Calcium nitrate

[Rmckoy]

On March 20th I tested and nitrates were 0ppm
230 gal dt
I dosed 1ml per 20 gal as instructions
11.5ml daily for 4 days which should give me 4ppm
Testing today results show I only have 2.5ppm
But alk is extremely high at 9.0dkh

sg 1.025
Cal 425
Nitrates 2.5
Phosphates ( March 20) 0.159ppm ( 52ppb phosphorus )

question …
Does dosing calcium nitrate effect alkalinity ?
Or is it the sudden decrease and increase with dosing that’s messing with alkalinity ?

 

[GuppyHJD]

The 2.5ppm vs 4 ppm could be the coraline and corals uptake?
You didn't show your ALK numbers but yes, the calcium uptake would also uptake ALK

 

[Rmckoy]

The 2.5ppm vs 4 ppm could be the coraline and corals uptake?
You didn't show your ALK numbers but yes, the calcium uptake would also uptake ALK

Alk now has increased from 7.5 to 9 dkh
Does increasing nitrate also increase alkalinity ?
I assumed with the increase of nitrates , alkalinity should decrease

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Yes, dosing nitrate will boost alkalinity. When ammonia is converted into nitrate, alkalinity is lowered, and when the nitrate is used, the alkalinity is returned. By dosing nitrate directly, you get the bunp to alkalinity without the lowering aspect, so it ends up being a raise.

By dosing calcium nitrate, you are getting a boost to both alkalinity and calcium. So they both rise and without skewing your alk.

 

[Rmckoy]

Yes, dosing nitrate will boost alkalinity. When ammonia is converted into nitrate, alkalinity is lowered, and when the nitrate is used, the alkalinity is returned. By dosing nitrate directly, you get the bunp to alkalinity without the lowering aspect, so it ends up being a raise.

By dosing calcium nitrate, you are getting a boost to both alkalinity and calcium. So they both rise and bot skewing your alk.

Makes
Sense .
but cal hasn’t increased .
Nitrates increased from 0-2.5 and alk from 7.5-9

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Your calcium will rise, I am not sure how much, but it will.

The other possibility is that the change in nitrate levels, caused a slowdown in alk consumption. If this occurred, and you did not slow or stop dosing, your alk (and calcium) can rise.

 

[Rmckoy]

Your calcium will rise, I am not sure how much, but it will.

The other possibility is that the change in nitrate levels, caused a slowdown in alk consumption. If this occurred, and you did not slow or stop dosing, your alk (and calcium) can rise.

Alk consumption will slow as I’ve also scraped the coralline from the glass the day before starting dosing .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

question …
Does dosing calcium nitrate effect alkalinity ?
Or is it the sudden decrease and increase with dosing that’s messing with alkalinity ?

Yes, it boosts calcium and alk in a balanced fashion, just like a little two part or kalkwasser would.

Dosing and consumption of 50 ppm of nitrate will boost alk by 2.3 dKH and calcium by 16 ppm.

 

[Jo'Reefer]

Quick question for Randy Holmes-Farley on this subject forgive me if it has been answered before .. when using the calcium nitrate from loudwolf would you mix at the same ratio as Nitrate - from Potassium Nitrate when using the calculator? Thank you in advance!

Yes, it boosts calcium and alk in a balanced fashion, just like a little two part or kalkwasser would.

Dosing and consumption of 50 ppm of nitrate will boost alk by 2.3 dKH and calcium by 16 ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Quick question for Randy Holmes-Farley on this subject forgive me if it has been answered before .. when using the calcium nitrate from loudwolf would you mix at the same ratio as Nitrate - from Potassium Nitrate when using the calculator? Thank you in advance!

It's close enough, yes. Not perfect, and I can provide a correction if you want, but you dose by trial and error anyway, and the calculator is a guide to a starting point.