Raising Nitrates without Disturbing Phosphates

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm bringing my Nitrates up with the use of food grade sodium nitrate, my phosphates are currently at 0.03. Will dosing nitrates lower my phosphate to near zero? Should I wait for my Phos to go up before dosing the Nitrate? Thank you Randy

It will only lower phosphate if it spurs growth of something. That may happen, or not.

 

[WereAllNegan]

It will only lower phosphate if it spurs growth of something. That may happen, or not.

Thanks Randy. So should I wait to raise my Phosphates higher than .03 to be safe? Just don't want to bottom them out while raising nitrates.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Thanks Randy. So should I wait to raise my Phosphates higher than .03 to be safe? Just don't want to bottom them out while raising nitrates.

Test both,add both, wait, test, add...stay on target+years=success; )

 

[JBs_Reef]

great thread all. Thank you.

After many years of running a ULN sps dominated system I am bought into having higher nitrates with a goal of increased coloration.

@Randy Holmes-Farley and others what are your thoughts on a target with this goal in mind. Preliminary feedback has me shooting for 10ppm. What are your thought on this target and how long would you recommend I take to go from 1-3ppm to the goal of 10?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

great thread all. Thank you.

After many years of running a ULN sps dominated system I am bought into having higher nitrates with a goal of increased coloration.

@Randy Holmes-Farley and others what are your thoughts on a target with this goal in mind. Preliminary feedback has me shooting for 10ppm. What are your thought on this target and how long would you recommend I take to go from 1-3ppm to the goal of 10?

I'm not sure anything will be different that 10 ppm than at 3 ppm. What are you hoping to see? I'm not sure color will change (but if it does, be sure to let us know).

I do not think any delay time is needed to raise nitrate.