I have been dosing sodium nitrate in my one system for some time now. Before this I had some SPS that were paler than I liked and I was using GFO to control phosphates which I found often caused a negative reaction with a number of SPS. I stopped using GFO, started dosing nitrate and found that this resulted in better coloration and seems to help prevent phosphate levels from rising. However, I am not very consistent with manual nitrate dosing and would like a more controlled approach to dial it in. I dose enough to achieve 2 ppm, but this is consumed within a few days and then it tests at 0. I would like to try to keep it at 1-2 ppm consistently.
I want to add nitrate to my two part solutions to achieve consistency in my dosing regime. My first question is which solution should I add it to so that I don't have anything precipitating out of the solutions? I use my own two part (plug magnesium) concentrations as follows:
1,560 grams Na2CO3 in 11,500 mL solution
2,162 grams CaCl2 in 11,500 mL solution
1,200 grams MgCl2 6(H2O) in 11,500 mL solution
I presume I should add the sodium nitrate to the sodium carbonate solution since nitrate has a charge of -1 and carbonate has a charge of -2, while both calcium and magnesium have a +2 charge. This based on my thinking that these two negatively charged molecules won't react in solution. But this is where my knowledge of chemistry, or what I can remember from college, is limited. I'm hoping one of the chemistry experts that roam these forums will chime in and help educate me (fingers crossed for Randy).
Another question I have is whether or not sodium nitrate is the best choice for nitrate dosing. I believe calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate are available, but I figured sodium nitrate was the best choice since it wouldn't upset the ionic balance of the seawater since sodium occurs in much greater concentration than calcium or potassium. I'm concerned about harmful trace elements so I have been using ACS grade 99.6% sodium nitrate which is rather expensive. I'm wondering if anyone has input on a safe (minimal undesirable trace elements) and economical (I'm cheap) way to dose nitrate. I'm not opposed to using calcium nitrate since I can just make a small reduction to the amount of calcium chloride I mix to compensate. I'm just not sure which typically has less of the impurities that I don't want to add to my reef.
Now for my second round of questions. My tank consumes potassium. Typically I test it every couple months and find it usually drops to about 350-370 ppm during this time. I then dose potassium chloride to bump it up to 400 ppm. I stopped doing this since my Salifert test kit ran out of reagent and they had stopped production. I had Red Sea potassium test kit, but it took painfully long to perform and I had trouble reading the results. From what I have read Salifert is going to start shipping potassium test kits again soon and once that happens I plan to start dosing potassium again.
So, my question is which solution should I add the potassium chloride to? I'm thinking I can add it to either the calcium chloride or magnesium chloride solution without precipitation or other issues, but I would like someone with better knowledge of chemistry to confirm.
I have been using BulkSupplements potassium chloride which seems economical. I assume since it is intended for human consumption it is likely safe to use on my reef tank. I know some people are using potassium nitrate to accomplish potassium and nitrate dosing with one additive, but I prefer to keep my nitrate and potassium dosing separate so that I can dial in 400 ppm potassium and 1-2 ppm nitrate. I am also leery of adding stump remover to my reef tank as I worry about harmful impurities.
Any help or feedback based on your own experience is appreciated!
I want to add nitrate to my two part solutions to achieve consistency in my dosing regime. My first question is which solution should I add it to so that I don't have anything precipitating out of the solutions? I use my own two part (plug magnesium) concentrations as follows:
1,560 grams Na2CO3 in 11,500 mL solution
2,162 grams CaCl2 in 11,500 mL solution
1,200 grams MgCl2 6(H2O) in 11,500 mL solution
I presume I should add the sodium nitrate to the sodium carbonate solution since nitrate has a charge of -1 and carbonate has a charge of -2, while both calcium and magnesium have a +2 charge. This based on my thinking that these two negatively charged molecules won't react in solution. But this is where my knowledge of chemistry, or what I can remember from college, is limited. I'm hoping one of the chemistry experts that roam these forums will chime in and help educate me (fingers crossed for Randy).
Another question I have is whether or not sodium nitrate is the best choice for nitrate dosing. I believe calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate are available, but I figured sodium nitrate was the best choice since it wouldn't upset the ionic balance of the seawater since sodium occurs in much greater concentration than calcium or potassium. I'm concerned about harmful trace elements so I have been using ACS grade 99.6% sodium nitrate which is rather expensive. I'm wondering if anyone has input on a safe (minimal undesirable trace elements) and economical (I'm cheap) way to dose nitrate. I'm not opposed to using calcium nitrate since I can just make a small reduction to the amount of calcium chloride I mix to compensate. I'm just not sure which typically has less of the impurities that I don't want to add to my reef.
Now for my second round of questions. My tank consumes potassium. Typically I test it every couple months and find it usually drops to about 350-370 ppm during this time. I then dose potassium chloride to bump it up to 400 ppm. I stopped doing this since my Salifert test kit ran out of reagent and they had stopped production. I had Red Sea potassium test kit, but it took painfully long to perform and I had trouble reading the results. From what I have read Salifert is going to start shipping potassium test kits again soon and once that happens I plan to start dosing potassium again.
So, my question is which solution should I add the potassium chloride to? I'm thinking I can add it to either the calcium chloride or magnesium chloride solution without precipitation or other issues, but I would like someone with better knowledge of chemistry to confirm.
I have been using BulkSupplements potassium chloride which seems economical. I assume since it is intended for human consumption it is likely safe to use on my reef tank. I know some people are using potassium nitrate to accomplish potassium and nitrate dosing with one additive, but I prefer to keep my nitrate and potassium dosing separate so that I can dial in 400 ppm potassium and 1-2 ppm nitrate. I am also leery of adding stump remover to my reef tank as I worry about harmful impurities.
Any help or feedback based on your own experience is appreciated!
