Urea vs nitrates as N source. Effects on algae growth ?

[snowballs99]

Interesting. I am now around 2 weeks after conversion from 50 : 50 Urea/NO3 to purely NO3 and I must say the GDA is reducing somewhat. Of course, plant mass has increased also in that time, so its not a completely fair test.

The only reason I dabbled in it because I thought it would create a difference in plant forms. Etc thicker wider stems n leaves you typically get from ammonia rich substrates. I honestly couldn't tell.

 

[snowballs99]

Interesting. I am now around 2 weeks after conversion from 50 : 50 Urea/NO3 to purely NO3 and I must say the GDA is reducing somewhat. Of course, plant mass has increased also in that time, so its not a completely fair test.

Has this actually made a diff in your plant growth from just dosing nitrates tho?
The whole point of using urea was for slightly faster plant growth/thicker more robust stems and leaves right?

I always question, what would give better results.

Dosing Urea instead of Nitrates, or just bumping up your co2 by 5-10ppm.

 

[hamfist]

Has this actually made a diff in your plant growth from just dosing nitrates tho?
The whole point of using urea was for slightly faster plant growth/thicker more robust stems and leaves right?

I always question, what would give better results.

Dosing Urea instead of Nitrates, or just bumping up your co2 by 5-10ppm.

I have not noticed any negative effect on plant growth since moving to NO3. Its pretty decent TBH.

 

[snowballs99]

I have not noticed any negative effect on plant growth since moving to NO3. Its pretty decent TBH.

Same for me as well.
I see a lot of people say they have better more robust plant growth using ammonia + nitrate.

However they are typically also lean dosing as well.

If nitrate is like 20ppm, does dosing ammonia at that stage make a difference?

A dosing scheme id like to test in the future is.

Front load all macros.

Mix 1ppm of ammonia per dose with your micros. I don't it binds with any micro nutrients so it should be fine to mix in the same bottle.

This would make things easier to isolate and test whether it has any impact or not.

 

[Burr740]

If nitrate is like 20ppm, does dosing ammonia at that stage make a difference?

Cant speak for ammonia specifically, but in this case with urea my experience is it makes the easy fast stuff faster and bigger. It has never "saved" or fixed any sensitive species, stems or rosettes either one. Just my experience, others may have a different one

Mix 1ppm of ammonia per dose with your micros. I don't it binds with any micro nutrients so it should be fine to mix in the same bottle.

This will be fine, yes

Hi Joe, how about a new tank with aqua soil, do you adjust your dosing or dose the same as your tanks with sand?

Hey Joel! I missed this quote earlier. In the very beginning with new soil I'll load up PO4 for a month or so, until it stops sucking it out of the water. Sometimes I'll dose a little less no3 for a few months, sometimes I dont. But you definitely can, especially folks who want a lean water column.

Personally Im not using soil for the nh4. I actually wish it wasnt there for consistency. Because you get a big spike in the beginning, then a honeymoon period for a few months where everything is surging, then it gradually declines and you have to up the no3 or add root supplements. The only way to know when its time is to watch the plants. I dont like how those parameters change. Id rather be in full control by just adding it to the water

Usually after the first month or so I just pretend its not there and dose the same as the sand tanks. What I do like about aquasoil is the acidic base and cec . It does make a big difference with sensitive plants, even when its a few years old. But Id also say 90% of plants will do just as well in sand as long as the KH is right, Syns, Tonina etc

Hi Joe

How going? Whats your recommended ppm of urea to dose? Is it the same as nh4 where all u need is 1ppm max?

Usually I go with .25 - .5 ppm daily. But this is with fairly rich no3 dosing along with it. I havent spent much time relying on urea/ammonia alone so cant really speak on that. Ive found its also good to start low and ease up. This allows the bio stuff to adjust and catch up so you dont get much gda response. Ive always had a little gda pop up in the beginning, even with low amounts. It'll go away in a couple weeks when the bio presence adjusts