crimsonvice Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 So I have been struggling to keep my nitrates detectable. Most of the time they do not register on my Salifert test kit or will be somewhere in the ballpark of 0.2 ppm. I can tell when it starts to get real low because my zoas will close up and my polyp extension suffers. So I have been researching dosing nitrates. Seems that there are a lot of options out there, but I was looking for cost effective, easy, and not something super weird like chemicals to kill trees from Home Depot . I stumbled upon a thread on R2R where Randy Holmes explained his process for dosing nitrates with Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3). I found a food grade bottle of NaNO3 for $8 on Etsy. Then I followed this calculator to help in mixing the solution (You use the entry for Potassium Nitrate. If you are concerned about the difference between Potassium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrate, you would use 84% of the recommended amount). I found this recipe that Randy also recommended which I will probably follow if and when I need another solution. This is pulled directly from his post of Reef2Reef: Dissolve 10 grams potassium nitrate in 1 liter of fresh water. That 10 grams contains 6.14 grams of nitrate, so that solution is 6,140 ppm nitrate. If you add 1 ml of the solution per 2 gallons of tank water volume, that will boost nitrate by 0.8 ppm nitrate. As a rough estimate, 10 dry mL of powder weighs about 10 g. Granted this is for Potassium Nitrate and not Sodium Nitrate so keep that in mind. I would just lessen my dose slightly and monitor parameters. If you use Potassium Nitrate instead, you will want to keep an eye on your potassium and make sure you are preforming water changes. To make the solution I mixed ~4 grams of NaNO3 in a 500 ml water bottle. I shook the bottle vigerously until the NaNO3 had dissolved. I let it sit before dosing and made sure to shake the bottle before use. I preformed my first dose last night of 10 mL. My nitrates were at .2 ppm. This morning I tested and they appear to be more like .5/1.0 ppm. This should be bringing my nitrates up by .4 ppm per dose. I dosed another 10 mL this morning. We will see where I stand this evening. Flounder and jeff70 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Super interested in this. I haven’t measured nitrates in my system in a couple years and I know I am suffering because of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flounder Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Please keep updating this thread! Having a similar issue with no registered Nitrate on Salifert test kit and would enjoy the opportunity to learn from you. crimsonvice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Also is he increased sodium a problem or is negligible since there is so much there in normal saltwater already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted August 31, 2018 Author Share Posted August 31, 2018 6 hours ago, Muttley000 said: Also is he increased sodium a problem or is negligible since there is so much there in normal saltwater already? From what I understand it is negligible. However, I will be sending out another ATI test after another few weeks. 7 hours ago, Flounder said: Please keep updating this thread! Having a similar issue with no registered Nitrate on Salifert test kit and would enjoy the opportunity to learn from you. Will do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted August 31, 2018 Author Share Posted August 31, 2018 Today I am sitting at a solid 1. Have increased my dose to 20 ml. Will check again in the morning. Slightly better color on some coral and polyp extension on some that I have not seen during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff70 Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 what is your target nitrate level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 1, 2018 Author Share Posted September 1, 2018 2 hours ago, jeff70 said: what is your target nitrate level? I was thinking 2 to 5. I will see how things look at 2 for a week or so and then go from there. jeff70 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 What is your total water volume in the system these days? Getting an idea of how much it takes per gallon based on your results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 1, 2018 Author Share Posted September 1, 2018 4 hours ago, Muttley000 said: What is your total water volume in the system these days? Getting an idea of how much it takes per gallon based on your results. Im guessing between 120-130 gallons. 120 tank + 30 gallon sump - 60-70lbs of rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 What's the latest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waters Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 I have dosed KNO3 off and on for almost a year with no issues. I buy it from GreenLeafAquariums.....it is meant for planted tanks but works great in our reef tanks. http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/potassium-nitrate.html Flounder 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 2 hours ago, Waters said: I have dosed KNO3 off and on for almost a year with no issues. I buy it from GreenLeafAquariums.....it is meant for planted tanks but works great in our reef tanks. http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/potassium-nitrate.html Cool. What is your process for mixing/dosing it? Curious to see what the difference is. Did you measure your potassium too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waters Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 I have not mixed a new batch in a LONG time, but according to my notes, I have written down that I used 160 grams of KNO3 mixed with 1000ml of RO/DI water. I use Green Leaf dosing bottles and just store the mixture. http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/dispenser-32oz.html Again, according to my notes, I have written down that a 10ml dose would increase my nitrates from 2.5 to 5 in a 130 gallon system but I have not tested those numbers in a long time. If you decide to go this route, I would just start dosing slowly and keep testing daily until you figure out what works for your system. Green Leaf Aquariums actually has dosing numbers for various types of systems on their site which I used as a starting point, but those numbers are for planted freshwater tanks. Yes, I also tested Potassium using Salifert test kits, making sure that it always stayed in the allowable ranges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 13 minutes ago, Waters said: I have not mixed a new batch in a LONG time, but according to my notes, I have written down that I used 160 grams of KNO3 mixed with 1000ml of RO/DI water. I use Green Leaf dosing bottles and just store the mixture. http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/dispenser-32oz.html Again, according to my notes, I have written down that a 10ml dose would increase my nitrates from 2.5 to 5 in a 130 gallon system but I have not tested those numbers in a long time. If you decide to go this route, I would just start dosing slowly and keep testing daily until you figure out what works for your system. Green Leaf Aquariums actually has dosing numbers for various types of systems on their site which I used as a starting point, but those numbers are for planted freshwater tanks. Yes, I also tested Potassium using Salifert test kits, making sure that it always stayed in the allowable ranges. Thanks! I am gonna have to pick up one of those dosing containers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waters Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 Too bad you weren't a little closer....I have two 500ml ones you could have that I no longer use. It would cost you more in gas driving out than they are worth lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 2 hours ago, Waters said: Too bad you weren't a little closer....I have two 500ml ones you could have that I no longer use. It would cost you more in gas driving out than they are worth lol. Lol where are you located? 16 hours ago, Muttley000 said: What's the latest? I am still in the 1-1.5 range. I think I need to make the concentration a little stronger next go around. I am dosing 30 mls a day, and still can't break 2 ppm. The only export I have is my skimmer and a now small clump of chaeto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waters Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 It is up to you then....if you are willing to drive out, you can have both containers. They are from Green Leaf also...just half the size. I try to keep mine about 5 with the dosing and feedings. Sounds like a reason to add more fish !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 So another week in what do you think. I've been thinking about doing this for months and my King Midas are already not opening like when they were new. I just tested again and big fat zero on the nitrates. I'm thinking about taking my ATS offline too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 Little update. I started dosing 40 mls a day and still wasn't seeing much change in my nitrate. So i said what the heck and dumped ~1/3 of my 1000 ml bottle in. Well everything is looking fantastic! Polyps extended and colors are looking great. LPS are looking super fluffy. Nitrates have been sitting at 10 for three days, no dosing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 1 minute ago, Muttley000 said: So another week in what do you think. I've been thinking about doing this for months and my King Midas are already not opening like when they were new. I just tested again and big fat zero on the nitrates. I'm thinking about taking my ATS offline too. Lol what timing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 (edited) On September 12, 2018 at 8:40 PM, crimsonvice said: Lol what timing. This led me to believe you had more to say.... oh! I just noticed we posted at the same time lol Edited September 22, 2018 by Muttley000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Yeah I think your notification came up as I was hitting submit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley000 Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Single bottles out of stock but 2 are 14.99. I think I'll use it with my water volume! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonvice Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 Yeah. Since the last 1/3rd bottle dose, my nitrates have been between 5 and 10 ppm. Everything has looked fantastic. Granted I have not done a water change, so that might be part of it. When I get back from vacation I will do a water change and see how much it drops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.