red sea AB+ nitrate and phosphate

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As indicated in one of the other duplicate threrads, it contains amino acids which are a substantial source of N. There's no P on the ingredient list, but that doesn't mean it isn't there as a contaminant or unnamed component.

 

[M4sonic]

As indicated in one of the other duplicate threrads, it contains amino acids which are a substantial source of N. There's no P on the ingredient list, but that doesn't mean it isn't there as a contaminant or unnamed component.

So would there be a reason why it lowers my nutrients instead of raising them?
would it be advisable to dose nutrients and continue using AB+?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So would there be a reason why it lowers my nutrients instead of raising them?
would it be advisable to dose nutrients and continue using AB+?

Amino acids are going to work as a type of organic carbon dosing, spurring growth of bacteria, including cyano, and perhaps other organisms. That growth may consume more nutrients than the product adds, at least in some cases.

 

[F i s h y]

My working theory is that the addition of a powerful coral food like AB+ jumpstarts the corals making them drain the water of nutrients.
This would mean i need to keep dosing regardless if my nutrients test at 0.0
I'm just not comfortable doing this for fear of dinos and whatnot.

But i could be way off base here so im not sure what to do.

This has been my experience as well.

 

[F i s h y]

Or its jumpstarting your bacteria and they're stripping your nutrients?

I dont have any mechanical filtration, just a fuge and I have to dose nutrients. I reckon that's your best bet.

Could be this as well

 

[hyprc]

If you want to raise P, try dosing PhytoFeast daily. Your pods will flourish too.

 

[Badboyan93l]

I'd say raise only the NITRATES and keeps phosphate low for coral growth SPECIALLY SPS and LPS. From my experience, I've always had nitrates at 75ppm or above as per Hanna and salifer test kit. And all corals look happy and healthy and colorful. NOW phosphate you can have them low and or high while nitrates are HIGH. I currently have my phos at 0.9ppm or above as per hanna and everything is striving. The only problem is High phos will slow coral growth, each time I reduce my phos to from 0.9 to .02 or .01 (my likings) and i'll start seeing the white tips and rim on the SPS specially my montis when I lower them. Downside to high phos is that any new acro will brown out if the phos is too high. But increase the nitrates slowly, why ? because if you increase or decrease phos or nitrates super fast, you'll end up with dinos or cyano.

I'll send you a pic or video if you wanna see....

 

[M4sonic]

Amino acids are going to work as a type of organic carbon dosing, spurring growth of bacteria, including cyano, and perhaps other organisms. That growth may consume more nutrients than the product adds, at least in some cases.

That could explain the results im seeing! thanks!

 

[M4sonic]

I'd say raise only the NITRATES and keeps phosphate low for coral growth SPECIALLY SPS and LPS. From my experience, I've always had nitrates at 75ppm or above as per Hanna and salifer test kit. And all corals look happy and healthy and colorful. NOW phosphate you can have them low and or high while nitrates are HIGH. I currently have my phos at 0.9ppm or above as per hanna and everything is striving. The only problem is High phos will slow coral growth, each time I reduce my phos to from 0.9 to .02 or .01 (my likings) and i'll start seeing the white tips and rim on the SPS specially my montis when I lower them. Downside to high phos is that any new acro will brown out if the phos is too high. But increase the nitrates slowly, why ? because if you increase or decrease phos or nitrates super fast, you'll end up with dinos or cyano.

I'll send you a pic or video if you wanna see....

I have low readings on both really.
The reason im looking to up both is because i would like to have my readings be out of testing margin of error to 0.0
I tested last night and my readings were 4 and 0.01 , but with margin of error could wel be 0.
Ideally i would like to see 10+ and 0.06-0.08

 

[benmed]

have you tried pellet food? This brings an unholy amount of phosphate

 

[M4sonic]

have you tried pellet food? This brings an unholy amount of phosphate

i have some pellet food but my fish dont eat it cause it sinks to fast.
And my fish dont subscribe to the 5 second rule

 

[benmed]

i have some pellet food but my fish dont eat it cause it sinks to fast.
And my fish dont subscribe to the 5 second rule

That will bring up your phosphate for sure

 

[EthanGuest]

Hey there fellow reefer

I’ve been dosing ab+ for about 4 months in my nano reef 15g and my 40b and here’s my .02$.

It absolutely raises phosphates and it’s my opinion that it actually raises nitrates a bit as well.

It’s anecdotal as I’m not testing every single day but rather once a week.

I’ve since stopped dosing coral nutrition ab+ as I’ve been having some gha issues. And I strongly believe the coral food is the culprit.

In the last 4 months my 40b went from consistently bottoming out on phosphates to increasing to .12. There have been no new changes to environment no new corals fish etc. thus the algae problem.

In my 15g nano (it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve dosed ab+ daily) still dose but irregular maybe 1-2 times a week I test my nitrate and phosphate every single Sunday at the exact same time every week. My nitrates remain pretty steady at or near 22. This past Sunday my nitrates tested at 9.

All tests done using Hanna nitrate and ulr checker.

It’s obviously anecdotal and not extremely scientific but it’s my firm belief that these will increase nutrients of both phosphate and nitrates.

I dosed every single day in that 4 months span and I’ve gotten great growth but the adverse effects I’m seeing have me conflicted. I will continue to use this product due to its ease of use and results but I need to change something about my nutrient export.

I have no thoughts on why it would decrease youre nutrients as I did not experience that whatsoever but every tank is different.

Will ab+ raise my nitrates and phosphates?? I also have a 15gal and they are both at 0 and nothings lookin too good, I also have tdo pellets and frozen food, jus tell me what brings them up bc I have no idea

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will ab+ raise my nitrates and phosphates?? I also have a 15gal and they are both at 0 and nothings lookin too good, I also have tdo pellets and frozen food, jus tell me what brings them up bc I have no idea

Any food raises nitrate and phosphate. As discussed in this thread, the product you are asking about may raise nitrate but there’s no reason to assume it will raise phosphate.