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Adam Blundell 
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 Topic: Adding Nitrate
Posted: March 25 2005 at 6:30pm |
If your Nitrates tested 0, would you add Sodium Nitrate to your tank in an effort to have some Nitrates? (the idea being that corals absorb nitrate as food)
Adam
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jfinch
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 6:57pm |
If you were using some high tech labratory quality method of nitrate measurement, and it tested 0 (very unlikely) then yes I would add a nitrate salt (NaNO3 or KNO3). But just 'cause a hobbyist kit show 0 doesn't mean it really is 0. The ocean, around reefs, is usually less then 0.1 ppm nitrate (as nitrate). I kinda doubt many tanks are actually lower then that. But... it might be an interesting experiment to try it out.
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Jake Pehrson
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 7:09pm |
 Adam Blundell wrote:
If your Nitrates tested 0, would you add Sodium Nitrate to your tank in an effort to have some Nitrates? (the idea being that corals absorb nitrate as food)
Adam
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No,
You tank is constantly producing nitrate, if you want higher nitrates then remove types of filtration that provide denitrification. You could also just feed your tank more and that in turn will produce higher nitrates (plus the food will be more beneficial from the corals then the nitrate).
I really don't think this is a problem as I don't think I have ever seen a tank that can sustain 0 nitrates.
The only time I could really see adding Sodium nitrate is if you were trying to raise corals in a sterile environment.
Plus, I'm not sure how much nitrate intake a coral does. There is little research done on this. I imagine if corals used nitrates quickly then we would rarely see nitrate problems in aquariums. Just coral growing out of control.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 8:05pm |
You could also just feed your tank more and that in turn will produce higher nitrates (plus the food will be more beneficial from the corals then the nitrate).
I completely agree. But guess what... a famous author out there recommended adding Sodium Nitrate. I think he is off his rocker on this one. This question started because someone emailed me asking if this advise he was given was a good idea. I answered the query by saying "just feed your fish more food". Just like Jake would have said.
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 9:19pm |
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Ive added micro algae grow to my tank to get better macro growth (not for better nutrient export, just cuz i like macros). No observable effects other than better algae growth.
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Firefish
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 9:46pm |
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That guy that is off his rocker probably only feeds his fish once a year or something. FEED YOUR FISH EVERY DAY ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL FEED YOUR FISH THEY ARE HUNGRY. And your corals might like it too, but if they don't like it they will tell you. I think the more you add the worse off you are.
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Firefish
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 9:48pm |
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Excuse me....the more additives that you add the worse off you are. ALWAYS FEED YOUR FISH EVERY DAY ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL..........
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jfinch
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Posted: March 25 2005 at 10:42pm |
But... it might be an interesting experiment to try it out.
I've wondered if slightly measurable nitrates might help to increase coral growth, but I don't wonder any more. I just did a literature search. It appears that this "experiment" has been done hundreds of times  . The consensus seems to be almost any elevated nitrate results in decreased calcification rates (although sometimes it does result in increased zooxanthellae). So I think it would be silly to add nitrate on purpose.
Adding more food would likely also increase phosphates.
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Firefish
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Posted: March 26 2005 at 11:56pm |
I think higher nitrates would increase ALGAE growth......you should do it Adam. Who cares about fish and corals. Its the ALGAE that is the prize.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 27 2005 at 1:07am |
Its the ALGAE that is the prize
Ding*
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Shane H
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Posted: March 27 2005 at 10:24am |
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It would be a very delicate balance trying to add additional food for "increased' nitrate levels. I think Adam is right in his reasoning that increased feeding would increase phosphate levels. Any growth benefit of higher nitrates would be quickly overshadowed as a result of the phosphate.
I would also tend to disagree with Firefish that you should feed your fish everyday without fail. I tend to feed heavily, but I do not think its necessary to feed every day. Unless the fish load is very heavy, they should be able to forage regularly. I have recently (in the last 6 months) began feeding flake food and I have noticed an increase in phosphate levels. The safe approach would be to feed every third day for starters and take it from there.
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Jamison
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Posted: March 27 2005 at 4:17pm |
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Would using tap water once in a while give you the nitrates you're looking for, or just introduce lots of other unwanteds? If memory serves, Adam, you use nothing but tap water don't you? Interesting concept. I agree with Shane on the feeding philosophy. I think daily feedings should be reserved for expert reefers or those with uber-amazing filtration. Telling a newbie like me to feed daily would lead me down a road I hope never to go down again. My fish seem much happier now that I only feed once every 3 days.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 27 2005 at 6:33pm |
Yes I'm a tap only guy.
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