I'm trying to balance nitrate/phosphate levels and think I need to dose some nitrates. I feed heavy but even with 4 fish in a 25g tank, phosphate levels seems to bounce around (using small amount of GFO to manage) but I cannot really get my nitrates up and have been dealing with some brown slime algae. I've found a few threads about dosing this but not sure I want to buy and make my own sodium nitrate. Anyone using a similar product?
Anyone Dosing Sodium Nitrate?
- Thread starter JavaJacketOC
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For a 25gal tank, I think buying a brand name pre-mixed bottle will probably last you years and way less work.
If you have a much larger tank, and plan to mix all of your solutions, then it'll really save you a lot of money. I mix almost all of my own solutions.
Yes, I use sodium nitrate. I purchased it from Amazon for the Duda Energy brand. It was $20 for 5 lbs or $10 for 1 lbs. You will need to invest in a good scale that can read 0.01g or less. And just have to understand the molecular weight of each element in the chemical, and weigh what is needed to get a solution for dosing. Randy at R2R already has a lot of articles that tell you how to do it for most of the stuff we need in reefing.
If you have a much larger tank, and plan to mix all of your solutions, then it'll really save you a lot of money. I mix almost all of my own solutions.
Yes, I use sodium nitrate. I purchased it from Amazon for the Duda Energy brand. It was $20 for 5 lbs or $10 for 1 lbs. You will need to invest in a good scale that can read 0.01g or less. And just have to understand the molecular weight of each element in the chemical, and weigh what is needed to get a solution for dosing. Randy at R2R already has a lot of articles that tell you how to do it for most of the stuff we need in reefing.
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I initially had low N&P when first started the tank, dosing NeoNitro & NeoPhos was not effective at raising nutrients to a meaningful level. I went ahead and dose this stuff, Ammonium Cloride. The tank went from under 1 to 10+ NO3 in a week.
Loudwolf Ammonium Chloride/Dry Powder / 4 Ounces / 99.9% Pure ACS Grade, https://a.co/d/9r7PRJ1
Loudwolf Ammonium Chloride/Dry Powder / 4 Ounces / 99.9% Pure ACS Grade, https://a.co/d/9r7PRJ1
https://greenleafaquariums.com/products/reef-tank-fertilizer-package-jars.html
Best stuff super cheap.
Best stuff super cheap.
Ammonium chloride will be utilized almost instantly by corals, clams, macro algae, etc...The key is dosing a small amount throughout the day. You can dilute it so you don't have to worry about overdosing when using a dosing pump, but I dose every time I feed the tank, which is 6-8 times a day. You'll have to monitor alk while you're dosing it, as it will add to its consumption. Remember, nitrate is the end process and doesn't actually relate to nitrogen, it just means that you have a surplus. Corals struggle to utilize N & P directly from the water, so they get it through other means much easier and quicker.
I also think that if most people would just feed their fish more, you would get the same results. I dose ammonium chloride because most of my tanks have been nitrogen limited, mainly because I don't keep a good density of fish, which I'm trying to slowly change.
I also think that if most people would just feed their fish more, you would get the same results. I dose ammonium chloride because most of my tanks have been nitrogen limited, mainly because I don't keep a good density of fish, which I'm trying to slowly change.
I haven't tested, just trying to mimic the addition of fish, so I'm observing my corals for growth and color. I'll probably test alk today, but I've never been one to worry about NO3, especially with my feeding habits. PO4 is always elevated, which to me isn't a problem. I have certain acropora that are good indicators for growth (and color) so I just use visual cues. I will say that once I started dosing ammonium chloride, growth and color have improved. It takes corals a lot of energy to uptake NO3, so it's a poor way or inefficient way to add a nitrogen source.
