OP
OP
DmitryB
Well-Known Member
So I got the NeoNitro bottle from Brightwell. I want to be very careful about how much I'm dosing, so I want to confirm here because the instructions say to monitor Phosphate as well, and then they talk about MicroBacter7 and their BioFuel and now it's too much for my brain to process. I do happen to have MicroBacter and BioFuel on hand (though I haven't used MicroBacter7 and BioFuel in some time.) So I'll need Randy's help - or anybody who's good at this! - to confirm the correct dose. The instructions from Brightwell are below. And tonight's readings were:
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: 0.16
pH: 8.2
Alkalinity: 9.0
Nitrate has been holding at zero for a while. What's consuming it all? Hair algae? The skimmer is still getting tuned and it's not pulling much. Refugium with chaeto (though I'm going to switch to pom pom red stuff) is only about a week old. I'm sure the activated carbon I had is long exhausted, it has not been in replaced in at least 2 weeks.
The only things in the tank are hair algae, a new large CUC crew, and a bunch of small frags.
My water volume is roughly 200 gallons (170 gallon tank with rocks/sand and 74 gallon sump that's 2/3 full and also has some rocks.) So estimating water volume at 200 gallons, I come up with a dose of 12.61 ml per day. (But what do MicroBacter7 and BioFuel have to do with it??)
So instructions for NeoNitro:
Results will be most significant when the system is being dosed with MicroBacter 7 on a daily or b-daily basis.
1. Using accurate test kits or calibrated digital testing devices, determine phosphate and nitrate concentrations in system. It is assumed that the nitrate concentration in the system is below detectable limits for the testing method being employed.
2. Apply NEONITRO as directed below to attain a nitrate concentration of ~3 ppm, but do not increase more than 0.5 ppm per day.
Multiply tank capacity in gallons x ppm increase desired x .1261 = ml of product to add. Example to raise the concentration of nitrate in a 75 gallon aquarium by .5 ppm, the calculation is: 75 x 0.5 x .1261 = 4.7 ml.
3. Allow 24-hours to elapse; re-test nitrate and phosphate concentrations. If concentrations remain unchanged, then the system is likely carbon-limited. Dose with REEF BIOFUEL at the rate of 1-ml per 25 US-gallons and allow 24-hours to elapse, then re-test phosphate and nitrate concentrations. Continue daily dosing with REEF BIOFUEL until phosphate or nitrate concentrations begin to decrease, indicating that the rate of carbon input to the system matches the rate of phosphorus- or nitrogen-input, respectively.
4. If phosphate concentration decreases without addition of REEF BIOFUEL or use of KATALYST, nitrate concentration in the system will decrease. Continue dosing with NEONITRO to maintain nitrate concentration of
~3 - 5 ppm until phosphate concentration falls to within desired range (suggested 0.01 - 0.02 ppm). Thereafter, dose with NEONITRO as required to maintain desired phosphate and nitrate concentrations.
Note: If at any time, dosing with NEONITRO results in a prolonged increase of nitrate concentration without gradual decrease as phosphate is taken up, system is likely carbon-limited (remedied by the application of REEF BIOFUEL or KATALYST to the system). Refer to Steps 3 and 4, or to our website (NEOPHOS "Technical" page). There has been more than one strength of NEONITRO that has been sold, so please refer to the number of gallons treated on the bottle.
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: 0.16
pH: 8.2
Alkalinity: 9.0
Nitrate has been holding at zero for a while. What's consuming it all? Hair algae? The skimmer is still getting tuned and it's not pulling much. Refugium with chaeto (though I'm going to switch to pom pom red stuff) is only about a week old. I'm sure the activated carbon I had is long exhausted, it has not been in replaced in at least 2 weeks.
The only things in the tank are hair algae, a new large CUC crew, and a bunch of small frags.My water volume is roughly 200 gallons (170 gallon tank with rocks/sand and 74 gallon sump that's 2/3 full and also has some rocks.) So estimating water volume at 200 gallons, I come up with a dose of 12.61 ml per day. (But what do MicroBacter7 and BioFuel have to do with it??)
So instructions for NeoNitro:
Results will be most significant when the system is being dosed with MicroBacter 7 on a daily or b-daily basis.
1. Using accurate test kits or calibrated digital testing devices, determine phosphate and nitrate concentrations in system. It is assumed that the nitrate concentration in the system is below detectable limits for the testing method being employed.
2. Apply NEONITRO as directed below to attain a nitrate concentration of ~3 ppm, but do not increase more than 0.5 ppm per day.
Multiply tank capacity in gallons x ppm increase desired x .1261 = ml of product to add. Example to raise the concentration of nitrate in a 75 gallon aquarium by .5 ppm, the calculation is: 75 x 0.5 x .1261 = 4.7 ml.
3. Allow 24-hours to elapse; re-test nitrate and phosphate concentrations. If concentrations remain unchanged, then the system is likely carbon-limited. Dose with REEF BIOFUEL at the rate of 1-ml per 25 US-gallons and allow 24-hours to elapse, then re-test phosphate and nitrate concentrations. Continue daily dosing with REEF BIOFUEL until phosphate or nitrate concentrations begin to decrease, indicating that the rate of carbon input to the system matches the rate of phosphorus- or nitrogen-input, respectively.
4. If phosphate concentration decreases without addition of REEF BIOFUEL or use of KATALYST, nitrate concentration in the system will decrease. Continue dosing with NEONITRO to maintain nitrate concentration of
~3 - 5 ppm until phosphate concentration falls to within desired range (suggested 0.01 - 0.02 ppm). Thereafter, dose with NEONITRO as required to maintain desired phosphate and nitrate concentrations.
Note: If at any time, dosing with NEONITRO results in a prolonged increase of nitrate concentration without gradual decrease as phosphate is taken up, system is likely carbon-limited (remedied by the application of REEF BIOFUEL or KATALYST to the system). Refer to Steps 3 and 4, or to our website (NEOPHOS "Technical" page). There has been more than one strength of NEONITRO that has been sold, so please refer to the number of gallons treated on the bottle.
