What to use to dose Nitrate?

[Charles4400]

I've got higher phosphates and no nitrates. I'm at .08 phosphate (Hanna phosphorous) and 0 nitrate (salifert and red sea).

Still have gha and some Cyrano starting to build.

I feed daily heavy and and have some nps corals and inverts that I also feed heavy with (gorgonians, flame scallop, sun polyp).

What is best to use to dose nitrates with?

 

[smokin'reefer]

I've been using nilocG.
Mixed at a rate of 20grams per liter.

 

[rushbattle]

Sodium nitrate. Are you in the states?

https://smile.amazon.com/Sodium-Nit...qid=1513447425&sr=8-2&keywords=Sodium+nitrate

I’d also consider GFO. With all that feeding you are going to need it.

 

[Charles4400]

Sodium nitrate. Are you in the states?

https://smile.amazon.com/Sodium-Nit...qid=1513447425&sr=8-2&keywords=Sodium+nitrate

I’d also consider GFO. With all that feeding you are going to need it.

Is there a difference in using sodium nitrate vs potassium Nitrate?

Yes I'm in the US.

 

[rushbattle]

Is there a difference in using sodium nitrate vs potassium Nitrate?

Yes I'm in the US.

Likely none unless you are really having to add quite a bit of nitrate. Nearly impossible unless you are culturing algae on a large scale.

 

[Holy_makerel]

I used spectracide stump remover when i dosed nitrate. Be watchful of your phosphate levels when dosing nitrate. Took my po4 down to literally nothing and i almost crashed my tank.

 

[Charles4400]

I found this article talking about dosing with the stump remover and he recommends a soluion mix of 1/4 tsp of granulated stump remover (KNO3) to 423ml of water. Using 1ml of this solution gives 1ppm of nitrate to 1 gallon of water:
https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/349488-dosing-potassium-nitrate/

Is this the mix you use for the stump remover?

What is the mix for the sodium Nitrate? Same?

Thinking of using the stump remover just because I can use amazon prime and get it in sooner

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I found this article talking about dosing with the stump remover and he recommends a soluion mix of 1/4 tsp of granulated stump remover (KNO3) to 423ml of water. Using 1ml of this solution gives 1ppm of nitrate to 1 gallon of water:
https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/349488-dosing-potassium-nitrate/

Is this the mix you use for the stump remover?

What is the mix for the sodium Nitrate? Same?

Thinking of using the stump remover just because I can use amazon prime and get it in sooner

Here's a calculator for dosing:

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

I'd suggest using a food grade product since they are not expensive and may be higher quality.

 

[sromero287]

Try ME Coral Nitrate (potassium nitrate) already diluted, no mess up with formulas, its ready and with 20ml u will raise NO3 in 100gal by 1ppm, excellent company and all the South Florida reefers big names uses their whole line of products, I have a 50 gallons, SPS dominated and with PO4 in 0.05 and NO3 in 2.5ppm never had better colors in my colonies and frags. It’s worth to try it, off course start slow then test daily. I feed daily LRS reef frenzy with 1/4 quart of spoon of reef chili or Polyp Lab roids. Attached is the link with products:
https://mecoral.com/product/me-nitrate-no3-16-oz/

 

[Charles4400]

Here's a calculator for dosing:

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

I'd suggest using a food grade product since they are not expensive and may be higher quality.

Thanks for that link. So is it ok to use sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate or is one better than the other?

 

[Charles4400]

Try ME Coral Nitrate (potassium nitrate) already diluted, no mess up with formulas, its ready and with 20ml u will raise NO3 in 100gal by 1ppm, excellent company and all the South Florida reefers big names uses their whole line of products, I have a 50 gallons, SPS dominated and with PO4 in 0.05 and NO3 in 2.5ppm never had better colors in my colonies and frags. It’s worth to try it, off course start slow then test daily. I feed daily LRS reef frenzy with 1/4 quart of spoon of reef chili or Polyp Lab roids. Attached is the link with products:
https://mecoral.com/product/me-nitrate-no3-16-oz/

Thanks for that link as well. I might just get that to start off with since I don't know how often I will need to dose to keep nitrates detectable and at the level I need. Also super convenient!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for that link. So is it ok to use sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate or is one better than the other?

I'd use sodium as a first choice since there's no risk of potassium rising too much, but either will work and the chance of potassium rising too high is probably minimal if you are not already dosing it or using Seachem Vibrant Sea salt (super high potassium in it)

Here's an example:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222600000/sodium-nitrate-8-ounces-fine-powder-996

 

[Charles4400]

I'd use sodium as a first choice since there's no risk of potassium rising too much, but either will work and the chance of potassium rising too high is probably minimal if you are not already dosing it or using Seachem Vibrant Sea salt (super high potassium in it)

Here's an example:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222600000/sodium-nitrate-8-ounces-fine-powder-996

Awesome thank you for that and glad you mentioned vibrant as I just started using it (1 dose so far)! Appreciate the link, I will go the sodium nitrate route just to be safe.

Are familiar with me brand nitrate as mentioned above. It' listed as made up of potassium, sodium and calcium nitrate. Why so many different types of nitrates? Any benefits to that?

 

[derek yoonie]

hi, i got a 40 gallon cube with a trigger sump cube (20) total volume, is that the full size of sump with water, or when filled when running , need some help with nirate dosing total noob here !

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Awesome thank you for that and glad you mentioned vibrant as I just started using it (1 dose so far)! Appreciate the link, I will go the sodium nitrate route just to be safe.

Are familiar with me brand nitrate as mentioned above. It' listed as made up of potassium, sodium and calcium nitrate. Why so many different types of nitrates? Any benefits to that?

They claim good quality materials, and it is probably designed to not impact the sodium/calcium/potassium ratio (just a guess), but in that case would be nearly all sodium nitrate.

I don't see an advantage for you use a mix since you likely already have elevated potassium

 

[Charles4400]

Great thanks for that!

 

[rushbattle]

They claim good quality materials, and it is probably designed to not impact the sodium/calcium/potassium ratio (just a guess), but in that case would be nearly all sodium nitrate.

I don't see an advantage for you use a mix since you likely already have elevated potassium

There is confusion here. Randy is referring to a salt mix named Vibrant, Charles is referring to an algacidal bacteria called the same thing. In any event, what Randy says is right either way. As usual!

 

[Charles4400]

There is confusion here. Randy is referring to a salt mix named Vibrant, Charles is referring to an algacidal bacteria called the same thing. In any event, what Randy says is right either way. As usual!

You're right I misread the last part of Randys statement about Vibrant. I thought he was talking about the cleaner not the salt mix. My mistake. (I didn't even know there was a salt brand called vibrant!)

 

[rushbattle]

You're right I misread the last part of Randys statement about Vibrant. I thought he was talking about the cleaner not the salt mix. My mistake. (I didn't even know there was a salt brand called vibrant!)

I was just hoping to make it all clear to others reading the thread. It is Dr. Holmes-Farley who was correct!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for clarifying!

This is the mix I meant:

http://www.seachem.com/vibrant-sea.php

By Seachem's own claim, it has 500-550 ppm potassium at a sg of 1.023, which translates to 574 to 631 ppm potassium at 35 ppt, or 50% more than natural seawater (~400 at 35 ppt).