Potassium Nitrate overdose. Advice needed.

Chris918 · 09/16/2019, 02:49 PM

Hello friends

After numerous discussions and trying to get advice from trusted reefers, I determined that my tank was running "too clean." As a result of my tank being bare bottom, only being 7 months old, and having 0 Nitrate and 0 Phosphate, my tank developed a kind of gross looking brown algae. I had tried so many things so the recommendation to raise my nitrates to get some biological competition going in my tank couldn't hurt.

The problem? Me! I misread the instructions and instead of increasing my Nitrates to 3-5 ppm over the course of a few days I increased them to 15 ppm all at once.

I did a 25% water change but ran out of reserve water. My test kit shows no change 24 hours later but my test kit may not be sensitive enough to detect the change. The rocks are already showing new kinds of algae. There's a tiny bit of green for the first time. Still I know I increased the nitrates too quickly. I'm assuming the fish will be fine. I have two acropora and one torch. They don't show any changes or reactions so far.

What should I do? More water changes? Let it run its course?

outssider · 09/16/2019, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris918

Let it run its course

this is what i'd do. 15 isn't too bad. Your tank runs low naturally so it should come down slowly on it's own.

Chris918 · 09/16/2019, 05:22 PM

Thank you for your reply.

bertoni · 09/16/2019, 05:27 PM

I suspect that the tank will be fine. A few water changes, 10-15% each, probably would help if any animals show signs of problems.

Chris918 · 09/16/2019, 05:43 PM

Hey bertoni. Thanks for stopping by. Yeah I did the initial large one, but I think I'll calm down and just keep a more consistent schedule. My tank was nutrient deficient in the first place so eventually it will go down.

bertoni · 09/16/2019, 07:21 PM

You're welcome. I suspect the tank will be fine.

09/16/2019, 02:49 PM	#1
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Potassium Nitrate overdose. Advice needed. Hello friends After numerous discussions and trying to get advice from trusted reefers, I determined that my tank was running "too clean." As a result of my tank being bare bottom, only being 7 months old, and having 0 Nitrate and 0 Phosphate, my tank developed a kind of gross looking brown algae. I had tried so many things so the recommendation to raise my nitrates to get some biological competition going in my tank couldn't hurt. The problem? Me! I misread the instructions and instead of increasing my Nitrates to 3-5 ppm over the course of a few days I increased them to 15 ppm all at once. I did a 25% water change but ran out of reserve water. My test kit shows no change 24 hours later but my test kit may not be sensitive enough to detect the change. The rocks are already showing new kinds of algae. There's a tiny bit of green for the first time. Still I know I increased the nitrates too quickly. I'm assuming the fish will be fine. I have two acropora and one torch. They don't show any changes or reactions so far. What should I do? More water changes? Let it run its course?

09/16/2019, 05:27 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I suspect that the tank will be fine. A few water changes, 10-15% each, probably would help if any animals show signs of problems. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/16/2019, 07:21 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome. I suspect the tank will be fine. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/16/2019, 05:22 PM	#3
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Thank you for your reply.

09/16/2019, 05:43 PM	#5
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Hey bertoni. Thanks for stopping by. Yeah I did the initial large one, but I think I'll calm down and just keep a more consistent schedule. My tank was nutrient deficient in the first place so eventually it will go down.