Ammonium dosing

[DeepSea1]

Hello,

I have read and heard multiple people talking about ammonia dosing as a replacement for nitrate dosing.
I am curious to know; what amounts and how are you dosing?
I am looking for ways to improve the overall health, growth and colors of my corals.
Last note I have mix of SPS, LPS and a few softies.
Thank you advance for any information you all share on this topic.

 

[Spare time]

Have you thought about amino acid dosing instead?

 

[Spare time]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

 

[DeepSea1]

Have you thought about amino acid dosing instead?

I dose Red Sea AB+ every other day.

 

[DeepSea1]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

I have read this Randy mentions .1 ppm at a time is safe. I am curious to know is that the total for a day or is safe to dose say 1 ppm throughout the whole?

 

[Spare time]

In the end that and ammonium chloride and reef energy are going to do the same thing. I personally prefer recommending aminos since there is little risk to overdosing.

 

[LavenderTi]

I use ammonium bicarbonate and have been dosing for 9 months now on my QT tank (previously was just my nano). I’ve found the corals responded really well to dosing ammonia. I’m doing 4 mL on a 22 gallon tank each day. I do (4) 1 mL dose of Randy’s stock solution. I’m likely going to start dosing it on my DT as well. Just waiting on my microbiome results before making any major changes.

Start small and continue to increase frequency of doses.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have read this Randy mentions .1 ppm at a time is safe. I am curious to know is that the total for a day or is safe to dose say 1 ppm throughout the whole?

That 0.1 ppm is single dose, not per day.

 

[Pistondog]

Hello,

I have read and heard multiple people talking about ammonia dosing as a replacement for nitrate dosing.
I am curious to know; what amounts and how are you dosing?
I am looking for ways to improve the overall health, growth and colors of my corals.
Last note I have mix of SPS, LPS and a few softies.
Thank you advance for any information you all share on this topic.

Been dosing ammonium bicarb about 0.1 ppm per day, spread over 12 doses for 6 months now. We adjust to keep the nitrate on target 5-10 ppm.

 

[DeepSea1]

That 0.1 ppm is single dose, not per day.

Randy, thank you for the clarification. How much would say is safe to dose in a day? What matrix would use to make this determination?

 

[enlighten]

I use ammonium bicarbonate and have been dosing for 9 months now on my QT tank (previously was just my nano). I’ve found the corals responded really well to dosing ammonia. I’m doing 4 mL on a 22 gallon tank each day. I do (4) 1 mL dose of Randy’s stock solution. I’m likely going to start dosing it on my DT as well. Just waiting on my microbiome results before making any major changes.

Start small and continue to increase frequency of doses.

Sorry to revive, but is there any update on your progress with dosing? I have a similar size reef and intend to replicate your protocol. However, I may opt to use ammonium chloride instead, given its higher chemical stability and that I dose kalk for pH.

 

[enlighten]

I use ammonium bicarbonate and have been dosing for 9 months now on my QT tank (previously was just my nano). I’ve found the corals responded really well to dosing ammonia. I’m doing 4 mL on a 22 gallon tank each day. I do (4) 1 mL dose of Randy’s stock solution. I’m likely going to start dosing it on my DT as well. Just waiting on my microbiome results before making any major changes.

Start small and continue to increase frequency of doses.

Sorry to revive, but is there any update on your progress with dosing? I have a similar size reef and intend to replicate your protocol. However, I may opt to use ammonium chloride instead, given its higher chemical stability and that I dose kalk for pH.

 

[LavenderTi]

Sorry to revive, but is there any update on your progress with dosing? I have a similar size reef and intend to replicate your protocol. However, I may opt to use ammonium chloride instead, given its higher chemical stability and that I dose kalk for pH.

Still doing it and at the same amount, likely will be upping it though as I've gotten down to 0 nitrates now. Keep in mind ammonium chloride will drop alk, so the balance of dosing kalk for alk&ca may get thrown off.

 

[enlighten]

Still doing it and at the same amount, likely will be upping it though as I've gotten down to 0 nitrates now. Keep in mind ammonium chloride will drop alk, so the balance of dosing kalk for alk&ca may get thrown off.

In my case, maybe it will allow me to dose a little more kalk, perhaps giving me a slight pH bonus? My chemistry is not great, so I suppose I have no idea what I am talking about. Based on my research, it seems the common approach it to use the bicarb form, so I will prob follow the herd unless Randy jumps in. I did read in theory it could potentially be net neutral overall given a balanced ecosystem.

 

[Miami Reef]

In my case, maybe it will allow me to dose a little more kalk, perhaps giving me a slight pH bonus? My chemistry is not great, so I suppose I have no idea what I am talking about. Based on my research, it seems the common approach it to use the bicarb form, so I will prob follow the herd unless Randy jumps in. I did read in theory it could potentially be net neutral overall given a balanced ecosystem.

Ammonium bicarbonate is alk neutral. Ammonium chloride will cause a decrease over time. Every 50 ppm nitrate equivalents dosed from ammonium chloride will decrease alkalinity by 2.3 dKH.

I don’t think it’s a relatively significant drop. You can mix ammonium chloride with kalkwasser if you’d like (can’t with ammonium bicarbonate).

I’d personally opt for ammonium bicarbonate, but both are fine options.

 

[enlighten]

In my case, maybe it will allow me to dose a little more kalk, perhaps giving me a slight pH bonus? My chemistry is not great, so I suppose I have no idea what I am talking about. Based on my research, it seems the common approach it to use the bicarb form, so I will prob follow the herd unless Randy jumps in. I did read in theory it could potentially be net neutral overall given a balanced ecosystem.

Ammonium bicarbonate is alk neutral. Ammonium chloride will cause a decrease over time. Every 50 ppm nitrate equivalents dosed from ammonium chloride will decrease alkalinity by 2.3 dKH.

I don’t think it’s a relatively significant drop. You can mix ammonium chloride with kalkwasser if you’d like (can’t with ammonium bicarbonate).

I’d personally opt for ammonium bicarbonate, but both are fine options.

What youre saying is I can make a solution of kalkwasser and ammonium chloride together and dose accordingly? Using only my versa, with the right math. This could be a positive. Given some quick math. It would take about 250 days which in theory could be corrected with soda ash or soda bicarb maybe every quarter? I understand I would have more control with ammonium bicarb, but one less plug is always a bonus.

 

[Miami Reef]

What youre saying is I can make a solution of kalkwasser and ammonium chloride together and dose accordingly? Using only my versa, with the right math.

Correct.

It would take about 250 days which in theory could be corrected with soda ash or soda bicarb maybe every quarter?

Yes. If calcium ever climbs above 550 ppm, you can switch to sodium-based alk additives until calcium settles back down through consumption.