Red field ratio

[TaigC94]

Hi everyone, I wanted people’s experience on this, The red field ratio. The ratio of 1 phosphate to 16 nitrate. Studies have show once plants and organisms have exhausted the phosphate supply, nitrate consumption stops (plants, coral, and bacteria). My phosphate is 0.01 but my nitrates are very high (higher than I’d like to admit). Has anyone used a method of raising their phosphates (nothing drastic but raise it and maintain it daily) on purpose to have the breakdown of nitrate begin again?

 

[Nanoreefer415]

Preferably sodium phosphate, but you can use monopotassium phosphate as an alternative

 

[Paulo Mallard Scaldaferri]

I´m on the other end... Just dosing nitrates to balance that a little.

Some time ago I did a review on articles about the C: N: P ratios that you may find usefull (not many people gave too much attention, but there it goes):

Review on Redfield´s ratio

 

[BYU]

reed roids always makes my phosphates jump
or dose nopox which will bring down nitrates

 

[TaigC94]

I´m on the other end... Just dosing nitrates to balance that a little.

Some time ago I did a review on articles about the C: N: P ratios that you may find usefull (not many people gave too much attention, but there it goes):

Review on Redfield´s ratio

I’ll be taking a read on that!

 

[TaigC94]

Preferably sodium phosphate, but you can use monopotassium phosphate as an alternative

Where do I find these? Checked websites for phosphate dosing but had no luck

 

[TaigC94]

reed roids always makes my phosphates jump
or dose nopox which will bring down nitrates

I have nopox on there now, I may start doing more feedings more often

 

[Caseyoidae]

I use 2 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate diluted in a Gallon of rodi and dose 3ml with dosing pump daily to keep my phosphate at .03ppm in a 40 gallon. Some binding may occur when you first begin phosphate dosing so take it super slow and work up. It’s $7on Amazon And very predictable compared to using reef roids, overfeeding ect. I’m in the same boat but I dose vinegar as my carbon source because although not as effective per volume it’s way cheaper than vodka or nopox

 

[TaigC94]

I´m on the other end... Just dosing nitrates to balance that a little.

Some time ago I did a review on articles about the C: N: P ratios that you may find usefull (not many people gave too much attention, but there it goes):

Review on Redfield´s ratio

Good read. If you write up anymore work, I’d be interested in it

 

[Paulo Mallard Scaldaferri]

Good read. If you write up anymore work, I’d be interested in it

Thanks. I usually write some articles in portuguese but recently decided to translate some info that could be useful.

 

[Craig Bingman]

Preferably sodium phosphate, but you can use monopotassium phosphate as an alternative

Why is sodium phosphate preferred? Asking for a friend.

 

[Craig Bingman]

Hi everyone, I wanted people’s experience on this, The red field ratio. The ratio of 1 phosphate to 16 nitrate. Studies have show once plants and organisms have exhausted the phosphate supply, nitrate consumption stops (plants, coral, and bacteria). My phosphate is 0.01 but my nitrates are very high (higher than I’d like to admit). Has anyone used a method of raising their phosphates (nothing drastic but raise it and maintain it daily) on purpose to have the breakdown of nitrate begin again?

Just a few technical points. It’s “Redfield’s ratios.” He was a chemical oceanographer who studied the ratios of numbers of atoms of different elements found in phytoplankton.

The 16:1 ratio is a molar ratio or “number of atoms ratio.” I guess people normall measure things as nitrate ion and phosphate ion, and the have masses of 62 and 95 grams per mole, respectively. So in nitrate to phosphate ion masses a 16:1 Redfield’s ratio would be more like 10:1 nitrate ion to phosphate ion.

 

[Craig Bingman]

Where do I find these? Checked websites for phosphate dosing but had no luck

Trisodium phosphate is a common cleaning agent that is still used widely for surface prep of walls prior to repainting. So that’s where I would start looking for it in the hardware store. There are TSP variants that combine bleach and phosphate (often used to remove mildew stains from walls.) You don’t want those. Just TSP. There will be an increase in alkalinity when you add this. Go slow, etc. I‘m sure someone must have made a dosing calculator somewhere, but if not we can whip out some formulas for you.

 

[seldin]

For me, to reduce nitrates, I do carbon dosing with a dosing pump. You can read on dosing with vodka, white vinegar, sugar, etc. Takes weeks for it to start seeing an effect.