This is a purely hypothetical question. In case of!
I want to lower the nutrient content in a 2-year-old reef system, lower the nitrate availability. Nitrate is now 40ppm and phosphate is 0,4 ppm. The nitrate level now increases at a weekly rate of +- 4ppm, this since a few weeks. I have no real reason to do this as everything looks fine, I just want to prevent my nitrates will become sky-high.
If possible I would like to target a nitrate level of 2ppm.
I am aware of the fact dosing carbon can not be done without creating side effects and I want to do it as safe as possible, without changing too much as evering is going fine at the moment, except for the nitrate build-up.
Do I base the daily dose on the nitrate level and what should be the target daily nitrate removal rate? And why?
Or is it better to dose based on the phosphate level? And why?
Maybe it is best to dose based on the weekly nitrate accumulation rate?
What are the main caveats I should be aware of before starting dosing and what can I do for limiting the risk or to prevent them to happen?
I am going to use vodka 40%. I do know how much vodka I need to be able to remove 1mg nitrogen.
I want to lower the nutrient content in a 2-year-old reef system, lower the nitrate availability. Nitrate is now 40ppm and phosphate is 0,4 ppm. The nitrate level now increases at a weekly rate of +- 4ppm, this since a few weeks. I have no real reason to do this as everything looks fine, I just want to prevent my nitrates will become sky-high.
If possible I would like to target a nitrate level of 2ppm.
I am aware of the fact dosing carbon can not be done without creating side effects and I want to do it as safe as possible, without changing too much as evering is going fine at the moment, except for the nitrate build-up.
Do I base the daily dose on the nitrate level and what should be the target daily nitrate removal rate? And why?
Or is it better to dose based on the phosphate level? And why?
Maybe it is best to dose based on the weekly nitrate accumulation rate?
What are the main caveats I should be aware of before starting dosing and what can I do for limiting the risk or to prevent them to happen?
I am going to use vodka 40%. I do know how much vodka I need to be able to remove 1mg nitrogen.