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02/06/2017, 07:38 PM | #26 |
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02/06/2017, 08:19 PM | #27 |
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I love this idea! I will definitely keep following your progress. Keep us updated!
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02/08/2017, 08:19 PM | #28 |
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Keep this thread going Toby! I did some experimenting with nitrate dosing and definitely noticed immediate improvements in the richness of color in my corals. I eventually stopped dosing and took a 2 month water change hiatus and my hair algae (present before I started dosing nitrate) got out of hand. Experimenting with a chaeto reactor now, and may revisit nitrate dosing once the hair algae is gone.
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03/03/2017, 02:46 PM | #29 |
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So it seems the issue I'm running into now is that raising my nitrates to 4 ppm has causes my phosphates to bottom out completely to 0.00 with a Hanna checker. I dose 2 ppm of nitrates with kno3 weekly to maintain 4 ppm nitrate. I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is on dosing phosphates to maintain 0.03 ppm. I've tried feeding more for 2 weeks but my phosphates having budged and my montis especially aren't maintaining food color.
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03/03/2017, 06:27 PM | #30 |
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Well, you could try dosing a food-grade trisodium phosphate product, as an experiment. I think a large supply is fairly inexpensive on Amazon.
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03/04/2017, 01:24 AM | #31 |
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I ordered some mono potassium phosphate from a reputable website that specializes in fresh water planted tanks for 5 bucks. Based on my calculations if I mix 1/2 teaspoon with 500 ml of ro/di water each ml of solution will cause a .01 increase in phosphate.
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03/04/2017, 05:56 PM | #32 |
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Okay, that should be fine, too.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
03/08/2017, 10:21 AM | #33 |
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If one is looking to dose nitrates is it better to dose NaNO3 or KNO3? I don't test for Potassium as it is.
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03/08/2017, 11:23 AM | #34 |
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By my calculations it shouldn't matter. In every scenario I ran it wasn't possible to dose enough kno3 to make a noticeable difference in potassium.
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03/08/2017, 11:58 AM | #35 |
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03/08/2017, 12:07 PM | #36 |
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Overtime K/potassium can build up;It's normal seawater level is a mere 380ppm vs. sodium on the other hand at around 10,800 ppm .
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Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals. |
03/08/2017, 05:00 PM | #37 |
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I'd dose sodium nitrate, but it's probably safe enough to use potassium if you keep up a good water change schedule.
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03/09/2017, 09:34 AM | #38 |
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I've been dosing potassium nitrate for a few weeks and have noticed a small increase in coloration. I am adding 1/4 teaspoon every couple of days and my nitrates are around 2-5-its hard to know exactly with RS test kits.
It is working, in my opinion. Pretty crazy to think that I would be ADDING nitrates! |
03/10/2017, 02:42 PM | #39 |
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I got my mono potassium phosphate in today. I made a known solution to calibrate the Hanna checker and w a .03 solution the checker read .05. I then dosed .03 in the aquarium and got .05 so it seems the checker is only .02 off which is pretty impressive for a 50 dollar tester. I am using a dosed to add .16 nitrate and .01 phosphates daily. I check parameters in a week to see where they are at.
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03/10/2017, 10:15 PM | #40 |
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Tagging along
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03/11/2017, 05:20 PM | #41 |
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03/11/2017, 07:36 PM | #42 |
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That sounds like nice progress!
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03/12/2017, 04:50 PM | #43 |
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Corals are looking good!
Are you also spot feeding, or are they purely filter needing from the nutrients dosed? |
03/12/2017, 05:02 PM | #44 |
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03/12/2017, 10:40 PM | #45 |
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So I checked my nitrates and phosphates today and they are both 0.00. Yesterday my nitrates were 4 and I dosed phosphate up to 0.05.
The only thing I can think of is that the 0.00 I had for phosphates before I started dosing them was keeping the nitrates from being consumed (I hope that makes sense). I dosed my nitrates manually to .8 ppm and phosphates to 0.05. I have my doser set up to do this daily now. I'll check this weekend to see if it bottoms out again. |
03/14/2017, 04:48 PM | #46 |
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After dosing. 05 phosphates and .8 nitrates 2 days in a row at the end of the day I'm still showing 0 phosphate and 0 nitrate. I'm convinced since I'm dosing a 16:1 ratio my refugium is soaking up all my nutrients at night. My zoas I've had for 2 years that haven't gained a single polyp are starting to reproduce so I'm thinking trace amounts are staying in my system. So basically I'm constantly importing and exporting nutrients.
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03/14/2017, 05:29 PM | #47 |
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Okay, I think you've found a reasonable dose for the tank. Congratulations! It's interesting seeing how this unfolds.
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03/14/2017, 07:24 PM | #48 | |
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Quote:
Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk |
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03/14/2017, 08:49 PM | #49 |
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Some tanks seem to do a bit better with vodka; some seem to do a bit better with vinegar. I don't know exactly why, but the issue usually is microbial blooms.
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03/15/2017, 01:09 PM | #50 |
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I'm pretty convinced through observation and testing that the key to lowering nitrates with a refugium is to raise phosphates and lowering phosphates by raising nitrates. I did this with my high tech planted tank for years. My phosphate level were dosed to 1 ppm and nitrates were dosed to 10 ppm everyday and I had no algae because the plants were out competing it for nutrients. I think balancing nutrients is more effective than having both undetectable.
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