Need help with NaNO3 dosing (increasing nitrates)

maksim serebro · Apr 22, 2016

Hi, could someone please help me with NaNO3 dosing. Its for a 300 gal reef. Current NO3 is undetectable. Im trying to increase it to 5- 10 ppm. My NaNO3 is 99.6% pure power. Thanks in advance!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 23, 2016

Do you have a scale to make a weight based stock solution?

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

I can get one. Probably from amazon. Please suggest one if possible. Thanks

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

I am also going to pick up some Spectracide from home depot. The small container of sodium nitrate is only 113 grams and is not going to last long.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 23, 2016

Here's a recipe for sodium nitrate:

Dissolve 8.4 grams of sodium nitrate in 1 liter of fresh water. That 8.4 grams contains 6.14 grams of nitrate, so that solution is 6,140 ppm nitrate.

If you add 1 ml of the solution per 2 gallons of tank water volume, that will boost nitrate by 0.8 ppm nitrate

As a rough estimate, 10 dry mL of powder weighs about 13.5 grams.

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

Thanks Randy!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 23, 2016

You're welcome.

Good luck.

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

Thanks Randy, Im actually hoping that increase nutrients (nitrate) can help me with my dino battle. If it does not, I will take the tank down. Do you know if i can transfer the fish or the corals over or everything has to be sold? Thanks I heard dinos can hide in the tissues of corals and slime coat of fish. I love my fish, and refuse to get rid of them. Thanks again

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 23, 2016

maksim serebro said:
Thanks Randy, Im actually hoping that increase nutrients (nitrate) can help me with my dino battle. If it does not, I will take the tank down. Do you know if i can transfer the fish or the corals over or everything has to be sold? Thanks I heard dinos can hide in the tissues of corals and slime coat of fish. I love my fish, and refuse to get rid of them. Thanks again

I've not heard that adding nitrate will help an existing Dino problem and I'd guess it would be more likely to make it worse, but have not seen anyone try that I can recall. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Have you tried hydrogen peroxide?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 23, 2016

As to the transfer of dinos, I really have no idea.

twilliard · Apr 23, 2016

Here is a link for information on dinoflagellates
This is the most common I have seen under the scope called
Prorocentrum lima

http://tolweb.org/Dinoflagellates/2445

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

Tried peroxide twice to no affect. It actually caused more problems with corals and invertebrates.

twilliard · Apr 23, 2016

maksim serebro said:
Tried peroxide twice to no affect. It actually caused more problems with corals and invertebrates.

The peroxide caused problems?
This would be a unique situation if so.

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

blastomusas, bubble tip anemone and hammers closed along with rastas and all other zoos. I stopped dosing 3 days ago and they are still not fully open yet. The cleaner shrimp survived but their antennae started looking bent and crooked. Same both times. Could always be a combination of factors. Who knows. Same result both times.

maksim serebro · Apr 23, 2016

PE on all SPSs is way down either to peroxide or dinos. either way not looking good.

twilliard · Apr 23, 2016

I will promise you h2o2 if dosed properly, did not cause that

maksim serebro · Apr 24, 2016

I was using 1ml per 10 gal (so 30 ml for my 300 gal) of store bought 3% peroxide once a day in the evening. not sure what I did wrong. Corals still have not recovered. It can also be the dinos. I have no idea. I am going to loose a few corals. Im trying to prepare myself mentally.

twilliard · Apr 24, 2016

maksim serebro said:
I was using 1ml per 10 gal (so 30 ml for my 300 gal) of store bought 3% peroxide once a day in the evening. not sure what I did wrong. Corals still have not recovered. It can also be the dinos. I have no idea. I am going to loose a few corals. Im trying to prepare myself mentally.

Also remember dinoflagellates are toxic
http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Proroc_lima.htm
These are the most common I have found in tanks

maksim serebro · Apr 24, 2016

Its gotta be a combination of factors, peroxide, lack of nutrients (0 nitrate and phosphate) and toxins from dinos. Fish are fine and eating well. I have anthias, wrasses, tangs, crowns, filefish, etc. LPS are closed up and SPS are showing tissue necrosis from base up. Very sad. Everything was fine and growing for over a year.