What is the reason Easy Green raises my nitrate levels?
Plants need more than light and water. They also require the right nutrients to provide them with the basic building blocks they need to grow new leaves, roots, and other vital elements.
Macronutrients
These nutrients are nutrients that plants need in large amounts (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium).
micronutrients
are nutrients that plants need in trace amounts (such as iron, boron, and manganese). Traditionally, it was thought that fish poop and uneaten fish food were sufficient sources of nutrients for plant growth, but in reality, they do not contain all these necessary nutrients in the right ratios or amounts. Therefore, we developed Easy Green as an easy, all-in-one fertilizer to help keep plants healthy and well-fed.
As you can see in the list of nutrients above, the goal of Easy Green is to raise nitrate (or nitrogen) and other nutrients so that plants have enough to consume. The percentages of potassium, phosphate and nitrate are actually higher than the rest, because these are macronutrients your plants require greater amounts. Easy Green will raise the nitrate level in water tests. The goal is to add enough Easy Green to reach 50 ppm.
Are High Nitrate Levels Dangerous?
Ammonia and Nitrite can be toxic to animals even in small amounts. However, nitrate is much less toxic. Research paper titled Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals found that nitrate levels rose to 800 ppm in a study before they were fatal for guppy fries. As a rule of thumb, we recommend keeping aquariums at 50 ppm nitrate and below.
If you have a fish tank that is heavily stocked with animals and/or does not have a lot of aquarium plants, the nitrate level produced by fish waste can naturally climb to 50 ppm and above. Many hobbyists feel tempted to stop using Easy Green because it will cause an increase in the nitrate. Withholding fertilizer can cause plants to lose other vital nutrients, as well as nitrate. To prevent this from happening, use the following instructions:
1. Perform a 50% water changing (or multiple 50% water changing every four days) until the nitrate level reaches 25ppm. 2. Dose 1 pump of Easy Green per 10 gallons of water. Allow the water to cool for at least 24 hours, then test it again. 3. Your goal is to achieve 50 ppm of nitrate. If the nitrate level is still low, you can repeat Step 2. You will continue to apply fertilizer until it reaches 50 ppm. 4. Give the water a rest for 3-4 days, then test it again. A water change of 50% is required if the nitrate levels are already between 75 and 100 ppm. Consider removing some fish or adding more plants (especially fast-growing ones) to decrease the rate at which nitrate is produced.
Are low levels of Nitrate dangerous?
While fish and other aquatic animals are not affected by a lack of nitrate, plants absolutely need it to grow well. Without nitrate, plant leaves will turn yellow (especially starting at the leaf tips) and eventually melt away because the plant is consuming nutrients from its old leaves at the bottom in order to make new leaves at the top.
Signs that you have a nitrogen deficiency
In order to avoid starving your plants, we recommend dosing 1 pump of Easy Green per 10 gallons of water with the following frequency:
– Dose once a week for low light aquariums. – Dose twice a week for medium light aquariums.
If you notice that the plant leaves are still translucent and showing signs of rot, it may be necessary to use a custom dosing system based on the water’s nitrate levels.
1. If the nitrate levels are between 0-25 ppm then you can add an entire dose of Easy Green according to the instructions. After waiting a while, test the water again. 2. If your nitrate levels are still below 50ppm, continue to douse fertilizer as normal until they reach this level. 3. Wait 3-4 days and test the water. If necessary, take Easy Green again to achieve the 50 ppm target.
Record down the dates you fertilized the tank and the amounts of Easy Green used, and soon you should be able to figure out your custom dosing schedule. Just be aware that as plants and fish grow larger or are removed from the aquarium, this changes the amount of nitrate that is needed, so keep an eye on the growth of the plants and test your water to adjust the schedule as needed.
Don’t worry if your readings of nitrate exceed 0 ppm. Nitrate can be good for plants. Easy Green is a beginner-friendly fertilizer that you can use without measuring out tons of other supplements. Just add 1 pump per 10 gallons, and you’re good to go!
The following articles provide more information:
Which is the best planted tank fertilizer? Nutrient Deficiencies: Why Your Aquarium Plants Are Dying
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