Dosing Sodium Nitrate

ajhudson15 · Apr 16, 2018

@Randy Holmes-Farley I have set up the solution to dose this using the 10 grams per 1 liter of water solution. My questions is and i know everyones tank is different but if my nitrates are at a stable 1 ppm all the time and i start dosing this. Is this something that most would dose daily, monthly, weekly?
I know it probably needs to be tested everyday but i just was to know what the general consensus is.

Thank You Sir

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2018

Most people dose nitrate daily to maintain a few ppm. [emoji3]

ajhudson15 · Apr 16, 2018

I mean I stay around 2ppm every day without dosing. I just want to raise it to be in between 5-10 and I've tried everything else first. I just didn't know if i dosed daily if it would keep rising

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2018

You’ll have to determine that by trial and error. [emoji3]

ajhudson15 · Apr 16, 2018

Trial and error with nitrates could turn out bad lol

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2018

It's not that bad.

I you dose 2 ppm for 2 days and remeasure, what could go wrong? It might be 4 ppm higher, or it might be about the same. Neither is an issue.

ajhudson15 · Apr 16, 2018

I have a 90 gal system and want it to be in between 5-10. Right now it's 2. I am starting my daily dosing at 50ppm just to see what happens over the course of a few days

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2018

ajhudson15 said:
I have a 90 gal system and want it to be in between 5-10. Right now it's 2. I am starting my daily dosing at 50ppm just to see what happens over the course of a few days

50 ppm? Why not 2 ppm?

Jwheld · Apr 16, 2018

I test all parameters weekly, and supplement nitrate at that time. Over time you’ll learn what the consumption is. 2ppm isn’t terrible, so you can start slow until you hit and maintain your target.

ajhudson15 · Apr 16, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
50 ppm? Why not 2 ppm?

Sorry I meant 50ml daily

Deezill · Apr 18, 2018

maybe I missed it but my nitrates are undetectable as well because I have a very light bioload. I need to start dosing nitrate because the ultra low nutrient system is causing other problems while I have 5 fish in QT i need to raise nitrate in my 150 to a max of maybe 5ppm. What could I safely use? Don't mean to jack the thread but I need help thanks guys.

Heart of Dixie · Apr 18, 2018

Deezill said:
maybe I missed it but my nitrates are undetectable as well because I have a very light bioload. I need to start dosing nitrate because the ultra low nutrient system is causing other problems while I have 5 fish in QT i need to raise nitrate in my 150 to a max of maybe 5ppm. What could I safely use? Don't mean to jack the thread but I need help thanks guys.

I just raised mine last week from .5 to between 3 & 5 with Spectracide Stump Remover from Lowes. For a 80 gallon total system I mixed the whole container with 1 gallon of RO water. With that concentrate 1ml raised the level by .24. I dosed 16 ml over a couple hours period then have dosed 6 ml every 3 or so days. It is now holding steady around 4 or 5 (Salifert). With PO4 @ .03 & NO3 from 3 to 5 my SPS have colored up whereas when NO3 was .5 they were pale and had little growth. I just added 3 small fish which doubled the population. I hope this will keep it up without dosing anymore.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 18, 2018

Deezill said:
maybe I missed it but my nitrates are undetectable as well because I have a very light bioload. I need to start dosing nitrate because the ultra low nutrient system is causing other problems while I have 5 fish in QT i need to raise nitrate in my 150 to a max of maybe 5ppm. What could I safely use? Don't mean to jack the thread but I need help thanks guys.

My suggestion is food grade sodium, potassium, or calcium nitrate.

Deezill · Apr 18, 2018

Heart of Dixie said:
I just raised mine last week from .5 to between 3 & 5 with Spectracide Stump Remover from Lowes. For a 80 gallon total system I mixed the whole container with 1 gallon of RO water. With that concentrate 1ml raised the level by .24. I dosed 16 ml over a couple hours period then have dosed 6 ml every 3 or so days. It is now holding steady around 4 or 5 (Salifert). With PO4 @ .03 & NO3 from 3 to 5 my SPS have colored up whereas when NO3 was .5 they were pale and had little growth. I just added 3 small fish which doubled the population. I hope this will keep it up without dosing anymore.

Can you link it for me and isbthat considered food grade? I have heard of getting nitrates out the system butadding is new to me