Dosing Ammonia Bicarbonate and Trisodium Phosphate.

[geko522]

I started doing @Randy Holmes-Farley diy to boost Nitrate and Phosphate using Trisodium Phosphate and Ammonia Bicarbonate.

I wanted to post the results I have using hanna checkers of what is going on. I didn't test magnesium or calcium.

Just curious of how it looks.

 

[rtparty]

I’m shocked to see ammonia show up at all. What kits are using for each test?

I also seriously question the pH readings.

 

[geko522]

I’m shocked to see ammonia show up at all. What kits are using for each test?

I also seriously question the pH readings.

I only have the Hanna checkers for everything and the Milwaukee ph pen (that I don't really trust) I need to find a better ph tester.

 

[rtparty]

I only have the Hanna checkers for everything and the Milwaukee ph pen (that I don't really trust) I need to find a better ph tester.

How soon after dosing ammonia are you testing?

 

[geko522]

How soon after dosing ammonia are you testing?

It's been roughly 24hrs since I dosed ammonia bicarbonate and tested just now

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the update!

The Hanna HI784 claims +/- 0.05 ppm ammonia , so 0.04 may mean none detected. It also isn’t a level to be concerned with. We want some there, after all.

I’d keep dosing as is and see if nitrate and phosphate come up a bit more, and if not, I’d up the dose a little.

 

[geko522]

Thanks for the update!

The Hanna HI784 claims +/- 0.05 ppm ammonia , so 0.04 may mean none detected. It also isn’t a level to be concerned with. We want some there, after all.

I’d keep dosing as is and see if nitrate and phosphate come up a bit more, and if not, I’d up the dose a little bit

0.04 was 3 days ago
Today:
Ammonia is 0.1ppm
Phosphate is 0.02ppm
Nitrate is 0.04ppm

I dosed 10ml of ammonium bicarbonate today after testing and didn't dose Trisodium Phosphate.

Would you suggest me to dose trisodium phosphate also today?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

0.04 was 3 days ago
Today:
Ammonia is 0.1ppm
Phosphate is 0.02ppm
Nitrate is 0.04ppm

I dosed 10ml of ammonium bicarbonate today after testing and didn't dose Trisodium Phosphate.

Would you suggest me to dose trisodium phosphate also today?

I would. :)

 

[geko522]

I would. :)

Okay, I will! I really appreciate you helping me. I'll keep you posted! Thanks!

 

[geko522]

I just test today and these are the results. I dosed 10ml of ammonium bicarbonate and 5ml of trisodium phosphate last night around 9:30pm

I tested today at 3:30pm with all hanna checkers.

At what point would I lower or stop dosing ammonia bicarbonate and trisodium phosphate? My goal was to bring the ppm up to reason from what parameters brs has on there website. I'm a newbie and I don't really know beside what brs is saying for target readings.

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it and this community. You're all so helpful!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You may never need to stop dosing, but I think it’s ok to now drop the dose of each by half, and see what happens over a few days.

I do not know what targets BRS uses (and wouldn’t take much chemistry advice from them) but I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate and 0.02 to 0.1 ppm phosphate, with values above that range better than believe.

Ammonia is rising a bit and I’d like to see the bacteria catch up and keep it a bit lower.

 

[geko522]

You may never need to stop dosing, but I think it’s ok to now drop the dose of each by half, and see what happens over a few days.

I do not know what targets BRS uses (and wouldn’t take much chemistry advice from them) but I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate and 0.02 to 0.1 ppm phosphate, with values above that range better than believe.

Ammonia is rising a bit and I’d like to see the bacteria catch up and keep it a bit lower.

Sounds good, I'll cut dosing in half and test again in a few days. I appreciate your help. Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome.

Good luck. :)

 

[geko522]

You may never need to stop dosing, but I think it’s ok to now drop the dose of each by half, and see what happens over a few days.

I do not know what targets BRS uses (and wouldn’t take much chemistry advice from them) but I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate and 0.02 to 0.1 ppm phosphate, with values above that range better than believe.

Ammonia is rising a bit and I’d like to see the bacteria catch up and keep it a bit lower.

I retested today. I've been dosing 5ml ammonia bicarbonate and 2.5ml of sodium thiosulfate (edit: Trisodium Phosphate) since Thursday and these are my reads using the Hanna checkers. (All I have for testing)
Do you have any suggestions? I didn't dose anything today


Thank you, I appreciate all the help!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I presume the thiosulfate is a typo?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Assuming so, I’d continue at the current halved dose.

 

[geko522]

I presume the thiosulfate is a typo?

Sorry, yes it is. Trisodium Phosphate I meant

 

[geko522]

I was wondering if I should dose more trisodium phosphate from 2.5ml to 5ml and keep ammonia bicarbonate at 5ml still? I am noticing a breakout of possible diatoms

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you are currently at 0.09 ppm phosphate and rising, I would not up the dose.

 

[geko522]

If you are currently at 0.09 ppm phosphate and rising, I would not up the dose.

Sounds good, Thank you!