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- May 5, 2020
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Hi,
I'm running a diy horizontal ATS on my 29g invert only tank.
The algae's been growing pretty well initially but the growth has slowed down over the past few weeks.
I've checked the water parameters and the nitrates are at around 20~30ppm (api test), the phosphates are at less than 0.03ppm (selifert test).
The levels seem to have stayed about the same over the past month and a half. (One 10% water change)
From I've heard, the ideal nitrate to phosphate ratio is meant to be 16: 1. Could it be the growth is limited by the low phosphate?
Is 0.01~0.03ppm even low? (It does seem pretty low if I think about the 16: 1 ratio thing)
I do have a bottle of phosphate from brightwell aquatics so I could dose some if I really wanted to but I'm too scared to. Should I give it a try?
Or is the simple water change way to go to lower the nitrates? Seems like I have to do a large % change to make a dent on the trates level.
I'm running a diy horizontal ATS on my 29g invert only tank.
The algae's been growing pretty well initially but the growth has slowed down over the past few weeks.
I've checked the water parameters and the nitrates are at around 20~30ppm (api test), the phosphates are at less than 0.03ppm (selifert test).
The levels seem to have stayed about the same over the past month and a half. (One 10% water change)
From I've heard, the ideal nitrate to phosphate ratio is meant to be 16: 1. Could it be the growth is limited by the low phosphate?
Is 0.01~0.03ppm even low? (It does seem pretty low if I think about the 16: 1 ratio thing)
I do have a bottle of phosphate from brightwell aquatics so I could dose some if I really wanted to but I'm too scared to. Should I give it a try?
Or is the simple water change way to go to lower the nitrates? Seems like I have to do a large % change to make a dent on the trates level.