How to check diy no3 potency?

[West1]

Here’s a photo I got under x400. Used a 1ml pipette from the tip of a receding acro with algae on it.
Any thoughts on ID?


Bottom one at x1200

 

[gbroadbridge]

Here’s a photo I got under x400. Used a 1ml pipette from the tip of a receding acro with algae on it.
Any thoughts on ID?


Bottom one at x1200

Sorry, I meant a normal photo of what is growing on the tips of the acros.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Does the diy Loudwolf mix expire?
I Doser 100ml of the older mix and my no3 went up .25. I’m wondering if I should just make smaller amounts instead of using the entire bottle?

Also, is there a difference in the plantedtank calculations from the potassium nitrate vs the Loudwolf sodium nitrate?

No, it won’t expire. The difference between sodium and potassium nitrate is 19% in potency sodium is more potent), which I’d just ignore unless you are making some sort of scientific standard.

 

[West1]

Sorry, I meant a normal photo of what is growing on the tips of the acros.

Here’s a few pics. Sorry about the dirty glass, I read it’s best to leave the algae on the glass to outcompete whatever I got (ie: Dino’s, cyano).

 

[gbroadbridge]

Here’s a few pics. Sorry about the dirty glass, I read it’s best to leave the algae on the glass to outcompete whatever I got (ie: Dino’s, cyano).

I could be wrong, but the red stuff on the tips of the coral looks like cyano to me. It can grow where there is no flesh on the coral perhaps where flesh has died. A deficiency of N or P could perhaps cause that.

The sand does not look like Dinos, more like plain detritus that snails would clean up.

Hopefully others will chip in with their opinion.

 

[West1]

I could be wrong, but the red stuff on the tips of the coral looks like cyano to me. It can grow where there is no flesh on the coral perhaps where flesh has died. A deficiency of N or P could perhaps cause that.

The sand does not look like Dinos, more like plain detritus that snails would clean up.

Hopefully others will chip in with their opinion.

Idk, I just hope my nutrients stabilize.
Just mixed a new batch of Loudwolf sodium Nitrate, 3/4 gallon of DI for 10ml per 1ppm @135glns.

 

[West1]

last night I added the new mix of Loudwolf sodium nitrate @20ml. Tested about an hour later and got .5
This evening after work I tested no3 and got .25
I added 30ml of the Loudwolf solution and 1.5hrs later I checked my ppm.
The low range RedSea pro maxed out.
Tested with the high range test kit and I’m 32ppm!
I’ll test again in an hour, hopefully the nitrate solution somehow just lingered around or I somehow tested incorrect.

 

[West1]

Just tested again and it’s either at 32ppm or 64ppm.
Well… if my stuff dies, I’m out the hobby. Can’t do a water change till tomorrow evening :/

 

[gbroadbridge]

Just tested again and it’s either at 32ppm or 64ppm.
Well… if my stuff dies, I’m out the hobby. Can’t do a water change till tomorrow evening :/

That Nitrate level is not going to harm coral or fish.

 

[West1]

That Nitrate level is not going to harm coral or fish.

It won’t shock coral from .25 to 64ppm (maxed out on nitrate card, could be higher)?

 

[gbroadbridge]

It won’t shock coral from .25 to 64ppm (maxed out on nitrate card, could be higher)?

Anything is possible, but I doubt it will cause a huge problem.

How did you mix the solution? How many grams in how much water?

 

[West1]

Anything is possible, but I doubt it will cause a huge problem.

How did you mix the solution? How many grams in how much water?

.75 of a gallon, 227gram Loudwolf
Mixed it with a med/large magnetic stirrer for about 3hrs.

Just turned my skimmer on and fuge. Had skimmer off to try and elevate nutrients.
Reduced fuge to 2hrs… just put it back to 8hrs. I’ll check no3 in the morning, hopefully skimmer/fuge put a dent in it.

 

[gbroadbridge]

.75 of a gallon, 227gram Loudwolf
Mixed it with a med/large magnetic stirrer for about 3hrs.

Just turned my skimmer on and fuge. Had skimmer off to try and elevate nutrients.
Reduced fuge to 2hrs… just put it back to 8hrs. I’ll check no3 in the morning, hopefully skimmer/fuge put a dent in it.

The math doesn't work for me.

If you mixed 227g Sodium Nitrate in 2.8l of water (0.75 US gal) and then added 30ml to a 120 gal tank you have only added about 3 to 4 ppm Nitrate.

 

[West1]

The math doesn't work for me.

If you mixed 227g Sodium Nitrate in 2.8l of water (0.75 US gal) and then added 30ml to a 120 gal tank you have only added about 3 to 4 ppm Nitrate.

Correct. Second time dosing the 30ml of new solution.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Correct. Second time dosing the 30ml of new solution.

I would suggest testing with a different Nitrate test kit.
Salifert is quick, cheap and reasonably accurate.

 

[piranhaman00]

That is why you determine your actual concentration and dose accordingly.

 

[West1]

That is why you determine your actual concentration and dose accordingly.

I mixed the solution to make 10ml per 1ppm, tested before I added the no3 and dosed to get 3-4ppm in the tank, where did I fall short according to your comment?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Are you certain it is not sodium nitrite that you dosed?

 

[West1]

Are you certain it is not sodium nitrite that you dosed?

Yes, it was sodium nitrate.
3/4gl + 227g @135gl “should” have gotten me around 10ml @ 1ppm per the planted calculations if I did it correctly.