dosing nitrates with kalk

[tasos]

hello guys!I need to raise nitrates in my reef a bit!Can I dose sodium nitrate with kalkwasser in the same vessel?(My top off system) .Is there any interaction between these substances?

 

[DonW]

hello guys!I need to raise nitrates in my reef a bit!Can I dose sodium nitrate with kalkwasser in the same vessel?(My top off system) .Is there any interaction between these substances?

Feed your fish a little more. I have to ask. Why would you increase nitrates.

Don

 

[tasos]

Feeding fish will raise phosphates too!!!I want to raise nitrates from zero to 5 ppm in order my macroalgae to be able to absorbe the phosphate ions.(I cannot measure PO4 but I know they are there because of the frequent cleaning of the glass(every 2-3 days) of my aquarium!!

 

[DonW]

Feeding fish will raise phosphates too!!!I want to raise nitrates from zero to 5 ppm in order my macroalgae to be able to absorbe the phosphate ions.(I cannot measure PO4 but I know they are there because of the frequent cleaning of the glass(every 2-3 days) of my aquarium!!

Looking for additional nitrates is sort of a dangerous way about going about fixing a phosphate problem. First off a hobbiest test kit is not accurate enough to assume that you actually have 0 nitrates or 5ppm. Chances are better that you have the five that your looking for already. Undetectable is not the same as 0. Do you not test for P or are you just getting a undetectable test kit reading. If your gettting undetectable then your fine. One thing to keep in mind is your really dont want to have a true 0 P. Having to clean your glass every few days could be a number of different thing.

Don

 

[Boomer]

I want to raise nitrates from zero to 5 ppm in order my macroalgae to be able to absorbe the phosphate ions

Where on earth did you get this from ? Where ever it came from it is nonsense.

Phosphate in the ocean is 0.005 ppm and Nitrate is around 0.1 ppm nitrate. Elevated Nitrate above .5 ppm effects coral growth, as in slows it down.



Some reading

Phosphorus: Algae’s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm