Trimmed macros then BAM nitrate spike?

twilliard · Aug 28, 2015

Hi all and good morning!
Yesterday I trimmed my macros and kicked up some detritus.
In the morning no3 was 2ppm
Trimmed macros and then no3 was ... well, off the scale.
This morning back down to 2 ppm
Was it the detritus that spiked it??
But how did it get back to 2 ppm so fast?
Thanks R2R peeps!

ReefMadScientist · Aug 28, 2015

Wow that is scary. It was either a faulty test or definitely the detritus. When I trim my macros, I see a gradual increase in NO3.

You may want to wash your macro algae. Sometimes I get an extra bucket of fresh salt water and rinse out the macro. You will be amazed of all the detritus that flings out of it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 28, 2015

Maybe you stirred up some nitrite, which can show as more nitrate than nitrite with some kits. So it would quickly resolve to not much nitrate.

Also, some macroalgae will "bleed" when cut. Not sure what effect that might have on testing.

twilliard · Aug 28, 2015

Thanks guys!
It def was not testing error. I test my no3 daily as I am still trying to find my daily dosing of potassium nitrate.
I can say what ever it was the coral in the DT loved it

@Randy Holmes-Farley what was the makeup of detritus again?

twilliard · Aug 28, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Maybe you stirred up some nitrite, which can show as more nitrate than nitrite with some kits. So it would quickly resolve to not much nitrate.

Also, some macroalgae will "bleed" when cut. Not sure what effect that might have on testing.

I use the red sea pro no3

twilliard · Aug 28, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Wow that is scary. It was either a faulty test or definitely the detritus. When I trim my macros, I see a gradual increase in NO3.

You may want to wash your macro algae. Sometimes I get an extra bucket of fresh salt water and rinse out the macro. You will be amazed of all the detritus that flings out of it.

It stirred up quite a bit. I was surprised at how much there was.
Heck instead of dosing no3 maybe put in a sump stirring gizmo lol

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 28, 2015

twilliard said:
I use the red sea pro no3

The only one I know for sure that it is an issue is the Salifert, but it may be true of many kits.

beaslbob · Aug 28, 2015

if you "stirring things up" caused a temporary ammonia spike, the macros may have consumed that ammonia preventing the ammonia spike but causing a nitrate spike. Basically macors prefer ammonia over nitrates for nitrogen but in mature systems the bacteria are consuming the ammonia.

my .02

ReefMadScientist · Aug 28, 2015

twilliard said:
It stirred up quite a bit. I was surprised at how much there was.
Heck instead of dosing no3 maybe put in a sump stirring gizmo lol

Exactly. Why dose, just stir it up lol.

The Twilliard method.

twilliard · Aug 28, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Exactly. Why dose, just stir it up lol.

The Twilliard method.

Lol I got a kick out of that one!
But seriously if I raised nitrate by stirring detritus then what can go wrong? If done in small amounts.
Also doesn't bacteria live in detritus? Good bacteria?
Watch out triton here I come lol

twilliard · Aug 28, 2015

I will be testing this out again today

Inquiring minds just have to know!

yarddoctor123 · Sep 9, 2015

You've piqued my interest... so what were your nitrates? I might try your test with my chaeto. My sump is lit with a bare bottom. I'm curious to see if we get the same results.

twilliard · Sep 9, 2015

yarddoctor123 said:
You've piqued my interest... so what were your nitrates? I might try your test with my chaeto. My sump is lit with a bare bottom. I'm curious to see if we get the same results.

My refugium is bare bottom with 11 different macros
I can't tell you what the no3 was cause it was completely off the scales.
If you trim it up post your nitrate number about a half hour after trimming.
Would love to see the result!

stunreefer · Sep 9, 2015

twilliard said:
Heck instead of dosing no3 maybe put in a sump stirring gizmo lol

Some people call them powerheads

Detritus = Best Coral Food

yarddoctor123 · Sep 11, 2015

Wow. I'm going to have to transfer some chaeto back in there to come close to the plant ratio you must have in your system! eek:

twilliard · Sep 11, 2015

yarddoctor123 said:
Wow. I'm going to have to transfer some chaeto back in there to come close to the plant ratio you must have in your system! eek:

Its the triton method.
My macros supply the tank with the supporting nutrients
Love it!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 11, 2015

twilliard said:
Its the triton method.
My macros supply the tank with the supporting nutrients
Love it!

How do they supply the tank?

Do you fed them to the main tank? (I do).

twilliard · Sep 11, 2015

Hi randy!

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How do they supply the tank?

Do you fed them to the main tank? (I do).

Hi Randy!
As they grow they release the desired nutrients. When I spoke with the owner of triton (kinda hard to understand) he states they release the aminos and carbons
Nothing but spectacular is what I see with this method

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 11, 2015

twilliard said:
Hi randy!

Hi Randy!
As they grow they release the desired nutrients. When I spoke with the owner of triton (kinda hard to understand) he states they release the aminos and carbons
Nothing but spectacular is what I see with this method

OK, so you are talking about organic compounds. I'm not sure what they release normally, but when you trim them they probably spill some of their internal contents as well, and that may be especially nutritious.

twilliard · Sep 11, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
OK, so you are talking about organic compounds. I'm not sure what they release normally, but when you trim them they probably spill some of their internal contents as well, and that may be especially nutritious.

I am going to cross my fingers cause it is time to trim again. All these grow like weeds!
I will post my before no3 and post no3
Thank you Randy and have a wonderful Friday !