How do I balance my phosphates and nitrates?

Muraad · Jun 30, 2026

After my tank successfully cycled, I added two fish. A few weeks later, I now have 2 fish and 2 corals (LPS). All of my parameters are fine except for phosphates and nitrates. Nitrates are very low at around 1.8 ppm and phosphate's giving me 0. Both results are from my Hanna checker.

I just got reef roids but I'm terrified of ruining my parameters. The instructions are as follows "For every 100g of tank volume, mix one teaspoon of Reef-Roids with some water from your tank", would equate to roughly 1/4 tspn for 24 gallons. I'm aware these can cause algae to boom like crazy.

Should I be using a quarter of the recommended dosage?
How do you guys test to figure out a balance for phosphate with the roids? Would I be testing phosphates often for a few weeks just to see how the roids are acting up?

Justfebreezeit · Jun 30, 2026

The easiest and most direct way of raising phos is by dosing it. You can do a product like neophos, or mix your own. If you search the site it will come up.

sixty_reefer · Jun 30, 2026

I can’t see any beneficial use for reef roids in a new aquarium, you’re best by feeding more or targeting the nutrient you want directly with dosing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 30, 2026

I'd raise both N and P, and the easiest way is by feeding more.

However, dosing N and P gives better control, and may even be cheaper. I recommend ammonium bicarbonate, sodium nitrate, or calcium nitrate for N and sodium phosphate for P. Food grade DIY is best, IMO.

Muraad · Jun 30, 2026

Justfebreezeit said:
The easiest and most direct way of raising phos is by dosing it. You can do a product like neophos, or mix your own. If you search the site it will come up.

sixty_reefer said:
I can’t see any beneficial use for reef roids in a new aquarium, you’re best by feeding more or targeting the nutrient you want directly with dosing.

Thank you all, I will for sure try that first before reef roids.

Muraad · Jun 30, 2026

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I'd raise both N and P, and the easiest way is by feeding more.

However, dosing N and P gives better control, and may even be cheaper. I recommend ammonium bicarbonate, sodium nitrate, or calcium nitrate for N and sodium phosphate for P. Food grade DIY is best, IMO.

Thank you! The only option I see for calcium nitrate on Amazon Canada is this one J PLUS T Calcium Nitrate. This should be fine right?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 30, 2026

Muraad said:
Thank you! The only option I see for calcium nitrate on Amazon Canada is this one J PLUS T Calcium Nitrate. This should be fine right?

Food grade is preferable to fertilizer grades, but I understand Canada may be challenging.

I'm sure you can get ammonium bicarbonate (Bakers ammonia). :)

Fish Fan · Jun 30, 2026

In the US, you can find Baker's Ammonia in the baking section of craft stores like Michaels if you have similar in your area:
https://www.michaels.com/product/lo...DgxxFibVELPBi5ik29nwkZBfzTx-Bo4mV2KcZTedFdpCs

Muraad · Jun 30, 2026

Fish Fan said:
In the US, you can find Baker's Ammonia in the baking section of craft stores like Michaels if you have similar in your area:
https://www.michaels.com/product/lo...DgxxFibVELPBi5ik29nwkZBfzTx-Bo4mV2KcZTedFdpCs

Lifesaver! Will there be a big difference between ammonium bicarbonate vs carbonate?

Muraad · Jun 30, 2026

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Food grade is preferable to fertilizer grades, but I understand Canada may be challenging.

I'm sure you can get ammonium bicarbonate (Bakers ammonia). :)

I found some ammonium bicarbonate in my grocery store. Following this thread, https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-chart.1123913/ for dosing, will my corals be okay if I'm only increasing the ppm for nitrate by 0.36 per day or too little? I have only two small euphyllia frags.

Fish Fan · Jun 30, 2026

Muraad said:
Lifesaver! Will there be a big difference between ammonium bicarbonate vs carbonate?

@Randy Holmes-Farley will know for sure, but I believe it's the same stuff, they just call it "carbonate" for the baking stuff

Muraad · Jul 6, 2026

@Randy Holmes-Farley I've fixed my nitrates thanks to your suggestion of what to buy and the DIY dosing chart. I ended up getting Ammonium Bicarbonate. For phosphate, I'm having trouble finding something in Canada.

I know you mentioned Trisodium Phosphate in one of the older threads but this is the only one I found on Amazon but it's not animal safe. I'm not too familiar with these chemical composition so I'm afraid that I'm asking silly questions.

I also found this one https://bioshopcanada.com/Products/Details/SPM400

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 6, 2026

I do not think all companies use the names correctly, but ammonium bicarbonate will be more stable in the dosing reservoir than ammonium carbonate because it has more CO2 in it, lowering the pH and better holding the ammonia in the water. But both work.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 6, 2026

Muraad said:
@Randy Holmes-Farley I've fixed my nitrates thanks to your suggestion of what to buy and the DIY dosing chart. I ended up getting Ammonium Bicarbonate. For phosphate, I'm having trouble finding something in Canada.

I know you mentioned Trisodium Phosphate in one of the older threads but this is the only one I found on Amazon but it's not animal safe. I'm not too familiar with these chemical composition so I'm afraid that I'm asking silly questions.

I also found this one https://bioshopcanada.com/Products/Details/SPM400