Where do I go from here with NO3 and PO4?

cvrle1 · Mar 2, 2025

Hi there, I finally got Hanna Nitrate HR and Phosphorus ULR checkers. Nitrate came out to 0.1 PPM and Phosphorus is at 8. Using conversion chart it means my PO4 is 0.024 ppm

Both are low, so I will feed more to try and up the numbers, but my worry is that my PO4 will go over the acceptable range while I try and raise NO3 to around 10 ppm. If feeding doesnt change numbers much I will need to dose, but can I dose NO3 only so that number goes up, while I keep PO4 around where it is now? Thanks for the help

Luminous74 · Mar 2, 2025

Why do you want to feed more – based on the measured values or because your corals are not doing well?

What do you consider an acceptable PO₄ range?

You can influence nutrient input through your choice of food:

Flake and pellet food tend to increase PO₄ more in relation to NO₃.

Frozen food like Mysis or Artemia increases NO₃ more in relation to PO₄.

Additionally, you could use Randy’s recipe for ammonium dosing:
DIY Ammonia Dosing for Low Nitrate Systems
This specifically increases nitrogen input in the system.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

cvrle1 · Mar 2, 2025

Luminous74 said:
Why do you want to feed more – based on the measured values or because your corals are not doing well?

What do you consider an acceptable PO₄ range?

You can influence nutrient input through your choice of food:

Flake and pellet food tend to increase PO₄ more in relation to NO₃.

Frozen food like Mysis or Artemia increases NO₃ more in relation to PO₄.

Additionally, you could use Randy’s recipe for ammonium dosing:
DIY Ammonia Dosing for Low Nitrate Systems
This specifically increases nitrogen input in the system.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

Corals are doing ok, but main reason is because I have dinos/cyano. From everything I read water cannot be too clean, as dinos will flourish. Tank is 4 months old, so I know that this is also part of the ugly stage, but if I can do something to prevent it, or make it as short as possible I would like to do that.