How to check diy no3 potency?

West1 · Nov 12, 2023

Here’s a photo I got under x400. Used a 1ml pipette from the tip of a receding acro with algae on it.
Any thoughts on ID?

Bottom one at x1200

gbroadbridge · Nov 12, 2023

West1 said:
Here’s a photo I got under x400. Used a 1ml pipette from the tip of a receding acro with algae on it.
Any thoughts on ID?

Bottom one at x1200

Sorry, I meant a normal photo of what is growing on the tips of the acros.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 13, 2023

West1 said:
Does the diy Loudwolf mix expire?
I Doser 100ml of the older mix and my no3 went up .25. I’m wondering if I should just make smaller amounts instead of using the entire bottle?

Also, is there a difference in the plantedtank calculations from the potassium nitrate vs the Loudwolf sodium nitrate?

No, it won’t expire. The difference between sodium and potassium nitrate is 19% in potency sodium is more potent), which I’d just ignore unless you are making some sort of scientific standard.

West1 · Nov 13, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
Sorry, I meant a normal photo of what is growing on the tips of the acros.

Here’s a few pics. Sorry about the dirty glass, I read it’s best to leave the algae on the glass to outcompete whatever I got (ie: Dino’s, cyano).

gbroadbridge · Nov 13, 2023

West1 said:
Here’s a few pics. Sorry about the dirty glass, I read it’s best to leave the algae on the glass to outcompete whatever I got (ie: Dino’s, cyano).

I could be wrong, but the red stuff on the tips of the coral looks like cyano to me. It can grow where there is no flesh on the coral perhaps where flesh has died. A deficiency of N or P could perhaps cause that.

The sand does not look like Dinos, more like plain detritus that snails would clean up.

Hopefully others will chip in with their opinion.

West1 · Nov 14, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
I could be wrong, but the red stuff on the tips of the coral looks like cyano to me. It can grow where there is no flesh on the coral perhaps where flesh has died. A deficiency of N or P could perhaps cause that.

The sand does not look like Dinos, more like plain detritus that snails would clean up.

Hopefully others will chip in with their opinion.

Idk, I just hope my nutrients stabilize.
Just mixed a new batch of Loudwolf sodium Nitrate, 3/4 gallon of DI for 10ml per 1ppm @135glns.

West1 · Nov 14, 2023

last night I added the new mix of Loudwolf sodium nitrate @20ml. Tested about an hour later and got .5
This evening after work I tested no3 and got .25
I added 30ml of the Loudwolf solution and 1.5hrs later I checked my ppm.
The low range RedSea pro maxed out.
Tested with the high range test kit and I’m 32ppm!
I’ll test again in an hour, hopefully the nitrate solution somehow just lingered around or I somehow tested incorrect.

West1 · Nov 15, 2023

Just tested again and it’s either at 32ppm or 64ppm.
Well… if my stuff dies, I’m out the hobby. Can’t do a water change till tomorrow evening :/

gbroadbridge · Nov 15, 2023

West1 said:
Just tested again and it’s either at 32ppm or 64ppm.
Well… if my stuff dies, I’m out the hobby. Can’t do a water change till tomorrow evening :/

That Nitrate level is not going to harm coral or fish.

West1 · Nov 15, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
That Nitrate level is not going to harm coral or fish.

It won’t shock coral from .25 to 64ppm (maxed out on nitrate card, could be higher)?

gbroadbridge · Nov 15, 2023

West1 said:
It won’t shock coral from .25 to 64ppm (maxed out on nitrate card, could be higher)?

Anything is possible, but I doubt it will cause a huge problem.

How did you mix the solution? How many grams in how much water?

West1 · Nov 15, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
Anything is possible, but I doubt it will cause a huge problem.

How did you mix the solution? How many grams in how much water?

.75 of a gallon, 227gram Loudwolf
Mixed it with a med/large magnetic stirrer for about 3hrs.

Just turned my skimmer on and fuge. Had skimmer off to try and elevate nutrients.
Reduced fuge to 2hrs… just put it back to 8hrs. I’ll check no3 in the morning, hopefully skimmer/fuge put a dent in it.

gbroadbridge · Nov 15, 2023

West1 said:
.75 of a gallon, 227gram Loudwolf
Mixed it with a med/large magnetic stirrer for about 3hrs.

Just turned my skimmer on and fuge. Had skimmer off to try and elevate nutrients.
Reduced fuge to 2hrs… just put it back to 8hrs. I’ll check no3 in the morning, hopefully skimmer/fuge put a dent in it.

The math doesn't work for me.

If you mixed 227g Sodium Nitrate in 2.8l of water (0.75 US gal) and then added 30ml to a 120 gal tank you have only added about 3 to 4 ppm Nitrate.

West1 · Nov 15, 2023

gbroadbridge said:
The math doesn't work for me.

If you mixed 227g Sodium Nitrate in 2.8l of water (0.75 US gal) and then added 30ml to a 120 gal tank you have only added about 3 to 4 ppm Nitrate.

Correct. Second time dosing the 30ml of new solution.

gbroadbridge · Nov 15, 2023

West1 said:
Correct. Second time dosing the 30ml of new solution.

I would suggest testing with a different Nitrate test kit.
Salifert is quick, cheap and reasonably accurate.

piranhaman00 · Nov 15, 2023

That is why you determine your actual concentration and dose accordingly.

West1 · Nov 15, 2023

piranhaman00 said:
That is why you determine your actual concentration and dose accordingly.

I mixed the solution to make 10ml per 1ppm, tested before I added the no3 and dosed to get 3-4ppm in the tank, where did I fall short according to your comment?