How To Raise Nitrates? | The Planted Tank Forum

Maybe your like

Menu Log in Sign up

Home
Forums
Specific Aspects of a Planted Tank
Fertilizers and Water Parameters

sharkerbaby S Hi, I've got a heavily planted tank, have been injecting CO2 for 2 weeks and am still working on getting the right level. I'm upping it daily until I find the right rate. I turn off CO2 at night as I'm deathly afraid of suffocating my fishy pals. Plants are growing well but I'm getting hair algae. When I test my water each night, nitrates are always at 0. I have not had time in the AM to do a test but will tomorrow. I'm sure I'm getting hair algae because my plants aren't out competing it which is probably a factor of not enough CO2 and nitrates. So my question is, do you think I should add nitrates now or wait till I get my CO2 level right before I start messing w/ another parameter? If I should add nitrates, just where does one find nitrates. I haven't come across it at the LFS. I also remember someone saying they bought some off ebay but when I did a search, all I could find was nitrate to use in model rockets - it can't possibly be the same thing right? TIA, Sharker === My Quick Help Info =================== Tank Stats ------------------- Size of Tank (Gallons / Litres): 75 G Running for how long: 2.5 mo as planted community, 15yrs as oscar home Water Params ------------------- Temp: 78 pH: 7.6 Ammonia (ppm): 0 NitrIte (ppm): 0 NitrAte (ppm): 0 KH (degrees): 6 GH (degrees): 9 Ferts you are using (what and how often): none yet CO2 (Type & Level): 4.5 ppm - still working on this, raising bpm by 5 everyday until I get to right level Lighting (Wattage & type of bulbs): ------------------- 174W PC Fish In Tank: ------------------- 4 autrialian rainbow 6 dwarf neon rainbow 6 featherfin rainbow 6 oto 3 SAE 6 spotted cory cats 1 wood shrimp 4 amano shrimp 1 apple snail Plants In Tank: ------------------- lots, variety crypts, variety swords, variety anubias, few variety stems #1 · Jul 13, 2004 Hi, I've got a heavily planted tank, have been injecting CO2 for 2 weeks and am still working on getting the right level. I'm upping it daily until I find the right rate. I turn off CO2 at night as I'm deathly afraid of suffocating my fishy pals. Plants are growing well but I'm getting hair algae. When I test my water each night, nitrates are always at 0. I have not had time in the AM to do a test but will tomorrow. I'm sure I'm getting hair algae because my plants aren't out competing it which is probably a factor of not enough CO2 and nitrates. So my question is, do you think I should add nitrates now or wait till I get my CO2 level right before I start messing w/ another parameter? If I should add nitrates, just where does one find nitrates. I haven't come across it at the LFS. I also remember someone saying they bought some off ebay but when I did a search, all I could find was nitrate to use in model rockets - it can't possibly be the same thing right? TIA, Sharker === My Quick Help Info =================== Tank Stats ------------------- Size of Tank (Gallons / Litres): 75 G Running for how long: 2.5 mo as planted community, 15yrs as oscar home Water Params ------------------- Temp: 78 pH: 7.6 Ammonia (ppm): 0 NitrIte (ppm): 0 NitrAte (ppm): 0 KH (degrees): 6 GH (degrees): 9 Ferts you are using (what and how often): none yet CO2 (Type & Level): 4.5 ppm - still working on this, raising bpm by 5 everyday until I get to right level Lighting (Wattage & type of bulbs): ------------------- 174W PC Fish In Tank: ------------------- 4 autrialian rainbow 6 dwarf neon rainbow 6 featherfin rainbow 6 oto 3 SAE 6 spotted cory cats 1 wood shrimp 4 amano shrimp 1 apple snail Plants In Tank: ------------------- lots, variety crypts, variety swords, variety anubias, few variety stems See less See more Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Jul 13, 2004 I would say you can start adding your ferts right away. The tank's certainly been up & running long enough. Macro (& micro) nutrients can be purchased at www.gregwatson.com. And you should also check your phosphate levels. Keep in mind that the ratio of nitrates to phosphates should be approx. 10:1, with your phosphate levels kept at around .5-1ppm. Good luck! #3 · Jul 14, 2004 IMO, I would wait another week or two before adding any ferts because the plants will use stored nutrients for the first 3-4 weeks. Then I would raise my nitrates to around 10ppm, I use Green light stump remover (potassium nitrate). Here is a link for dosing Greenlight... http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nitrate.htm Also keep your phosphates at 1ppm. Give your tank some time to seattle in since it is newly set up. #4 · Jul 14, 2004 Trenac, from the way I interpreted the post, the tank has been up for 15 years, planted for 2.5 months, and CO2 has been running for 2 weeks. 2.5 months is plenty of time to wait before adding ferts. Or did I misread? At the very least, with nitrates at 0, it's time to add macros at least. #5 · Jul 14, 2004 In my experience when one sets up a fast tank, high light and CO2 with a good substrate and then stocks it with fast growing stem plants you need to start fertilizing within a week or so. When you are dealing with plants that can grow a foot or more a week they are going to need the nutrients or they are going to stall out and then the algae will start. #6 · Jul 14, 2004 thanks for the replies... to clarify... amanda is correct the tank itself has been set up for 15 yrs housing Orca, my very personable and loved oscar. He died in March. :icon_frow I decided to try a new challenge and go planted. I doubled my substrate by adding flourite, added a fluval 404 which I ran concurent with the existing emporer for one month to seed the canister. Upgraded my lighting to 172W PC. Began adding fish at time of canister install. Got my massive order of assorted plants about one month ago. Then installed the pressurized CO2 system about 2.5 weeks ago. So there you go a brief history of the evolution of my tank. :wink: Tests tonight show CO2 at 11.35 and ph at 7.2 nitrates still 0. I haven't gotten the gumption to go out an buy a phosphate test but will tomorrow. I guess I should start ferts. As I understand it the general rule of thumb is start at 1/2 dose and watch, is that correct. thanks so much for your guidance, sharker #7 · Jul 14, 2004 Yes, start adding ferts and Nitrate (I use KNO3). Keep increasing the CO2. I like to keep my CO2 levels at between 20 and 30. And yes, always a good idea to increase things (ie ferts) little by little. Keep in mind that reaction to increases/decreases will not happen overnight but slowly... Laith #8 · Jul 14, 2004 :icon_redf I over looked the tank stats. However I still feel that since it has just been set up for two weeks as a planted tank I would still wait a week or two to add ferts; this is just my opinion. Like I said before the plants use stored nutrients for the first 3-4 weeks after planting and adding ferts now will just feed the algae. #9 · Aug 30, 2014 Sorry to ressurect this thread. So, does adding macro / micro nutrient mix raise nitrate levels? For the beginning of my tank my nitrates were around 20+ for some time now the are at 0 no matter how much macro micro mix I add. Afraid to overdose. #10 · Aug 30, 2014 Adding the macronutrient mix, provided it includes a source of nitrates, will raise your overall nitrate levels. I would check your test kit (calibrate it) to ensure that you are actually getting accurate results to start off with. 0 Reply #11 · Aug 31, 2014 Follow EI dosing for simplicity IMO You are just going to run into more problems / get more frustrated if you do not start dosing ferts IMO. I don't knwo much about 'stored nutrients' but to me it would make sense if you give your plants everything they need right off the bat. Start slow but definitely start to dose. If your nitrates are truly 0 then your plants are either using it all or your test is wrong IMO Also it may sound stupid but make sure you are following your test kit instructions. The API nitrate test makes you shake the hell out of the 2nd bottle / mixture or else it will NOT work. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=647697&highlight= #12 · Aug 31, 2014 I do shake the hell out of both bottles. All bottles actually before applying drops to test. I had this tank running for about 2 years now. when I just started the tap water had nitrates above 40ppm. With time and my weekly dosing it dwindled down to 0 now. Was around 10-20 for a while. I know how much I dose and when I test after it doesnt raise much at all. I want to try dosing on a stronger level. My question is... does mac/mic mix contain nitrates in it? I think I bought it from green leaf aquarium .com or some site similar. Show more replies 0 Reply Insert Quotes Post Reply

posts 3.5M members 137K Since 2002 A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more! Show Less Full Forum Listing Explore Our Forums Tank Journals General Planted Tank Discussion Equipment Fish Shrimp & Other Invertebrates