DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just to help with alk and not to dose much more and I thought I read somewhere that it helps with ph as well. But was not 100% sure that’s why I was asking if there was a write up about using the hydroxide. I’ll just go with the bicarbonate.
Thank you again.

Any pH effect of ammonia dosing is very small. :)

 

[ReefingRyan]

Sorry if this was answered somewhere in this large thread, but once I mix up the ammonia bicarbonate concoction does it need to be aerated or mixed constantly? Or is it good to sit in a shelf?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry if this was answered somewhere in this large thread, but once I mix up the ammonia bicarbonate concoction does it need to be aerated or mixed constantly? Or is it good to sit in a shelf?

Better to not do anything to it. The ammonia can evaporate.

 

[ARB_REEFER]

Any evidence suggesting that there isn't a reason to dose ammonium Bicarb through a dosing pump? I saw there was some anecdotal discussion based on oxidation. Was wondering about your thoughts of such on efficacy? Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think it evaporates or gets dosed before it oxidizes significantly by O2, but I’ve not seen data. I’ve not seen folks suggest it oxidizes. Where did you see that?

As an analogy, ammonia in a cycling dead rock tank can take a very long time to disappear even when O2 is high and ammonia is low. In a dosing bottle, there will be vastly more ammonia and no ongoing oxygenation.

 

[ARB_REEFER]

I think it evaporates or gets dosed before it oxidizes significantly by O2, but I’ve not seen data. I’ve not seen folks suggest it oxidizes. Where did you see that?

As an analogy, ammonia in a cycling dead rock tank can take a very long time to disappear even when O2 is high and ammonia is low. In a dosing bottle, there will be vastly more ammonia and no ongoing oxygenation.

Sounds great. I could have swore I read it somewhere in the 76 pages of thread here. I just didn’t feel like dredging to pinpoint it again. It will go on the dosing pump!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds great. I could have swore I read it somewhere in the 76 pages of thread here. I just didn’t feel like dredging to pinpoint it again. It will go on the dosing pump!

Could be I’ve forgotten that there was a discussion earlier in this thread, but in any case I don’t think it is an important factor in dosing. :)

 

[aquadise]

Can I keep increasing the dosage if my nitrate is 0? I am current dosing 1x the recommeded dosage.
How many times could I increase the dosage?

Thank you.

 

[emvanburen]

Have been running this since 4/11/25. Mixing 500ml at a time and dosing 3x per day on the 500g system. Got to 10ppm nitrate this weekend (target) and am now cutting back to stabilize. Seems like a great system. Cheap and easy to make. Corals are doing great though lots has been changing. I’m a convert!

 

[Shirak]

I am dosing 13ml/day into a 45g system. Dosing starts about an hour before lights on and ends a few hours before lights out. It's set for up to 20 doses but it is currently hitting the 13ml in 6 doses spread out over 9 hours. My Nitrates are around 8ppm. I am happy if I see somewhere between 5-10ppm NO3.

I started out with small daily doses too @aquadise and slowly bumped it up until my nitrates stabilized in the range I wanted and I no longer had to dose NO3 to keep it in my desired range.

Edit: Oh I should add I feed fairly heavily at least 4 or 5 days a week with a variety of powdered and small particle food for my Goniopora.

 

[aquadise]

I am dosing 13ml/day into a 45g system. Dosing starts about an hour before lights on and ends a few hours before lights out. It's set for up to 20 doses but it is currently hitting the 13ml in 6 doses spread out over 9 hours. My Nitrates are around 8ppm. I am happy if I see somewhere between 5-10ppm NO3.

I started out with small daily doses too @aquadise and slowly bumped it up until my nitrates stabilized in the range I wanted and I no longer had to dose NO3 to keep it in my desired range.

Edit: Oh I should add I feed fairly heavily at least 4 or 5 days a week with a variety of powdered and small particle food for my Goniopora.

Cool. I am a little bit afraid, so I only dose 4 mL/day. My tank is 100g. I will double the dosage.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can I keep increasing the dosage if my nitrate is 0? I am current dosing 1x the recommeded dosage.
How many times could I increase the dosage?

Thank you.

You can slowly increase the dosage essentially as much as you need if you spread them out in time during the day or night. It’s just like adding fish.

 

[Terts]

Started this saturday with ammonia dosing (ammonia bicarbonate). I hope to improve LPS health and mostly Gonio/alveo polyp extension with having more nutrients circulating in the water. Currently my nitrates hoover around 4-5 ish. Aiming for 15~. Let’s see what ammonia dosing will do for the tank.

 

[JulesH]

Hi,

I have been dosing NH4 HCO3. I did not have to dose very much for my NO3 to get to the level I wanted at. Not knowing how my particular tank would react I made up a few litres of the NH4 HCO3 mixed with RO water. After a period away from home I have come to the position where I have to dose more to my tank due to falling NO3 levels.

The question I have, the NH4 HCO3/RO mix has been stored in an airtight container for a few months now, would it have lost its potency, is it still usable?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi,

I have been dosing NH4 HCO3. I did not have to dose very much for my NO3 to get to the level I wanted at. Not knowing how my particular tank would react I made up a few litres of the NH4 HCO3 mixed with RO water. After a period away from home I have come to the position where I have to dose more to my tank due to falling NO3 levels.

The question I have, the NH4 HCO3/RO mix has been stored in an airtight container for a few months now, would it have lost its potency, is it still usable?

If it is closed well, then it will be ok. :)

 

[JulesH]

If it is closed well, then it will be ok. :)

Thank you Randy.

 

[jonelder68]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I’ve been dosing ammonia bicarbonate for several weeks now. Luckily @Miami Reef has been coaching me. I’ve never had any detectable nitrates since starting the tank. (Phosphates are very low another topic. But working on that also)

We’ve doubled the dosage now from 24ml, to 48ml, then now 96ml. Which per the calculator it should be 3.57ppm of nitrate. Dosing is currently 4ml every hour.

I remember in one of your articles on ammonia it had an article link for different macros and how much they can take in?

Does this dosage seem large while still not having any effect on nitrate? I have my two macro chambers and only five microscopic frags from TSA currently. Hate to see how much when tanks fully stocked.

Any thoughts? Just up it again I’m sure Miami will say. We’re both I think confused on how it’s used so fast!

 

[Miami Reef]

The algae looks great, so there’s definitely some effect at play.

Personally I’d probably get some sodium nitrate, spike it to 10 ppm, then instantly test.

The benefit is three fold:

1) You can validate if your test kit is actually working

2) You can instantly reduce the possibility of N limitations.

3) You can gauge to see how much demand your tank is actually desiring by tracking how fast the Nitrate drops. Then you can find an ammonium dose to match it.


…Or you can just continue dosing nitrate like us mortals used to do for the past few decades lol.

 

[jonelder68]

The algae looks great, so there’s definitely some effect at play.

Personally I’d probably get some sodium nitrate, spike it to 10 ppm, then instantly test.

The benefit is three fold:

1) You can validate if your test kit is actually working

2) You can instantly reduce the possibility of N limitations.

3) You can gauge to see how much demand your tank is actually desiring by tracking how fast the Nitrate drops. Then you can find an ammonium dose to match it.


…Or you can just continue dosing nitrate like us mortals used to do for the past few decades lol.

Thanks coach! Ya going to order some nitrate to dose. I’ll pm you brand etc to get your blessing. I’m still confused or way under estimate macro’s abilities to strip nutrients. But yes the macros are loving the ammonia!

 

[Miami Reef]

Thanks coach! Ya going to order some nitrate to dose. I’ll pm you brand etc to get your blessing. I’m still confused or way under estimate macro’s abilities to strip nutrients. But yes the macros are loving the ammonia!

Food grade sodium and calcium nitrate are excellent choices.