Trisodium Phosphate dodecahydrate DIY plus Sodium Silicates

[R33f]

I have managed to take DIY route to fight dinoflagellates.
Today I received the products Trisodium Phosphate and Silicates.
Trisodium Phosphate dodecahydrate is i guess not for the reef as I wanted to confirm before returning. This solution is only available here in my area. Am note sure if its useable as It has Iron and Arsenic in it.


also i need to know how much silicates I would need to dose from the solution I received today.
I would appreciate any help. I have Randys receipe for Trisodium but the one I received doesn’t matches the recommendation of Randy. For which I need some help. Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think it is fine. those are the specifications, and they are very low.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

For the recipe using James Planted Tank calculator:

James' Planted Tank - Dosing Calculator

use the entry for potassium phosphate and you would use 1.5 times the amount listed

 

[R33f]

For the recipe using James Planted Tank calculator:

James' Planted Tank - Dosing Calculator

use the entry for potassium phosphate and you would use 1.5 times the amount listed

Thanks for responding so quickly.
I have a question regarding silicate dosing. I cannot remember in 1 post you mentioned somewhere the silicates being 28 percent. But I could locate the post for specific dosing. My reef is 105 Gallons and I could makeup the amount for weekly dosage of silicates.

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oops, change that to use about twice as much of the phosphate. The James planted tank calculator is not tripotassium phosphate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Silica In Reef Aquariums

Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.

reefs.com

There's a section near the bottom on how much to dose.

 

[R33f]

Oops, change that to use about twice as much of the phosphate. The James planted tank calculator is not tripotassium phosphate.

Ok.
Its giving me 10 Grams of this solution when mixed with 1 litre of rodi water to raise .02 ppm when dosing 1ml in the tank.
So i can either dose 2ml or add 20 grams in litre.
Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes,

 

[R33f]

Is
Potassium Phosphate
Potassium Nitrate

better to use than
Trisodium Phosphates dodeca
Sodium Nitrate?

my supplier just informed me that he can provide me with above chemicals.
I searched before and as for Planted tanks we used to use Potassium Phosphate as fertiliser

I was holding on to mixing the solution before I could get Sodium Nitrate powder and he informed me about the availability of pharmaceutical grade Potassium Phosphate and Potassium Nitrate made in Germany. So i thought it would be a better idea to ask you before going ahead.
I appreciate your response to the questions.

 

[R33f]

Potassium Phosphate Dibasic
Or
Potassium Phosphate monobasic

Is anyone of them more better than Trisodium Phosphate dodeca

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unless you have a demonstrated need for potassium, the sodium salts are better (assuming equal purity).

For phosphate, it matters much less than for nitrate, because the additions are much smaller.

Thus, if it is easier to get, the potassium phosphate is fine, but I would be concerned about potassium steadily rising with the KNO3, especially if you do few or no water changes.

 

[R33f]

Okay thanks. I will stick with trisodium
Then.

 

[R33f]

I started dosing .90 ml Silicates from liquid sodium silicate solution.
The first time I took out the amount from a dropper and used a 250 ml glass beaker and with approx 50 ml tank water. The solution was clear and liquid. I dosed half that day and half next day.
but for second dose today when i tried doing the same procedure it’s turning into white solution and when dosed in tank there are small white particles.
My question is the bottle of sodium silicate was closed tightly. Why is it happening. Is it okay to continue like that. I have tried mixing and dropping it directly it just becomes some crystal.
Sorry if its a noob question but I am unable to find the answer.

Anyways after the first dose of silicates my tank didn’t get the diatom’s I was expecting as yet but the colors have all turned up so vibrant.
Can you please share some technical information that what I did wrong.
Thanks

pictures attached for your information. I dosed few ml mix and see in seconds picture the particles are floating in the tank. Previously it didn’t happen.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The white precipitate when adding sodium silicate is likely the same as when adding other high pH additives: magnesium hydroxide. It cannot really be avoided, but it should redissolve.

Add it more slowly or more diluted to a higher flow area.

 

[R33f]

Thanks form clearing me on this issue. I thought that the silicate solution got bad after the first use.
Actually first time it just simply dissolved and i dosed the silicate plus tank water mix over two days. There was not sign of white precipitation.

There is some improvements the dinoflagellate’s have now neon green algae plus hair algae and cyano to compete. Lets see who will win the battle and how long everything clears out.
thanks again for sorting me over this stuff.

 

[R33f]

This is what I received in the ICP test.

My SI is already topping without any dosage. Looks some I group is also out of range

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, there are different forms Si can take in water, and some may not be bioavailable. So having high Si by ICP does not necessarily preclude a benefit from adding readily bioavailable silicate.