Which NO3

[ksed]

Ian currently dosing Seachem flourish NO3 to maintain the desired levels.
I just noticed it has urea, therefore a for if ammonium. Is this not desired for this application? Or do I need something like the spectracide stump removal?
Thanks

http://www.seachem.com/flourish-nitrogen.php

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B004G...mp+remover&dpPl=1&dpID=41IhT1kxsSL&ref=plSrch

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The urea is likely OK, but I'd personally prefer to add all nitrate since it allows you to monitor it better.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This material may be higher quality than the stump remover:

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

 

[Waters]

I have always purchased and used this.......
http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/potassium-nitrate.html

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Folks using potassium salts should probably check potassium after a while to make sure it isn't rising too much.

 

[ksed]

Thanks guys.
I won’t be able to get it over the boarder.
NO3 appears to be band in Canada. I checked on Amazon as well.
Why does it have to be so complicated. Lol

 

[ksed]

I’m going to make an assumption that this won’t work as the percentage is to low?
https://www.qualifirst.com/en/curing-salt-prague-powder-white-2lbs-cuisine-tech

 

[sghera64]

Thanks guys.
I won’t be able to get it over the boarder.
NO3 appears to be band in Canada. I checked on Amazon as well.
Why does it have to be so complicated. Lol

Yeah, we crazy Americans would not want you Canadians to start making your own gun powder, packing munitions and selling it back to us. ;-)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m going to make an assumption that this won’t work as the percentage is to low?
https://www.qualifirst.com/en/curing-salt-prague-powder-white-2lbs-cuisine-tech

" A blend of salt and 6.25% sodium nitrite. "

While nitrite doesn't overly scare me, I might not actually dose it.

 

[ksed]

Would this work Randy? I don’t understand why they say technical nitrate on the SDS sheet?
https://www.sciencecompany.com/Sodium-Nitrate-500g-P16240.aspx

 

[ksed]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Randy , your thoughts on the product above?

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It's likely fine. It's hard to know exactly how pure it is, but I expect it is OK.

The SDS sheet is probably the same for a variety of different grades which is why it lists several possible names on the SDS.

 

[ksed]

Thanks

 

[ksed]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
I just spoke with the rep. And he said the sodium nitrate is not food grade, I really don’t know if this matters but he did state it’s 99.7% pure.
He recommended potassium nitrate as it’s food grade rated. Here’s the link.
https://www.sciencecompany.com/Potassium-Nitrate-Saltpeter-500g-Food-Grade-P16377.aspx

 

[ksed]

Also why is potassium nitrate listed as curing salts? I thought cure salts were potassium nitrites?
Thanks

 

[ksed]

I may have found something that is not regulated and can cross the boarder.
Calcium nitrate?

 

[sghera64]

I may have found something that is not regulated and can cross the boarder.
Calcium nitrate?

That’s what I use. Tomato food

 

[ksed]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Add calcium while adding nitrogen is a win win scenario.
Why would anyone use sodium nitrate then?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Add calcium while adding nitrogen is a win win scenario.
Why would anyone use sodium nitrate then?

Its not a win if you are using a balanced calcium and alkalinity additive system, such as a CaCO3/CO2 reactor, limewater/kalkwasser, equal parts dosing of a two part, or calcium acetate/formate. All of those already add as much (or slightly more) calcium than needed relative to alkalinity, so more is not an advantage.

I'd personally try to keep separate my dosing of nitrate and my dosing of calcium and alkalinity, since they may vary in ways that do not coincide.

That said, if you keep track of it, or don't dose much anyway, then it won't be a problem.