PO4 Dosing Calculator?

[JGT]

It’s not. I meant to follow the potassium phosphate calculator. I believe the difference is miniscule. I used it as a starting point as I use sodium phosphate dibasic with that calculator.

Ah, gotcha.

 

[JGT]

It's gotta be +30% tsp compared to potassium phosphate. If you change the 5 to a 50 you will see the extra from the conversion. Glad you had a 250, as my calculations are for a 125. How much you add will depend on your systems. My 125 gets .16 worth a day, 300 gets .18 worth.

Uhhhh, OK, you lost me here.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Google James planted tank calculator on making solutions and how much to dose. Use the entry for potassium nitrate but actually use sodium nitrate (food or acs grade) and the entry for potassium phosphate (use food grade sodium phosphate).

On Amazon, look for food grade. Loudwolf is a good brand if available.

There’s several posts/threads on here about this topic. B you can search for the above thread..I’m blind so it’s difficult for me to copy and paste and provide links as I use a screen reader and the forum doesn’t play nicely with it

edit. I do not believe you need to add 30% , I do not and it’s pretty close for my application

 

[JGT]

There’s several posts/threads on here about this topic. B you can search for the above thread..I’m blind so it’s difficult for me to copy and paste and provide links as I use a screen reader and the forum doesn’t play nicely with it

edit. I do not believe you need to add 30% , I do not and it’s pretty close for my application

Cool, thanks.

 

[Mike konesky]

Here ya go. Not sure where I got the +30% thing from.

 

[JGT]

Here ya go. Not sure where I got the +30% thing from.

OK, so 23% less than what the calc says. So is that the amount that you add to the gallon, so like 1.75 tsp instead of 2 tsp?

 

[Mike konesky]

The increased percentage was for sodium nitrate. 1.5ish instead of 2 for tsp.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

OK, so 23% less than what the calc says. So is that the amount that you add to the gallon, so like 1.75 tsp instead of 2 tsp?

it’s not really exact. Look at it as a starting point that you will need to adjust for your needs. Always start on the lower end and dose less at first. Maybe start with half the dosage your looking for and then wait 24 hours before you test again. Repeat as needed until you figure your systems dosage

 

[JGT]

The increased percentage was for sodium nitrate. 1.5ish instead of 2 for tsp.
OK and how often does this get added?

 

[JGT]

it’s not really exact. Look at it as a starting point that you will need to adjust for your needs. Always start on the lower end and dose less at first. Maybe start with half the dosage your looking for and then wait 24 hours before you test again. Repeat as needed until you figure your systems dosage

Yes, for sure. Just want to make sure I don’t overdose right out of the gate.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Yes, for sure. Just want to make sure I don’t overdose right out of the gate.

You can always start with a premixed product at first, to get your feet wet. Something like neophos from brightewell. It has a specific potency and can be dosed per the instructions. After your comfortable you can switch to the home brew stuff.

 

[JGT]

You can always start with a premixed product at first, to get your feet wet. Something like neophos from brightewell. It has a specific potency and can be dosed per the instructions. After your comfortable you can switch to the home brew stuff.

Yes , but think I’m good. I will just take it slow. I presume I can dose this weekly and then test and adjust as needed.

 

[Mike konesky]

Start slow and work your way up. Dosing daily here. 16 doses to 1 system, 18 doses to another. The recipe I gave you is double the strength of neophos. Make your own. Don't waste money on the Brightwell.

 

[JGT]

Start slow and work your way up. Dosing daily here. 16 doses to 1 system, 18 doses to another. The recipe I gave you is double the strength of neophos. Make your own. Don't waste money on the Brightwell.

Wow, OK. So 5ml daily. Will hook it up to my dosing pump then. Yes, I like doing DIY. I’m dosing DIY NOPOX so why not PO4.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Wow, OK. So 5ml daily. Will hook it up to my dosing pump then. Yes, I like doing DIY. I’m dosing DIY NOPOX so why not PO4.
Thanks for all the help.

I don’t know that I would just automatically dose daily unless you know for sure what you’re consumption is. Things like dry rock can soak up phosphate like a sponge but can become saturated to where you might not need to dose anymore. I would test frequently in the beginning to make sure you’re keeping up and not going over.

 

[JGT]

I don’t know that I would just automatically dose daily unless you know for sure what you’re consumption is. Things like dry rock can soak up phosphate like a sponge but can become saturated to where you might not need to dose anymore. I would test frequently in the beginning to make sure you’re keeping up and not going over.

OK, have no dry rock in my tank. All live rock. But I get your point. I just git a new Hanna PO4 reagent pack so I’m all set. Thanks for the help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There's no chance it is worthwhile to agonize over exact phosphate dosing because much of it may end up binding to rock and sand and you will likely have to dose far more than any calculations will show.

Just use the James Planted tank calculator for phosphate from potassium phosphate, even if using any of the sodium phosphate types.