Potassium nitrate (Spectracide stump remover) dosing steps

Syntax1235 · Dec 9, 2016

bif24701 said:
Your soft corals are literally sucking the nutrients dry in your system. Try reaching a consistent 5ppm Nitrate as other have recommend.

working on it.

tcarter1936 · Dec 9, 2016

twilliard said:
From my experience No3 does not increase algae growth but I am not sure I have any algae spores in my water.

Sorry if you've covered this but how long have you consistently dosed nitrates

twilliard · Dec 10, 2016

Oh gosh its been a little over 2 years now. I test my no3 twice a month and correct as needed.

bif24701 · Dec 10, 2016

Starting to see some orange color return to my Sunset Monti.

bobssecrtsn · Dec 10, 2016

bif24701 said:
Starting to see some orange color return to my Sunset Monti.

How large is your system? I am dosing 15ml and it rose to 2.5ppm total volume of mine is 140. It doesnt drop over 12-24 hour period either. Calculator says every 1ml should increase by .08.
Im using 2 teaspoons for every 500ml of ro water

is anyone getting brown algae on the sand bed? I've been getting it.

bif24701 · Dec 10, 2016

My system is ~275gallons. Last night I tested and was about 3-5 ppm and dosed another 50ml. Tonight test again and was 4-5 ppm, then dosed another 50ml. I added two tablespoons to 16oz of RO. I'm nearly out of the first mix. So next mix I want to have a concentration that will raise my Nitrate by 1ppm for every 10ml. I seem to consume at least 1-2ppm every 24hours with heavy feeding! I will stop feeding and add only potassium nitrate.

tcarter1936 · Dec 11, 2016

I'm fed up with my lack of color and some others bleaching,I'm hoping to try it out tonight,I will show progression as soon as I start

tcarter1936 · Dec 11, 2016

Ok day 1
Just dosed 50 ml to my 180 gallon
My solution is 1000 ml to 4 tablespoons if this calculation is correct it should raise me to 3 ppm from the 0 I'm at now.
Here's my pale corals before any dosing of k no3

Wish me luck or if anyone has suggestions.[emoji3]

tcarter1936 · Dec 11, 2016

Just checked and already at 2ppm,I've never had a measurable nitrate reading.

coralcruze · Dec 11, 2016

Not sure why people have ignored my questions but I will ask something else.

Is the stump remover an organic or inorganic form of nitrate? and... is there a difference between the two in terms of what our tank inhabitants need?

tcarter1963 I appreciate seeing the pictures and can clearly see nutrient starvation.

bif24701 · Dec 11, 2016

coralcruze said:
Not sure why people have ignored my questions but I will ask something else.

Is the stump remover an organic or inorganic form of nitrate? and... is there a difference between the two in terms of what our tank inhabitants need?

tcarter1963 I appreciate seeing the pictures and can clearly see nutrient starvation.

Nitrate is inorganic. There is no organic.

I believe carbon is what defines an organic molecule vs inorganic. Thus if there is not carbon atom it is inorganic.

tcarter1936 · Dec 11, 2016

Here's the Same welso coral that's in previous pic, let hope to get her were she was

bif24701 · Dec 11, 2016

Nitrate may bond to other organic molecules to form an organic salt but Potassium Nitrate is inorganic.

atp0726 · Dec 11, 2016

I have been dosing since Friday in my 42 gallon. Amazed how much the tank consumes in 24hrs. Goal is to get it up to 4 and then dose daily depending on the consumption. I have a fairly new reef (3mths olds) and I am more or less experimenting with 4 poccilorpora frags before purchasing any Acro's. Due to having low phosphate and no nitrate they have already lost alot of color but are growing.

Haven't noticed any change yet in the coral except maybe increased polyp extension. Tank is going through a bit a of the "uglies" and has some hair algae on the rocks. The algae was a very light brown before dosing and has deepended in color and much more noticeable. I do seem to have more algae on the sandbed, however, it may have already been there and since the dosing it has darkened in color and is just more noticeable.

PO4 (hanna ULR) read .06 on Saturday and dropped to .018 Sunday! I had read this could happen but now wondering what I should do if it continues to drop? Only nutrient export is skimmer and chaeto in fuge.Any suggestions, feed more and get rid of chaeto? Currently only have 3 fish and CUC.

bif24701 · Dec 11, 2016

My phosphates have dropped considerably, what should I do about that? They are sitting and 0.01ppm, Hanna ULR, that's low but better that zero I guess.

Salty1962 · Dec 11, 2016

I started dosing today due to lack of color in my corals. I have a lot of brown frags and some that have been going pale and are dying. Mixed 2 tbls to 1000 ml and dosed 5ml to my @ 65G volume system. My previous No3(Red Sea) was reading < .25 and Po4 is 0 ULR). No3 jumped up to 1~2 ppm @4 hrs. after dosing. Will test tomorrow at same time to see if it holds. I have a RS Pro coming in Tuesday for better resolution of tests. As noted, the regular No3 test is hard to read...
One question I have is about running a BP reactor. I'm not sure if I should take it off line or not while trying to raise and maintain my No3 to 4~5ppm. Suggestions??

bobssecrtsn · Dec 11, 2016

Salty1962 said:
I started dosing today due to lack of color in my corals. I have a lot of brown frags and some that have been going pale and are dying. Mixed 2 tbls to 1000 ml and dosed 5ml to my @ 65G volume system. My previous No3(Red Sea) was reading < .25 and Po4 is 0 ULR). No3 jumped up to 1~2 ppm @4 hrs. after dosing. Will test tomorrow at same time to see if it holds. I have a RS Pro coming in Tuesday for better resolution of tests. As noted, the regular No3 test is hard to read...
One question I have is about running a BP reactor. I'm not sure if I should take it off line or not while trying to raise and maintain my No3 to 4~5ppm. Suggestions??

How long have you been running the BP reactor? I wouldnt shut it off completely but remove say 1/4 a week maybe 2 and cut it down so you dont shock your system! hope this helps!

bobssecrtsn · Dec 11, 2016

bif24701 said:
My phosphates have dropped considerably, what should I do about that? They are sitting and 0.01ppm, Hanna ULR, that's low but better that zero I guess.

I would say feed more that has phosphates. like frozen or flakes. Watch nitrate as it may rise as well! Amino acid may increase it too

bobssecrtsn · Dec 12, 2016

atp0726 said:
I have been dosing since Friday in my 42 gallon. Amazed how much the tank consumes in 24hrs. Goal is to get it up to 4 and then dose daily depending on the consumption. I have a fairly new reef (3mths olds) and I am more or less experimenting with 4 poccilorpora frags before purchasing any Acro's. Due to having low phosphate and no nitrate they have already lost alot of color but are growing.

Haven't noticed any change yet in the coral except maybe increased polyp extension. Tank is going through a bit a of the "uglies" and has some hair algae on the rocks. The algae was a very light brown before dosing and has deepended in color and much more noticeable. I do seem to have more algae on the sandbed, however, it may have already been there and since the dosing it has darkened in color and is just more noticeable.

PO4 (hanna ULR) read .06 on Saturday and dropped to .018 Sunday! I had read this could happen but now wondering what I should do if it continues to drop? Only nutrient export is skimmer and chaeto in fuge.Any suggestions, feed more and get rid of chaeto? Currently only have 3 fish and CUC.

I would trim the cheato back, and feed

Salty1962 · Dec 12, 2016

bobssecrtsn said:
How long have you been running the BP reactor? I wouldnt shut it off completely but remove say 1/4 a week maybe 2 and cut it down so you dont shock your system! hope this helps!

I've been running it since day 1. I'll take some of the @ 450 ml of pellets out and see what happens, Thx