Ideas on getting nitrates up

[warriorcookie]

Also, I should mention why I chose NaNO3.

There are many things that can be used to increase nitrate. Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate (Flourish, Stump remover), Sodium Nitrate and more.

I dose Calcium already and alot of other trace elements at the same time, so I didn't want to dose more calcium that would be difficult to account for.

I also wasn't excited about increasing Potassium as I already dose it as part of trace elements and I didn't want to have to account for it.


Excess Sodium I can handle. The only downside I can see is the potential to throw off my salinity slightly over time. The amount of sodium I'll be dosing will be less than what I've added with the various 2 part products I've used in the past. I'm sure the tiny amount of excess sodium ions will be brought back into balance with water changes.

[adam84]

So I went with the calcium nitrate and have been dosing for a little over a week now and have to say that I am already seeing a good change in coral color and polyp extention especially in the LPS corals. I have raised the level to 1ppm over a couple days and held it there without any noticeable changes in any other perameters. No nuisance algae growth thus far except maybe having to clean the glass a little more, overall I am very happy with the results.

[warriorcookie]

Originally Posted by adam84

So I went with the calcium nitrate and have been dosing for a little over a week now and have to say that I am already seeing a good change in coral color and polyp extention especially in the LPS corals. I have raised the level to 1ppm over a couple days and held it there without any noticeable changes in any other perameters. No nuisance algae growth thus far except maybe having to clean the glass a little more, overall I am very happy with the results.

Awesome!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by warriorcookie

Also, I should mention why I chose NaNO3.

There are many things that can be used to increase nitrate. Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate (Flourish, Stump remover), Sodium Nitrate and more.

I dose Calcium already and alot of other trace elements at the same time, so I didn't want to dose more calcium that would be difficult to account for.

I also wasn't excited about increasing Potassium as I already dose it as part of trace elements and I didn't want to have to account for it.


Excess Sodium I can handle. The only downside I can see is the potential to throw off my salinity slightly over time. The amount of sodium I'll be dosing will be less than what I've added with the various 2 part products I've used in the past. I'm sure the tiny amount of excess sodium ions will be brought back into balance with water changes.

The boost of potassium, calcium, and sodium is probably not enough for you to notice.

Potassium nitrate boosts nitrate by 7.1 ppm for every 1 ppm potassium.
Calcium nitrate boosts nitrate by 3.1 ppm for every 1 ppm calcium.
Sodium nitrate boosts nitrates by 2.7 ppm for every 1 ppm sodium.

[warriorcookie]

Originally Posted by Myka

The boost of potassium, calcium, and sodium is probably not enough for you to notice.

Potassium nitrate boosts nitrate by 7.1 ppm for every 1 ppm potassium.
Calcium nitrate boosts nitrate by 3.1 ppm for every 1 ppm calcium.
Sodium nitrate boosts nitrates by 2.7 ppm for every 1 ppm sodium.

I know, it's my neurotic tendencies flaring up again. Excess Sodium ions seemed to be the least concerning and easiest to deal with.... I should have mentioned the major contributing factor being an excellent certain someone offering to help me out with some NaNO3 they already had. Lol.

[scoobs]

Originally Posted by Myka

The boost of potassium, calcium, and sodium is probably not enough for you to notice.

Potassium nitrate boosts nitrate by 7.1 ppm for every 1 ppm potassium.
Calcium nitrate boosts nitrate by 3.1 ppm for every 1 ppm calcium.
Sodium nitrate boosts nitrates by 2.7 ppm for every 1 ppm sodium.

Apologies for dredging up this old thread, but am curious as to how these numbers came about. I would have thought the KNO3 would produce a K+ and NO3- equally.....must be more going on in the saltwater.