Ammonium Bicarbonate dosing- need help

[Merge_595]

I'm new to dosing Ammonium Bicarbonate started maybe a month ago. I cannot keep these levels steady either over or under dosing..What's a good # for Ammonia? Trying to shoot for 0.03 but I'm all over the place..Nitrates 8-12

 

[shakacuz]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The goal is not to stabilize an ammonia number. The nitrate is plenty high. I’d watch it as you dose ammonia and look for tank changes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, the kit result is a different type of number (total ammonia) than that table (free ammonia). Whether one agrees with that table or not, your value is not any concern.

 

[Pistondog]

Started ammonium bicarb 18 months ago.
Never tested for ammonia, but we target 5 to 10 ppm nitrate.
We dose a small amount every 2 hours, which i think is important, vs all at once.

 

[Merge_595]

The goal is not to stabilize an ammonia number. The nitrate is plenty high. I’d watch it as you dose ammonia and look for tank changes.

Appreciate the info I turned the Ammonium off this is very tricky..Am I just watching Nitrate? This is the highest I've been able to get Nitrate dosing 20ml Ammonium(5ml every 4 hrs starting 6am)before I couldn't keep 5 Nitrate before dosing. Now I'm afraid I might hit 20 Nitrate any suggestions? Is this something I will always have to constantly adjust???

 

[Merge_595]

Started ammonium bicarb 18 months ago.
Never tested for ammonia, but we target 5 to 10 ppm nitrate.
We dose a small amount every 2 hours, which i think is important, vs all at once.

I'm doing every 4 hours so I probably need to dump the Ammonia test & just keep an eye on Nitrate????? Are you dosing 24 hrs?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much ammonia in ppm per day are you dosing?

 

[Merge_595]

How much ammonia in ppm per day are you dosing?

I was reading your article it said it was safe to dose 0.1ppm a day??? I have to do the calculations it had my head spinning lol

 

[Pistondog]

I'm doing every 4 hours so I probably need to dump the Ammonia test & just keep an eye on Nitrate????? Are you dosing 24 hrs?

Yes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was reading your article it said it was safe to dose 0.1ppm a day??? I have to do the calculations it had my head spinning lol

I said it was safe to dose that at once. That amount can be dosed many times per day if you ramp up. :)

 

[Merge_595]

I said it was safe to dose that at once. That amount can be dosed many times per day if you ramp up. :)

Okay Thanks let me read the article again & do some #s much appreciated

 

[Merge_595]

Yes.

Thanks I think I read to dose during the day I'm dosing between 6am-6pm. I will look into 24 hrs

 

[Merge_595]

How much ammonia in ppm per day are you dosing?

Okay so after that brain buster again..I had my calculations correct I'm dosing 20 ml in a 200 gallon(I forgot how I got the calculations last time) but I did the 2.3ml per(I used 25 gallons not 26 just easier for me lol)& it came out to a little over 18 ml's..so I'm dosing the 0.1 ppm(20 ml's) only once per day during the day..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Okay so after that brain buster again..I had my calculations correct I'm dosing 20 ml in a 200 gallon(I forgot how I got the calculations last time) but I did the 2.3ml per(I used 25 gallons not 26 just easier for me lol)& it came out to a little over 18 ml's..so I'm dosing the 0.1 ppm(20 ml's) only once per day during the day..

And nitrate is rising?

 

[Merge_595]

And nitrate is rising?

I got nervous when it got to 7 Nitrate 2 weeks ago & turned off Ammonium Nitrate went back to 2 quickly. Long story short im back on(besides yesterday back off) and I'm hovering around 11-12 Nitrate yesterday & today. I'm going to drop the Ammonium down to 15ml's & just leave it for 2 weeks I'm probably messing with it too much. Will update in a few weeks appreciate the help especially now that I know I shouldn't be so concerned with trying to keep a stable Ammonia #. Last question does it matter if Ammonium Bicarbonate dosed day or night? I remember reading to dose during the day when the corals are using it..

 

[Pistondog]

I got nervous when it got to 7 Nitrate 2 weeks ago & turned off Ammonium Nitrate went back to 2 quickly. Long story short im back on(besides yesterday back off) and I'm hovering around 11-12 Nitrate yesterday & today. I'm going to drop the Ammonium down to 15ml's & just leave it for 2 weeks I'm probably messing with it too much. Will update in a few weeks appreciate the help especially now that I know I shouldn't be so concerned with trying to keep a stable Ammonia #. Last question does it matter if Ammonium Bicarbonate dosed day or night? I remember reading to dose during the day when the corals are using it..

Why do you think corals only use ammonia during the day?

 

[Merge_595]

Why do you think corals only use ammonia during the day?

I honestly don't know. I(think) I read it on a Reef2reef forum when I started doing the research before I dosed. Just asking Randy for another opinion that's all..

 

[reeflife3]

any update?

 

[Merge_595]

any update?

Yeah finally able to keep it steady around 7.5-8.5 ppm I was dosing too much started off with 4 dosages 5ml between 6am-6pm now I'm only doing 2 dosages 5ml each..Just have to find your tanks usage seems like..have it on a brs 1ml per minute doser which I will be changing to a DOS soon..