Wanting to increase my nitrate level:)

[jlinzmaier]

My tank is relatively low on dissolved nutrients and I'd like to see how increasing the nitrate level would affect my corals. I have been in the hobby for about 8 years and have never ever been able to have any test kit register any amount of nitrates present - absolute zero (including a nitrate photometer. Right now I have no GAC, GFO or macroalgae growing. I'm only running my skimmer and using an algae turf scrubber.

I don't want to feed more or add more fish because that adds other dissolved organics including phosphate, which I definately don't want to increase. I'm very interested in increasing my nitrate level to see what sort of response my corals provide.

Is there a product that I could purchase to increase my nitrate levels??

Would postasium nitrate (KNO3) be appropriate?? If so, where do I find a pure source and how much do I dose??

Thanks!

Jeremy

 

[reefjunky24]

I know you kinda said why but why do you want to increase it, it is a good thing to have it low, I personally would want very minimal if any in my tank most corals won't like that especially hard to keep or sensitive corals. If you are looking to get better growth or color there are many diff ways to do that but I def wouldn't recommend raising the nitrate level in your tank. For examples friend of mine asked me for help with his tank had almost no corals left but fish were ok the few corals he did have left were not happy and it was to high nitrate and nitrite levels I have him doing small water changes weekly to bring that down its been 3 weeks and he is getting it lower and the few corals he had left started opening more as well.

 

[beaslbob]

potassium nitrate is one option.

another is calcium nitrate which I got from a local feed and seed store.

Of the two I would think calcium nitrate is easier and therefore better.


my .02

 

[Chameleon]

I've used potassium nitrate as well.