Most of us have heard of the Redfield ratio, which states that marine
plankton contain 116 atoms carbon to 16 atoms nitrogen to 1 atom
phosphorous. This is a slightly variable, but otherwise stabile
analysis of marine organic carbon-based life. You can read much more
about it in the internet.
In the last couple of months I had decided to re-make my reef, which was over 13 years intact. In the process, which is still on-going, I moved the main organisms to a smaller tank while I redecorated. The resut was a general collapse of this smaller tank, partially due to the old live rock, partially due to overcrowding. Be as it may, the PO4 levels started to rise. As I use Vertex Pro-Bio pellets for my carbon dosing, the NO3 level was literally at 0. This exponentially growing change seemd like a good chance to monitor changes based on the Redfield Ratio.
As carbon was not an issue, I started dosing CaNO3 when the PO4 reached over 0.3, which is the highest my kit registers. The actual level could have been as high as 1.0ppm, but I didn't attempt to read in this range. The levels were critical enough.
I made a solution of CaNO3, calcium nitrate, which is a simple fertilizer found in garden centres. In theory, one could use ammonium or another nitrate as a source, such as sodium nitrate. The actual concentration of the solution was not perfectly calculated, as I knew more or less what I wanted, which is about 100g in 500ml, a strong solution. I added this in small amounts over a 24 hour period to bring the NO3 level to 5ppm, which is the top of my testing range. I tested after each dosis to make sure I didn't overshoot my goal.
After two days the NO3 level has dropped very little, about 1ppm, but the PO3 has dropped to 0.15, about a 50% reduction! Clearly a positive result.
Many have used this method to balance their nutrient levels, but most haven't given any simple, practical guidelines with expected results. I hope to underline the ease of this kind of dosing to bring the PO4 level under control when dosing with a carbon source, particularly a solid source (bio-pellets), which tends to favour the assimilation of nitrogen vs phosphorous. Although the mixing of a specific NO3 solution should remain consistent, the actual concentration is less important than the application and dosing regimen.
In the last couple of months I had decided to re-make my reef, which was over 13 years intact. In the process, which is still on-going, I moved the main organisms to a smaller tank while I redecorated. The resut was a general collapse of this smaller tank, partially due to the old live rock, partially due to overcrowding. Be as it may, the PO4 levels started to rise. As I use Vertex Pro-Bio pellets for my carbon dosing, the NO3 level was literally at 0. This exponentially growing change seemd like a good chance to monitor changes based on the Redfield Ratio.
As carbon was not an issue, I started dosing CaNO3 when the PO4 reached over 0.3, which is the highest my kit registers. The actual level could have been as high as 1.0ppm, but I didn't attempt to read in this range. The levels were critical enough.
I made a solution of CaNO3, calcium nitrate, which is a simple fertilizer found in garden centres. In theory, one could use ammonium or another nitrate as a source, such as sodium nitrate. The actual concentration of the solution was not perfectly calculated, as I knew more or less what I wanted, which is about 100g in 500ml, a strong solution. I added this in small amounts over a 24 hour period to bring the NO3 level to 5ppm, which is the top of my testing range. I tested after each dosis to make sure I didn't overshoot my goal.
After two days the NO3 level has dropped very little, about 1ppm, but the PO3 has dropped to 0.15, about a 50% reduction! Clearly a positive result.
Many have used this method to balance their nutrient levels, but most haven't given any simple, practical guidelines with expected results. I hope to underline the ease of this kind of dosing to bring the PO4 level under control when dosing with a carbon source, particularly a solid source (bio-pellets), which tends to favour the assimilation of nitrogen vs phosphorous. Although the mixing of a specific NO3 solution should remain consistent, the actual concentration is less important than the application and dosing regimen.
That is really good and informative blog, refield ratio is something new to me and I need to do more research on it. Thank you for sharing it
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