Cheap way to dose Nitrate?

[iReefer12]

I’m using a Pax Bellum Chaeto Reactor and it’s pulled out nitrate like crazy, before starting the reactor the No3 was ~36ppm, it’s now 0.25ppm.

The reactor pulls out more No3 than Po4 which throws out the tank chemistry. I did try the small bottle of nitrate that pax Bellum sold, but I used the whole bottle in just a couple of weeks and then No3 went back to 0.

The bottles of nitrate are quite expensive and just trying to find a cheaper alternative to maintaining No3 in the 4-6ppm range. Any ideas?

 

[homer1475]

Stump remover from spectracide. It's been used and suggested many times, and very cheap. I myself started with it, but did not like the impurities that float around in it.

I have since switched to potassium nitrate(salt peter) found on amazon, ebay, walmart, etc for fairly cheap.

Then I used this calc for figuring out how much I needed to make for a specific dosage, and how much to dose.
http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

 

[iReefer12]

Does it also increase potassium in the tank?

 

[homer1475]

Yes but a very negligible amount. ICP testing shows no elevated potassium levels after over a year of dosing it.

 

[iReefer12]

Nice, yeah, that seems to be a cheap alternative.

I found this on Amazon, is this the same brand you use? - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GN8H7G/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_JmSZCbSX5GTB4

 

[homer1475]

I've actually found this place.

https://www.seedranch.com/Potassium-Nitrate-Powder-KNO3-Saltpeter-p/kno3-powder-5.htm

 

[iReefer12]

Thanks!

 

[homer1475]

I'm all for finding cheaper alternatives to regular "reef" products, which are usually the same as other products but marked up 1000%, and put in an aquarium specific package.

 

[Sod Buster]

Another option is sodium nitrate that is pretty cheap also. I use it to keep detectable nutrients in the tank. Trisodium phosphate for P04. I get the 5 ounce bottles from loudwolf. Com, mix it into rodi water per a recipe some smart guys developed.

 

[homer1475]

Only problem I found with sodium nitrate, it raised my salinity. Not a huge amount, but enough to notice so I discontinued use and switched to potassium nitrate.

 

[Sod Buster]

My mistake. I just looked at my bottle. I'm with homer. Potassium nitrate.

 

[Silver14SS]

I came into this thread to recommend Loudwolf, glad to see someone beat me to it! In addition to their nitrate, I use their calcium carbonate.

 

[homer1475]

That loudwolf product is expensive!

At only 99.6% pure, its more expensive, and less pure then what I posted.

Loudwolf = 4oz = 9.99$
seed ranch brand = 5lb = 17.99

Loudwolf 99.6% pure
Seed ranch 99.8% pure

Not that it makes a huge difference, but the price sure does.

 

[Neo Jeo]

I would say just put a turd in the tank but that would be the wrong answer.

 

[BluTang85]

You can get potassium nitrate for cheap and it’s way healthier then that stump remover.
I dos 1 ml a day to keep my tank around 5ppm
Www.greenleafaquariums.com

 

[homer1475]

You can get potassium nitrate for cheap and it’s way healthier then that stump remover.
I dos 1 ml a day to keep my tank around 5ppm
Www.greenleafaquariums.com

That domain expired on 4/15, is this company still in business?

 

[Sod Buster]

5 lbs for that price! I'd dose half of that to myself for my blood pressue. I can feel it rising as I type. That would also give me some extra for some smoke bombs too.

 

[Jman76]

Not sure how much one would need, but we use KNO3 in bulk as a fertilizer for golf greens. A 50lb bag of 99.8% purity is around $65-70. Be a lifetime supply lol

 

[BluTang85]

That domain expired on 4/15, is this company still in business?

Yea I just ordered from them a month ago, I ordered the bag for 2.99

 

[BluTang85]

Click the link again it works