Potassium nitrate

[chiefifd]

Looks like Potassium is pretty easy to test for, levels around 400 ppm should be ok. But Sodium based Nitrate and Phosphate powders are easy to find and cheap too.
A Potassium test kit might be a good thing to have anyway.
Thanks, Randy, never really thought about Potassium build-up.

 

[Sdot]

Im curious as to why more people dont choose sodium variants?

 

[chiefifd]

Ya, me too.
I've seen and purchased at least one commercially produced Potassium Phospate based reef product to raise P04.
Never thought about the Potassium accumulating. The added sodium in (Sodium Phosphate) would bee seen in the salinity level I believe. Maybe I'm wrong........

 

[saltgogi]

Ya, me too.
I've seen and purchased at least one commercially produced Potassium Phospate based reef product to raise P04.
Never thought about the Potassium accumulating. The added sodium in (Sodium Phosphate) would bee seen in the salinity level I believe. Maybe I'm wrong........

Was wondering the same thing. I guess thats how we'd check sodium. In that case, it'd be much safer to do it with sodium.

 

[saltgogi]

Would industrial grade be ok? Something like this?

 

[chiefifd]

;Facepalm
Maybe not safer, but we wouldn't need another test kit. Not sure how important it is to test for Potassium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Im curious as to why more people dont choose sodium variants?

Some folks started the dosing method using stump remover at Home Depot, and it became ingrained with no real consideration (IMO) for purity or potassium issues.

 

[saltgogi]

Another test kit... on top of my 5 test kits lol

 

[saltgogi]

Some folks started the dosing method using stump remover at Home Depot, and it became ingrained with no real consideration (IMO) for purity or potassium issues.

Where do you buy sodium nitrate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Where do you buy sodium nitrate?

Sodium Nitrate

Magical Ingredients for the Modern Cook

www.modernistpantry.com

This item is unavailable - Etsy

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www.etsy.com

 

[chiefifd]

Thanks Randy for the link! One question does the sodium in the Sodium Nitrate or Sodium Phosphate show up in the total salinity of the reef tank?

 

[saltgogi]

Sodium Nitrate

Magical Ingredients for the Modern Cook

www.modernistpantry.com

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

I could be wrong but it seems like you would need a LOT of this stuff.. one bottle is 113 grams which is about 1/4 lb. So i guess 1/4 as potent if dissolved in 1 gallon of ro/di

 

[saltgogi]

and for sodium phosphate, i can only find trisodium phosphate or disodium on google. Would either of these be ok?

 

[Sdot]

Some folks started the dosing method using stump remover at Home Depot, and it became ingrained with no real consideration (IMO) for purity or potassium issues.

Clearly...lol. I've used sodium nitrate with much success

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy for the link! One question does the sodium in the Sodium Nitrate or Sodium Phosphate show up in the total salinity of the reef tank?

Yes. So does potassium, but more so since it weighs more.

But either effect is small.

Seawater is like 35,000 ppm. Boost nitrate by 1 ppm and you are boosting salinity via sodium by less than 1 ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

and for sodium phosphate, i can only find trisodium phosphate or disodium on google. Would either of these be ok?

Yes, they are fine if adequately pure.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I could be wrong but it seems like you would need a LOT of this stuff.. one bottle is 113 grams which is about 1/4 lb. So i guess 1/4 as potent if dissolved in 1 gallon of ro/di

113 grams of sodium nitrate (containing more than 82 grams = 82,000 mg of nitrate) will boost 100 gallons (378 L) of aquarium water by 82,000/378 = 217 ppm.

So you could boost the 100 gallon tank to 3 ppm every day for 72 days.