Stump remover brand

specialk · Feb 6, 2017

Does it matter what brand of the stump remover I use if I am going to start dosing to raise nitrates a bit?

Bronc · Feb 6, 2017

Most of us use Spectracide as it is 100% Potassium Nitrate.

specialk · Feb 6, 2017

Bronc said:
Most of us use Spectracide as it is 100% Potassium Nitrate.

Yah that's what I wanted to get, but the nearest home Depot or Lowes is like 30 minutes away....the local ace hardware has some but it is not spectraside

Waters · Feb 6, 2017

I just order pure dry KN03 from Green Leaf Aquariums and mix with RODI water.

specialk · Feb 6, 2017

So i just picked this up from ACE ...called the company and they tell me it is 100% potassium nitrate with nothing else added.

So this should work correct?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 6, 2017

I personally would not use random brands without seeing a lot of folks use it without incident. No chemical is totally pure, and these may be especially prone to impurities. You can get hobby brands or food grades for not that much.

specialk · Feb 6, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I personally would not use random brands without seeing a lot of folks use it without incident. No chemical is totally pure, and these may be especially prone to impurities. You can get hobby brands or food grades for not that much.

Ok...thanks! Just gonna get spectraside from home depot and go the safe route.

DarkSky · Feb 10, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I personally would not use random brands without seeing a lot of folks use it without incident. No chemical is totally pure, and these may be especially prone to impurities. You can get hobby brands or food grades for not that much.

Isn't that statement a bit contradictory? If everyone waited for others to try it, we'd never try anything new!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 10, 2017

DarkSky said:
Isn't that statement a bit contradictory? If everyone waited for others to try it, we'd never try anything new!

Not contradictory at all. I wouldn't risk my reef without evidence it was OK

Example, I developed the DIY two part using Dowflake and MagFlake. But I didn't randomly try it in an expensive reef system. I analyzed the materials in many ways for impurities that might be a concern and compared it to hobby brands.

For example:

Aquarium Chemistry: Purity Of Calcium Chloride ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm