrates if you get it. Even if you don't have 0, raising nitrates by 5 or so. wouldn't do anything bad. I just finished dinos and lost some of my favorite corals.

 

[LRT]

Sound advice here.
Does sound like your N is bottomed out.
I will revert to the pros to help with your dinoflagellates issue.

 

[Boss]

While API gives you a ballpark answer of 0, the dinos are providing more evidence that your nitrates are 0. Go ahead and dose the nitrates if you get it. Even if you don't have 0, raising nitrates by 5 or so. wouldn't do anything bad. I just finished dinos and lost some of my favorite corals.

Thanks! I just ordered some NeoPhos that will be here Monday based on the advice above. Do you think it is safe to dose the NeoNitro tonight or would you wait until Monday when I have the NeoPhos on hand in case the phosphates drop to zero. If so, how many PPM would you shoot to raise it by tonight?

 

[Spare time]

Thanks! I just ordered some NeoPhos that will be here Monday based on the advice above. Do you think it is safe to dose the NeoNitro tonight or would you wait until Monday when I have the NeoPhos on hand in case the phosphates drop to zero. If so, how many PPM would you shoot to raise it by tonight?

I dont think it will matter. I raised my phosphate by 0.05 ppm at once. I got my phosphate to 0.1 ppm and nitrate up and my dinos were gone in a few weeks. I also had a green machine uv running that I just disconnected since my dinos are 99% gone

 

[Boss]

I dont think it will matter. I raised my phosphate by 0.05 ppm at once. I got my phosphate to 0.1 ppm and nitrate up and my dinos were gone in a few weeks. I also had a green machine uv running that I just disconnected since my dinos are 99% gone

Thanks. Out of curiosity, why don't you just leave the UV connected all the time?

 

[Spare time]

Thanks. Out of curiosity, why don't you just leave the UV connected all the time?

I want microbial diversity in my water column. UV sterilizers and skimmers remove phytoplankton, bacteria, etc.. I dose phyto frequently and have multiple featuer dusters as well as a copepod population that live off of phyto and the UV would kill my phyto.

 

[Boss]

I want microbial diversity in my water column. UV sterilizers and skimmers remove phytoplankton, bacteria, etc.. I dose phyto frequently and have multiple featuer dusters as well as a copepod population that live off of phyto and the UV would kill my phyto.

Hmmm... interesting. I have tons of tine feather dusters and a big copepod population and I run my UV 24/7, but I hear a lot of folks talk about how it is bad to run all the time so trying to make sense of it. Thanks.

 

[Spare time]

Hmmm... interesting. I have tons of tine feather dusters and a big copepod population and I run my UV 24/7, but I hear a lot of folks talk about how it is bad to run all the time so trying to make sense of it. Thanks.

I have really big feather dusters not the little ones.