Dosing nitrate options

[VanDalsenReef]

Is there a nitrate dry that someone has had experience with?
I dose nitrates but have been looking to add them another cheaper way. I've done the aquarium versions but I'm interested in other options as long as it's as close to acs grade as possible

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Food grade sodium nitrate is rudely used and available.

 

[VanDalsenReef]

Food grade sodium nitrate is rudely used and available.

Thanks Randy. Is there a certain company or does it all come from the same place?
Is there a measure for dilution as well or mixing? G for every blah blah

 

[fryman]

**rudely used**

You tell 'em Randy! The nerve of some people

Dunno why but I got a kick out of this autocorrect

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You tell 'em Randy! The nerve of some people

Dunno why but I got a kick out of this autocorrect

lol

Meant to be "widely"

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy. Is there a certain company or does it all come from the same place?
Is there a measure for dilution as well or mixing? G for every blah blah

Sodium nitrate is made by giant chemical companies, and then resold to lots of different industries.

Loudwolf is a brand many use, and amazon has some others that show food grade or reagent grade sodium nitrate.

 

[Gtinnel]

I don’t dose nitrate very often but when I do I use a solution made from this and it’s never caused me any issues

I figured a 5lb bag will last me forever, plus when I bought it last summer it was close to half of its current price

 

[gbroadbridge]

Food grade sodium nitrate is rudely used and available.

Calcium Nitrate if adequate purity?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Calcium Nitrate if adequate purity?

In some ways that's an even better choice, but it is harder to find. ESV use sit in their nitrate supplement. It keeps alk and calcium balanced, while sodium nitrate boosts alk over time relative to calcum.

 

[VanDalsenReef]

In some ways that's an even better choice, but it is harder to find. ESV use sit in their nitrate supplement. It keeps alk and calcium balanced, while sodium nitrate boosts alk over time relative to calcum.

Like this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, that’s a good product to use.

 

[Tony the Fish]

I've used the ESV premade Nitrate with good results

 

[JebronLames]

Yes, that’s a good product to use.

Just wondering about the dosing calculation. Do I still use the same James Planted Tank dosing calculator? Just use the Nitrate -- from Potassium Nitrate (even though I'm using Calcium Nitrate)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just wondering about the dosing calculation. Do I still use the same James Planted Tank dosing calculator? Just use the Nitrate -- from Potassium Nitrate (even though I'm using Calcium Nitrate)

Still use that and it is likely close enough, but if you are exacting, it will overestimate the amount of solids needed for a given nitrate rise by 23%.

 

[KStatefan]

Still use that and it is likely close enough, but if you are exacting, it will overestimate the amount of solids needed for a given nitrate rise by 23%.

Randy is this the correct chemistry/math to use when using Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, that looks correct.

 

[KStatefan]

@Randy Holmes-Farley when dosing sodium Nitrate, calcium nitrate or trisodium phosphate how long will it take for it to show up in a test?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Instantly (as soon as it mixes in).

But you may need to dose a lot more phosphate than calculated because a lit may rapidly bind to rock and sand.

 

[KStatefan]

Instantly (as soon as it mixes in).

But you may need to dose a lot more phosphate than calculated because a lit may rapidly bind to rock and sand.

Thanks

This is in a coral QT so no sand and very little rock. I had tested at 0.00 ppm with the Hanna ULR phosphate for four days and had been dosing what should have raised it 0.01 ppm each day then on the fifth day it tested 0.06 ppm.