trisodium phosphate and sodium nitrate calculator

jduong916 · Apr 8, 2018

Are there any calculators for dosing with trisodium phosphate and sodium nitrate?

Dr. Reef · Apr 8, 2018

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm
use the calculator with potassium nitrate and only use 84% for sodium

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 8, 2018

Here's a discussion of trisodium phosphate dosing math:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/trisodium-phosphate-dosing-math.354337/

jduong916 · Apr 8, 2018

Thanks guys

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 8, 2018

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

jduong916 · Apr 11, 2018

@Randy Holmes-Farley I have a few questions when you get a chance

#1) I've noticed my tank goes through about 4 ppm of nitrates a week. I've been dosing stump remover (potassium nitrate) to compensate. I've mixed 2 cups of water with one table spoon of postassium nitrate. In a week i use 80 ml of this solution. Would i need to switch over to sodium nitrate ASAP or can i got a few more weeks before worrying about the potassium build up from the stump remover?

#2) My phosphates have been hovering around .02 to .07, this is with the hanna checker ppm and super expired reagents. Do I need to worry about phosphate being depleted because I dose nitrate to maintain 5ppm?

I am going to purchase the hanna ppb checker soon. Not sure how much I can trust my hanna ppm checker and 2 year expired reagents lol.

#3) Does acropower or other amino acids add to nitrates and phosphates in the tank.

Thanks in advance.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 11, 2018

Acropower certainly adds nitrogen. What fraction of it might end up as nitrate, i can't say.

I'd just watch the phosphate. It won't necessarily get too low.

You are adding 1.5 ppm of potassium a week (based on 4 ppm of nitrate). That doesn't seem like much to worry about, unless this is a no water change system. It might even be depleting..

jduong916 · Apr 11, 2018

Thanks again Randy, that helps a lot.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 11, 2018

You’re welcome.

Happy Reefing. [emoji3]

jduong916 · Apr 23, 2018

Dr. Reef said:
http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm
use the calculator with potassium nitrate and only use 84% for sodium

Okay, about to make a solution now. So to be clear, 1 tablespoon of potassium nitrate to 2 cups of water = .84 tablespoons of sodium nitrate to 2 cups of water?

Dr. Reef · Apr 23, 2018

yes that is correct. if the cal says 1 tablespoon of Potassium Nitrate then replace it with Sodium Nitrate and use only 0.84 table spoon.

jduong916 · Apr 23, 2018

one more question lol. So i made the solution as stated above. I had about twenty percent left of the potassium nitrate solution. I mixed them both together. Am i gonna be alright lol

jduong916 · Apr 23, 2018

they are the same concentration

Dr. Reef · Apr 24, 2018

Yes it be fine but the result of dosing will be slightly higher most likely not noticeable on our hobby kits.

jduong916 · Apr 24, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You’re welcome.

Happy Reefing. [emoji3]

Dr. Reef said:
Yes it be fine but the result of dosing will be slightly higher most likely not noticeable on our hobby kits.

Last question I promise. Let me start with a little background. I'm struggling to keep my nitrates up, my tank is consuming about 4ppm of nitrate a week. My phosphate stays pretty constant at .03 ppm. The main reason I need to keep my nitrates up is because of Dino. I got dinos, i blacked out the tank increased nitrates and the dinos left, sps color is much better too. I've tried using acropower to keep the nitrates up but it' not really working ormaybe I'm not dosing enough. The potassium nitrate solution works very well to increase nutrients

Now, finally to the question, I only have one dosing head available, can I mix the acropower with the sodium nitrate solution and dose this all at once together. I heard someone mention that sps only use 15 percent aminos and 85 percent nitrate. I have no idea where he got those numbers from, but if this is right i could stretch the acropower out along with dosing the inexpensive sodium nitrate solution all in one.

Dr. Reef · Apr 24, 2018

acropower is nothing but amino acids, the rule of this hobby is not to dose anything that you cannot test for.
most successful tanks out there dont use/dose amino acid. a reputable saltmix and a good water schedule will be all you need to keep most everything up in your tank except for few main, Alk, Cal and mag and honestly most good saltmix will even keep Cal and Mag up as well without too much dosing needs.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 24, 2018

jduong916 said:
Last question I promise. Let me start with a little background. I'm struggling to keep my nitrates up, my tank is consuming about 4ppm of nitrate a week. My phosphate stays pretty constant at .03 ppm. The main reason I need to keep my nitrates up is because of Dino. I got dinos, i blacked out the tank increased nitrates and the dinos left, sps color is much better too. I've tried using acropower to keep the nitrates up but it' not really working ormaybe I'm not dosing enough. The potassium nitrate solution works very well to increase nutrients

Now, finally to the question, I only have one dosing head available, can I mix the acropower with the sodium nitrate solution and dose this all at once together. I heard someone mention that sps only use 15 percent aminos and 85 percent nitrate. I have no idea where he got those numbers from, but if this is right i could stretch the acropower out along with dosing the inexpensive sodium nitrate solution all in one.

Yes, you can mix them, but diluting the amino acids (with the nitrate solution) may allow bacteria to grow in the mixture.