Strange PO4 NO3

[steve 1965]

So my pO4 is high 0.65ppm but my Nitrates are only 1.7ppm. Both done on Hanna. I did just start adding Vinegar. But these tests were before I started the vinegar. But reading that most carbon dosing is based off of Nitrates but NO3 is low. So it’s all backwards. How should I correct ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So my pO4 is high 0.65ppm but my Nitrates are only 1.7ppm. Both done on Hanna. I did just start adding Vinegar. But these tests were before I started the vinegar. But reading that most carbon dosing is based off of Nitrates but NO3 is low. So it’s all backwards. How should I correct ?

I’d stop the vinegar, which mostly lowers nitrate, and perhaps dose ammonium bicarbonate to up the bioavailability of N.

 

[Uncle99]

So my pO4 is high 0.65ppm but my Nitrates are only 1.7ppm. Both done on Hanna. I did just start adding Vinegar. But these tests were before I started the vinegar. But reading that most carbon dosing is based off of Nitrates but NO3 is low. So it’s all backwards. How should I correct ?

Exactly the same for me.
I had just started adding a small carbon dose.

When I,stopped, nitrate has returned back to a normal 7ppm for me.

 

[steve 1965]

I’d stop the vinegar, which mostly lowers nitrate, and perhaps dose ammonium bicarbonate to up the bioavailability of N.

What about bringing down the Government PO4?

 

[Miami Reef]

What about bringing down the Government PO4?

GFO works well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree with GFO. You may also find it starting to drift down on its own with added N if any organisms were N limited.