Dosing Phytoplankton

[Poseidons Reef]

Can dosing phytoplankton to feed copepods increase nitrate and phosphate in a reef tank?

 

[Amstar]

It can - but there are several factors -- over dosing can raise them -- if the tank doesn't consume it fast enough if can raise them as well

start slow and find the sweet spot of how much to dose daily/weekly to keep your nutrients in check

 

[Poseidons Reef]

It can - but there are several factors -- over dosing can raise them -- if the tank doesn't consume it fast enough if can raise them as well

start slow and find the sweet spot of how much to dose daily/weekly to keep your nutrients in check

Thank you for the advice.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s a complicated question. Dead phyto is like any food. Live phyto can potentially take up some nutrients, then what happens to it may determine if it raises or lowers nutrients. Some folks believe it reduces nutrients in their tanks.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'll add that it's possible that there's still some of their nitrogen based fertilizer/food left in the phytoplankton culture that can also add to the N&P in your tank when you dose phyto.