dandelion Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I'm planning on repurposing my fishless 6.25G pico from a mixed tank into a zoa garden. My current parameters are 0ppm nitrates and 0.02-0.04 phosphate. I know zoas thrives better at slightly higher nitrate. Any suggestions on raising it safely? I've heard potassium nitrate dosing but that sounds too "pure." I'm thinking nitrates levels may be more of a surrogate level that represents a multitude of other dissolved substances that contributes to "nutrients." Anyhow, if I plan on keeping it fishless, how should I raise my levels safely? Link to comment
burtbollinger Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 wild guess, but couldnt you just do it thru feeding the tank? maybe theres a food that zoas like (i didnt think they needed 'food' tho?') and you could just use that and it would feed and raise nitrates? Link to comment
markalot Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I use CaNO3 purchased off of Amazon. Very small doses and measure the next day to see how far they rose. Issue with feeding tank to raise them is timing and pollution. It takes a while for food to break down and you get a lot more than just NO3. Link to comment
dandelion Posted January 15, 2017 Author Share Posted January 15, 2017 I actually have some calcium nitrate at home for my tomatoes in the summer. Similar hobby except you get to eat what you grow? But by doing that it may skew the calcium/alkalinity balance. I know it doesn't matter as much in a zoa tank, but if alk gets too low pH swings can be a problem. I use CaNO3 purchased off of Amazon. Very small doses and measure the next day to see how far they rose. Issue with feeding tank to raise them is timing and pollution. It takes a while for food to break down and you get a lot more than just NO3. I have some reef roids that my current zoas seem to respond to. But I don't think that alone can help me increase nitrate enough. I thought about tossing small amount of fish food in and let it decay, though that awfully resembles starting of a cycle. wild guess, but couldnt you just do it thru feeding the tank? maybe theres a food that zoas like (i didnt think they needed 'food' tho?') and you could just use that and it would feed and raise nitrates? Link to comment
evan127 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 I use potassium nitrate. I mix 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of RODI water. I don't have a ratio for raising nitrates, ex. "1ml for 0.5ppm of NO3". However, it works great in my SPS tank with a low population of fish. Link to comment
dandelion Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 I may just go get some and put a little into my top off water to raise it slowly I use potassium nitrate. I mix 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon of RODI water. I don't have a ratio for raising nitrates, ex. "1ml for 0.5ppm of NO3". However, it works great in my SPS tank with a low population of fish. Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 Once i started feeding reef roids and oyster feast, my nitrates went up. Feed it 3 times a week and you will see them rise. Link to comment
dandelion Posted January 17, 2017 Author Share Posted January 17, 2017 How much did you feed? I feel like hair algae grows before nitrate gets to rise. Once i started feeding reef roids and oyster feast, my nitrates went up. Feed it 3 times a week and you will see them rise. Link to comment
Mariaface Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 I want to say +1 to potassium nitrate. You can make a stock solution and calculate how much you'd need. I have a bottle of Seachem potassium for planted tanks (from when I was more serious about the plants in my freshwater tank), and it's handy for precise addition of nitrate. I used it when I noticed nitrate bottoming out while phosphates sat at .3 or so. Link to comment
NYfishies Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 How much did you feed? I feel like hair algae grows before nitrate gets to rise. This is the reason I use KNO3. I am not concerned with NO3 from the roids, but rather PO4 spikes which leads to GHA IMO. Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 My nitrates sit at 5 while my phos sit between 0-0.03. I feed a little bit of roids and oyster feast 2-3 times a week Link to comment
dandelion Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 I'll try getting some potassium nitrate then. Saw on a site only $4 for 1/4 pound should be plenty. Do you now how much nitrate it raises in 1 gallon water per gram of the powder? I could find out by testing but I though it'll be nice to get a ballpark figure. This is the reason I use KNO3. I am not concerned with NO3 from the roids, but rather PO4 spikes which leads to GHA IMO. I want to say +1 to potassium nitrate. You can make a stock solution and calculate how much you'd need. I have a bottle of Seachem potassium for planted tanks (from when I was more serious about the plants in my freshwater tank), and it's handy for precise addition of nitrate. I used it when I noticed nitrate bottoming out while phosphates sat at .3 or so. Link to comment
Mariaface Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 You can probably find a stock solution online, though I'm sure someone on the forum has a formula handy I'm the laziest of the lazy, so I haven't tried to make my own yet. Maybe when this bottle runs out.. Link to comment
dandelion Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 I'll probably do the testing myself then. Can't be positive if the batch I got would be exactly the same as other people's prepared formula. Thanks though! You can probably find a stock solution online, though I'm sure someone on the forum has a formula handy I'm the laziest of the lazy, so I haven't tried to make my own yet. Maybe when this bottle runs out.. Link to comment
NYfishies Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 I mix 2 tabllespoons to 1 cup of water and dose 2.5 ml weekly to my 20g system to maintain 5 ppm NO3. Of course it goes from 10 PPM down to 2 PPM during the week. Link to comment
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