Potassium nitrate (Spectracide stump remover) dosing steps

[twilliard]

Honestly dosing no3 is not rocket science
Mix 2 tablespoons in 2 cups of water and your set.
Test no3 a few hours after dosing and if it is still low dose more.

For some reason this thread has become way more complicated than the average tank owner understands.

Dose, test, dose, test and stop at your target

 

[morpheas]

This is one of the rare occasions that I respectfully disagree with you :). I don't mean to say it's rocket science but this is one of those few things that we can actually control pretty well. Some basic math help us accurately prepare and dose exactly what we need so we don't have to follow a trial and error approach (at least initially when we're getting our bearings). The spreadsheet form also helps the average tank owner so he doesn't have to worry about it, that was the whole idea. Again, maybe that's just me. Anything I can wrap my hands around and control I strive to do so.

Now people have the information they need to proceed anyway they want to.

 

[mcarroll]

As promised I made a Google Docs version of the calculator here.

Sweet! (I see what you meant now....not just a different hosted link!)

(I have the excel version on my phone and computer already but I'll have to bookmark this as well.)

 

[mcarroll]

Dose, test, dose, test and stop at your target

The spreadsheet form also helps the average tank owner

These things go together! :cool::cool::cool:

I could be wrong:eek: but I don't think Randy's two part would ever have caught on without the Reef Chemistry Calculator (RCC) and it's snazzier cousin, the BRS calculator.

The calculator seems to be an excellent expression of the theory, and at least for this average reefer, really useful! I actually do a lot more than calculate doses with the RCC! :) :)

I have already used "The xNO3 Calculator™" and seeing all the numbers expressed in one view actually helped cement some of the theory for me!

IMO the folks who only practice the test/dose/test/dose/stop at target without knowing the solution they are working with or calculating doses are reefing with one hand tied behind their back and maybe only learning half of what they could be. ;)

And @twilliard don't sell your (or anyone else's) nerdy explanations short either! I think they are appreciated more than it often seems. :)

 

[mcarroll]

On the S.G., I don't believe it could be permanent, maybe it needs some time to revive anything that has suffered? How long ago did you correct it?

Going from memory I would say about six months maybe a little longer. :confused:

 

[mcarroll]

Now I'm equipped!

 

[E_Aquatics]

Is there a limit as to how much you can increase the nitrates in one day? Could I slowly raise it from 0 to 5 in a period of 12hrs or would that cause too much stress?

 

[twilliard]

Is there a limit as to how much you can increase the nitrates in one day? Could I slowly raise it from 0 to 5 in a period of 12hrs or would that cause too much stress?

I raised my tank from 0 to 4ppm in a matter of a few hours. No stress at all :)

 

[PaReeferJ]

Starting this today!!! Hopefully get some good results.

 

[twilliard]

Starting this today!!! Hopefully get some good results.

Be careful not to over shoot your target as it will seem like your not adding anything on the first few doses :)

 

[PaReeferJ]

Be careful not to over shoot your target as it will seem like your not adding anything on the first few doses :)

Ok I have a 40b with a 20g sump. Around 50gal total.

 

[twilliard]

Ok I have a 40b with a 20g sump. Around 50gal total.

That will show up rather quickly
With time you will see the results you're after!

 

[PaReeferJ]

That will show up rather quickly
With time you will see the results you're after!

Awesome I hope!! How many ml do you think I should start off at? 1... 2ml?

 

[twilliard]

I would dose 5ml first. (What is your current no3 readings?) And test an hour later.

 

[PaReeferJ]

I would dose 5ml first. (What is your current no3 readings?) And test an hour later.

They are reading zero with the salifert test kit. Both no3 and po4 are reading 0

 

[E_Aquatics]

Awesome I hope!! How many ml do you think I should start off at? 1... 2ml?

If you use this calculator and fill it out correctly you can determine exactly how much you need to add to raise the nitrates to whatever you want.

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

 

[PaReeferJ]

If you use this calculator and fill it out correctly you can determine exactly how much you need to add to raise the nitrates to whatever you want.

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

Ok thanks!

 

[PaReeferJ]

If you use this calculator and fill it out correctly you can determine exactly how much you need to add to raise the nitrates to whatever you want.

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

5ml will raise it to 1.23. Should I stick with that first so I don't over shoot?

 

[E_Aquatics]

5ml will raise it to 1.23. Should I stick with that first so I don't over shoot?

Yes, then test a couple of hours later to see if it brought it up to 1. If it did then you can start adding more

 

[PaReeferJ]

Yes, then test a couple of hours later to see if it brought it up to 1. If it did then you can start adding more

Great thanks!