What is the reason Easy Green raises my nitrate levels?
Besides light and water, plants require an exact mix of nutrients to give them the fundamental building blocks needed to grow new leaves and roots.
Macronutrients
These nutrients are nutrients that plants need in large amounts (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium).
micronutrients
There are trace amounts of nutrients that plants require, such as iron, manganese, and boron. 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. Easy Green was created to be an all-in-one fertilizer that helps plants stay 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. In fact, the percentages of nitrate, phosphate, and potassium are higher than the rest because they are macronutrients that your plants need greater amounts of. 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?
Nitrate, ammonia, and nitrite are toxic to animals in trace amounts. In a research paper titled Nitrate toxicity to aquatic animals, nitrate levels were raised up to 800 ppm before they became lethal to guppy fry. 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. In this situation, many hobbyists are tempted to stop using Easy Green since it will increase the nitrate even higher. Withholding fertilizer can cause plants to lose other vital nutrients, as well as nitrate. These are the steps to prevent this:
1. Do a 50% water change if nitrate levels are 50 ppm or higher. Repeat this four times per day until the nitrate levels reach 25 ppm. 2. One pump of Easy Green should be used for every 10 gallons. Allow the water to cool for at least 24 hours, then test it again. 3. You want to get to 50 ppm nitrate. If nitrate is still too low, repeat Step 2 to keep dosing fertilizer until you reach 50 ppm. 4. Then wait 3-4 days before testing the water again. If nitrate is already at 75-100 ppm, you will have to do another 50% water change. Consider removing some fish or adding more plants (especially fast-growing ones) to decrease the rate at which nitrate is produced.
Is 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 a nitrogen deficiency
To avoid starving your plants, you can do 1 pump of Easy Green for every 10 gallons. The following frequency is recommended:
– 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. Add Easy Green to your water if the nitrate level is between 0-25ppm. Give the water a rest for a few hours before testing it again. 2. If nitrate is still below 50 ppm, repeat Step 1 and keep dosing fertilizer until you reach that level. 3. Give the water a rest for three to four days, then test it. To reach the goal of 50ppm nitrate, you can use Easy Green again.
You will soon be able to determine your personal dosing schedule by recording the dates and amounts of Easy Green you used. 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. Therefore, we created Easy Green as a beginner-friendly fertilizer so you don’t have to measure out a ton of supplements. Add 1 pump to 10 gallons and you are good to go.
The following articles provide more information:
Which plant-based fertilizer is right for you? Nutrient Deficiencies: Why Your Aquarium Plants Are Dying
Register
Recent blog posts
– Does the Easy Plant LED light work with the Kasa Wi-Fi timer? The Easy Plant LED light can be set to either a sunrise or a sunset mode. – Is the Easy Plant LED light programmable with a phone app? What is the lumen count of the Easy Plant LED light bulb? Is there a way to raise the Easy Plant LED?