Calcium Nitrate Solution

[spsick]

@Randy Holmes-Farley , I’d like to make a DIY version of ESV Nitrate from Loudwolf Calcium Nitrate that is equal strength.

ESV says 1ml solution raises 20gal by 1ppm Nitrate but no other info. Any ideas other than trial and error?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

ESV says 1ml solution raises 20gal by 1ppm Nitrate

1 ppm = 1 mg/L

20 gallons is 75.7 L

Thus, 1 mL of the solution contains 75.7 mg of nitrate

Anhydrous calcium nitrate contains 75.6 % nitrate by weight.

Thus, to add 75.7 mg to 1 mL, you need to add 75.7 mg/0.756 = 100 mg of calcium nitrate

Thus, you can match the ESV by adding 10 g calcium nitrate to ~100 mL of RO/DI water.

 

[spsick]

Randy you’re amazing and we don’t deserve you

 

[spsick]

@Randy Holmes-Farley am I interpreting something incorrectly that it says the nitrate content is 14.5%?

https://www.loudwolf.com/storefront/index.php

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, you are interpreting it incorrectly, and if you mean this one specifically, that is not anhydrous calcium nitrate but rather one that has some water in the solid.

https://www.loudwolf.com/storefront/index.php?route=product/product&path=673&product_id=734
The 14.5% is nitrogen content, not nitrate content. Nitrate is much heavier (and hence higher concentration) than nitrogen because nitrate consists of one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms.

BUT, since that is also a hydrate, you'd need to add more.

Instead of 10 g/100 mL you would use 14.4 g to account for the four water molecules per calcium nitrate in the crystal structure.

 

[spsick]

Yes, you are interpreting it incorrectly, and if you mean this one specifically, that is not anhydrous calcium nitrate but rather one that has some water in the solid.

https://www.loudwolf.com/storefront/index.php?route=product/product&path=673&product_id=734
The 14.5% is nitrogen content, not nitrate content. Nitrate is much heavier (and hence higher concentration) than nitrogen because nitrate consists of one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms.

BUT, since that is also a hydrate, you'd need to add more.

Instead of 10 g/100 mL you would use 14.4 g to account for the four water molecules per calcium nitrate in the crystal structure.

Thank you!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)