Dosing nitrate

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While it is fresh water rather than seawater, this article discusses the effect of nitrate dosing on alkalinity (it rises) while ammonium dosing lowers alkalinity (as expected).

What causes alkalinity changes in aquaculture waters? - Responsible Seafood Advocate

Total alkalinity is an important variable in water for aquaculture systems, and its concentration frequently fluctuates over time in many culture systems.

www.aquaculturealliance.org

Fig. 2: Changes in alkalinity in ponds at Auburn, Alabama without fertilization and in ponds treated at 9 kg N/ha every 2 weeks with ammonium sulfate or with sodium nitrate.

They did not try it, but ammonia dosing should leave alkalinity unchanged.

 

[Rmckoy]

Hi my tank has been running foe several months, i recently started adding sps frags, however my nitrates are at 0ppm(hanna checker) and phosphates are 0.03(hanna checker). I am thinking of dosing nitrates. I found a supplier of chemicals that carries sodium nitrates and obtained and analysis from them... will appreciate it if someone will take a look and determine if its safe for dosing into my tank... thanks

A lot of people, including myself, use this safely.

I bought this one .
works amazing , doses to raise nitrates 1ppm per day .
on day 5 tested and had 5 ppm increase .

 

[HuduVudu]

Again, the reaction clearly adds alkalinity as OH-.

The H2O gets split at the front end for the H+ to run the ATP pump. The pump doesn't modify the H+ that runs against the gradient. So we really have both species present, but separated. We also have this in neutral water.

I really don't have any more questions.

If you want to advise people to dose sodium nitrate, I am not going to stop you. You do you. If you want to tell people that they can lower their sodium carbonate/bicarbonate if they are using it based on their sodium nitrate addition. By all means. If you want to explain it as you have. Then you once again have that right.

I think that people should look it up and make decisions for themselves. If they are just looking for a cage fight that they can root for their favorite fighter then IMO they are pretty sad, and probably should be in boxing not salt water aquariums. The real learning takes place when they question and study what is being said and form their own understandings. I have my own understanding, I am comfortable with it's correctness.

To ensure that I am clear here. I do not suggest using sodium nitrate. I do, however suggest calcium or magnesium nitrate, depending on your needs. It's not to say that sodium nitrate might be appropriate for some situations, it can be, but I see those as being edge cases.

 

[HuduVudu]

I bought this one .
works amazing , doses to raise nitrates 1ppm per day .
on day 5 tested and had 5 ppm increase .

You are dosing calcium nitrate FWIW.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I really don't have any more questions.

OK, I won't try to explain the science further for you.

Of course people should make decisions for themselves.

That is why when people post incorrect info, I post what I think is the correct info, as well as the basis for saying it. So that folks can understand for themselves what the issues are.

Your suggestion of calcium nitrate is a fine one. I've said so many times over the years. As long as one finds an appropriately pure grade, its a fine choice. It is a good choice PRECISELY because it adds a balanced amount of calcium and alkalinity. If nitrate did not add alkalinity, it would be a poor choice that I would not recommend.

Magnesium nitrate is a poor choice, IMO. Better than potassium nitrate, but like potassium, mangesium will accumulate, and it will accumulate far faster, on a percentage basis, than sodium would (because there is so much more sodium to begin with). Salinity corrections do not keep the magnesium from potentially rising too much.

 

[nim6us]

Sorry but after reading this thread all I can think of is this video...

 

[HuduVudu]

Sorry but after reading this thread all I can think of is this video...

That shows how much you even know about what is being said. Honestly your post says more about you than the subject.

You have picked your favorite gladiator and nothing will stand in the way of you rooting for him. Because science is all about "winning".

Perhaps WWE would be a better hobby for you to undertake.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Please keep it friendly and don’t get personal.

 

[Rmckoy]

OK, I won't try to explain the science further for you.

Of course people should make decisions for themselves.

That is why when people post incorrect info, I post what I think is the correct info, as well as the basis for saying it. So that folks can understand for themselves what the issues are.

Your suggestion of calcium nitrate is a fine one. I've said so many times over the years. As long as one finds an appropriately pure grade, its a fine choice. It is a good choice PRECISELY because it adds a balanced amount of calcium and alkalinity. If nitrate did not add alkalinity, it would be a poor choice that I would not recommend.

Magnesium nitrate is a poor choice, IMO. Better than potassium nitrate, but like potassium, mangesium will accumulate, and it will accumulate far faster, on a percentage basis, than sodium would (because there is so much more sodium to begin with). Salinity corrections do not keep the magnesium from potentially rising too much.

Some things are hard to find. .
Especially in Canada .
potassium nitrate is one ..
also used for making fire works

the lfs sells calcium nitrate .
For my 230 gal . To bring nitrates up I dosed 11.5ml per day to increase 1ppm per day .
it works . And nothing was out of balance .

 

[GillMeister]

Some things are hard to find. .
Especially in Canada .
potassium nitrate is one ..
also used for making fire works

the lfs sells calcium nitrate .
For my 230 gal . To bring nitrates up I dosed 11.5ml per day to increase 1ppm per day .
it works . And nothing was out of balance .

Cool. You found a solution that works. I don't see anyone saying this is a bad way to go.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Some things are hard to find. .
Especially in Canada .
potassium nitrate is one ..
also used for making fire works

the lfs sells calcium nitrate .
For my 230 gal . To bring nitrates up I dosed 11.5ml per day to increase 1ppm per day .
it works . And nothing was out of balance .

The ESV calcium nitrate is a fine choice. I trust ESV to provide an adequately pure product.

Your case is interesting in that it doesn't seem to be getting consumed, but accumulated for 5 successive days. Many folks find the dose disappears within a day.

 

[Rmckoy]

The ESV calcium nitrate is a fine choice. I trust ESV to provide an adequately pure product.

Your case is interesting in that it doesn't seem to be getting consumed, but accumulated for 5 successive days. Many folks find the dose disappears within a day.

Where it bottomed out , I have no idea .
water changes , new setup and mainly all new water ,
Phosphates were high with 0 nitrates

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Where it bottomed out , I have no idea .
water changes , new setup and mainly all new water ,
Phosphates were high with 0 nitrates

I'm asking about the fact that it isn't still declining.

This is a typical response that many folsk see, especially when first dosing:

Nitrates not budging even when dosing

So I ended up finding out I was running a ULNS on accident so I picked up some neonitro. My phosphates are steady 0.04-0.06 (Hanna ULR) but I can’t not get my nitrates up, they’ve stayed at 0 for about a week now (salifert) I’ve dosed enough to raise my nitrates 0.5ppm twice a day since Sunday...

www.reef2reef.com

" I’ve dosed enough to raise my nitrates 0.5ppm twice a day since Sunday and not seeing any rise. I"

 

[Rmckoy]

I'm asking about the fact that it isn't still declining.

This is a typical response that many folsk see, especially when first dosing:

Nitrates not budging even when dosing

So I ended up finding out I was running a ULNS on accident so I picked up some neonitro. My phosphates are steady 0.04-0.06 (Hanna ULR) but I can’t not get my nitrates up, they’ve stayed at 0 for about a week now (salifert) I’ve dosed enough to raise my nitrates 0.5ppm twice a day since Sunday...

www.reef2reef.com

" I’ve dosed enough to raise my nitrates 0.5ppm twice a day since Sunday and not seeing any rise. I"

There is nothing about this system that’s working as it should .....

I haven’t dosed anything besides that 5 days if nitrate .
the amount of sps , coralline , all frags are encrusting , growing , new patches of coralline every day but to test alk it’s not consuming .
maintaining 7.3-7.5

it dropped to 6.9 once , I dosed one dose to bring it back up above 7
A week later I did a water change and it has been stable .
I’m expecting some consumption and thought I. Should have tested the need by now .

 

[attiland]

Hi my tank has been running foe several months, i recently started adding sps frags, however my nitrates are at 0ppm(hanna checker) and phosphates are 0.03(hanna checker). I am thinking of dosing nitrates. I found a supplier of chemicals that carries sodium nitrates and obtained and analysis from them... will appreciate it if someone will take a look and determine if its safe for dosing into my tank... thanks

I use food grade potassium nitrate. That is a food supplement so should be available anywhere. Inexpensive and usual 1kg bag is enough for years

 

[Rmckoy]

I use food grade potassium nitrate. That is a food supplement so should be available anywhere. Inexpensive and usual 1kg bag is enough for years

Do you have a picture of the bag ?

I looked at health food stores that sell many other items .
I asked for potassium nitrate and they looked at me like I had 3 heads and asked what I needed it for