Starting to Dose Nitrate

The-Russ · Feb 16, 2016

I am not going to dose anything else today. My numbers are where I wanted to be for my first day, right around 3 - 4. I am going to test when I get home to verify they are less, I assume based off my experience yesterday it will be substantially less.

Tomorrow morning I will test again and will setup a dosing schedule, depending on what my readings in the morning are. My target will be 2ppm. I am estimating I will dose between 20 and 35 ml. I will test in the evening and then the following morning. If my numbers are in the 2ppm range, I will leave it and test the same schedule the following day. I will continue this until I am locked in at 2ppm.

Tomorrow, I will also get a potassium it and do daily evening tests of potassium. If my potassium numbers get high, I will figure it out. As @Randy Holmes-Farley stated Sodium Nitrate can be easily purchased online and it looks like it may be a little cheaper.

jent · Feb 16, 2016

I would also be testing your phosphates with your nitrates. Phosphates have become my limiting factor, and why I have not wanted to increase my nitrate level more right now (I am nervous about having undetectable phosphates).

The-Russ · Feb 16, 2016

jent said:
I would also be testing your phosphates with your nitrates. Phosphates have become my limiting factor, and why I have not wanted to increase my nitrate level more right now (I am nervous about having undetectable phosphates).

I definitely have an issue with undetectable Phosphate in my system. I don't trust the test, but I do trust my eyes and I have a small issue with algae growing. I am not positive, but I think that adding NITRATE will help with my phosphate issue especially combined with a CARBON source. I assume that everyone dosing NITRATE is also dosing CARBON.

The-Russ · Feb 17, 2016

My levels have not diminished as much as I thought they might. Yesterday, I dosed 60ml. I am higher than what I want. Today I am going to start dosing 25ml over a 24 hour period, that is about 1ml an hour. I will retest tonight and see where I am.

twilliard · Feb 17, 2016

The-Russ said:
I definitely have an issue with undetectable Phosphate in my system. I don't trust the test, but I do trust my eyes and I have a small issue with algae growing. I am not positive, but I think that adding NITRATE will help with my phosphate issue especially combined with a CARBON source. I assume that everyone dosing NITRATE is also dosing CARBON.

This functionality will not work.
Carbon dosing is to aid in the reduction of no3. So you don't want to dose no3 and carbon as it defeats the purpose of no3 dosing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 17, 2016

twilliard said:
This functionality will not work.
Carbon dosing is to aid in the reduction of no3. So you don't want to dose no3 and carbon as it defeats the purpose of no3 dosing.

Unless the purpose is to let the organic carbon dosing bring down phosphate with organic carbon dosing, which might not work as well if the nitrate runs out before the phosphate does.

twilliard · Feb 17, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Unless the purpose is to let the organic carbon dosing bring down phosphate with organic carbon dosing, which might not work as well if the nitrate runs out before the phosphate does.

So true Randy! I missed that part in the early morning thinking

The-Russ · Feb 17, 2016

I have two goals here. Tell me if I am off base.

I want to have a small amount of Nitrate for the health of my corals
- This is a complete philosophy change for what I have believed for years. It is difficult to digest, but after all the reading I have done, it seems a small amount of nitrate is good for everything
Reduce my PO4 levels. I know I could do it with GFO, but I have 650 gal of water and that is not a very affordable option and my system is not easy to grow chaeto in, right now.

Ultimately, I would like to get my tank balanced with a small amount of Nitrate (previous to dosing I had zero) and a good bacteria load with carbon dosing to remove PO4. I know the Carbon is paying against the NO3, but is it possible to find a balance and create a healthy environment where the two (NO3 & PO4) compete for their existence?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 17, 2016

A balance is certainly attainable with what you are proposing, as long as the inputs are not too excessively skewed toward phosphate.

watchguy123 · Feb 17, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
A balance is certainly attainable with what you are proposing, as long as the inputs are not too excessively skewed toward phosphate.

I wonder how exacting (or forgiving) the dynamics are to achieve balance. Carbon dosing to reduce nitrates and phosphates, adding nitrates when they become limited and then ultimately targeting desired nitrate and phosphate levels.

The-Russ · Feb 17, 2016

watchguy123 said:
I wonder how exacting (or forgiving) the dynamics are to achieve balance. Carbon dosing to reduce nitrates and phosphates, adding nitrates when they become limited and then ultimately targeting desired nitrate and phosphate levels.

I do not know the answer nor do I know how to even answer it. What I do know is this:

I have 650 gal of water +/-
Mixing 225g of Potassium Nitrate in 1000ml and dosing 60ml will get my Nitrates to around 4-5
Today I started to dose NITRATE at 1ml an hour (24ml per day)
I am currently dosing .1ml per 25 gal of Carbon (Vodka)

I am going to check my Nitrate level when I get home and again in the AM. My goal is to see my Nitrate a round 2. I hope, after a week or two, that I see my Nitrate remain at 2 and my algae starting to disappear.

I don't know what I am doing, I am just trying this. If anyone has thoughts or ideas, let me know.

The-Russ · Feb 17, 2016

I got home and tested my water. It was up around 4 so I stopped the drip till tomorrow morning. It has not increased but it has not decreased.

The-Russ · Feb 18, 2016

Nitrate still at 3 - 4 this AM. I started a 1ml per hour drip this AM and will test when I get home. Yesterday I dripped a total of 11ml.

The-Russ · Feb 19, 2016

My levels are very consistent.

I am currently dosing a high concentration 225g/1000ml at 1ml an hour.

It looks like it is in the 3-4 range.

The-Russ · Feb 19, 2016

I stuck around and looked at my tank this morning and it looks like the Algae I have in my tank is becoming a darker green. I assume this is normal as I am adding nitrogen and fertilizer does make my grass a little greener. I am hoping/waiting for the algae to begin to disappear, but I assume that will take a few weeks?

The-Russ · Feb 19, 2016

Nitrates crept up today. I am reducing my dose to 15ml per day. on 650gal, how much carbon do you think I should be dosing, just to get the bacteria levels up. I am currently dosing vodka right now, but I am thinking about switching to VSV. I am only dosing 2.6ml a day right now.

If no one knows, what do you think of this. Get my nitrates level/consistent at about 3-5. Then double my carbon intake for 7 days, then do the .5ml per week until the nitrates go down and cut the does in 1/2. Once I have this proper dose, I can up my nitrate a bit to get it back to 3ish.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 20, 2016

The-Russ said:
Nitrates crept up today. I am reducing my dose to 15ml per day. on 650gal, how much carbon do you think I should be dosing, just to get the bacteria levels up. I am currently dosing vodka right now, but I am thinking about switching to VSV. I am only dosing 2.6ml a day right now.

If no one knows, what do you think of this. Get my nitrates level/consistent at about 3-5. Then double my carbon intake for 7 days, then do the .5ml per week until the nitrates go down and cut the does in 1/2. Once I have this proper dose, I can up my nitrate a bit to get it back to 3ish.

You mentioned that phosphate earlier that is undetectable, and nitrate is there due to dosing, so what is the purpose to dosing both nitrate and organic carbon?

Trying to eliminate algae?

The-Russ · Feb 20, 2016

Sorry, I did not communicate clearly. The phosphates are detectable but I think they are higher than what my test says considering the algae I have on my back glass and overflows.

Yes, I am trying to eliminate algae so my rock is clean and coralline can grip hold and grow.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 20, 2016

OK, if you are trying to drive down the phosphate and kill off the algae, that's reasonable.

The-Russ · Feb 20, 2016

Ok cool. I thought it might be based off everything I have read, but I was not 100% certain.

The algae is getting much darker, I will see what happens over the next couple weeks.