[Wet Thumb Forum]-NO3 sources in the tank

[Bert H]

On my well stocked (fish), heavily planted, established 29 gal, I can't seem to measure any drop in NO3 levels throughout the week. The tank is co2 injected, with 2.5 W/gal lighting. Is it that my test kits are junk (I have used Red Sea and AP) or is it the fish load that maintains the levels (around 10ppm)? The plants don't show N deficiency symptoms. My tap measures 0 using the kits.

I add traces (2ml) twice a week and iron (0.5ml) daily. Typically, I add between 1/2 and 3/4 ppm PO4 to reach the levels of 1 - 1.25, which is where I try to maintain it.

I know my fish load is on the heavy side: 4 cardinals, 2 ottos, 5 rasboras, 1 sae, about 20 guppies, and 5-10 (?) amanos. Is it possible that there is enough waste generated to maintain NO3 levels, or am I limiting some other nutrient thereby limiting its uptake? This is really befuddling to me. Any ideas are welcome.

Bert.

[Bert H]

On my well stocked (fish), heavily planted, established 29 gal, I can't seem to measure any drop in NO3 levels throughout the week. The tank is co2 injected, with 2.5 W/gal lighting. Is it that my test kits are junk (I have used Red Sea and AP) or is it the fish load that maintains the levels (around 10ppm)? The plants don't show N deficiency symptoms. My tap measures 0 using the kits.

I add traces (2ml) twice a week and iron (0.5ml) daily. Typically, I add between 1/2 and 3/4 ppm PO4 to reach the levels of 1 - 1.25, which is where I try to maintain it.

I know my fish load is on the heavy side: 4 cardinals, 2 ottos, 5 rasboras, 1 sae, about 20 guppies, and 5-10 (?) amanos. Is it possible that there is enough waste generated to maintain NO3 levels, or am I limiting some other nutrient thereby limiting its uptake? This is really befuddling to me. Any ideas are welcome.

Bert.

[Roger Miller]

It's very possible for fish feeding/fish waste alone to supply all the nitrogen that your plants need. The same source supplies quite a bit of phosphate, but possibly not enough to give you 1.0-1.25 ppm of PO4. That's a pretty high level.


Roger Miller