vodka and KNO3?

Waterjockey · May 9, 2016

Hi Randy,

I have a small mixed reef tank (about 40 gallons water volune), which I used old rock from my system from the 90's. I suspect the rock has tons of phosphate in it. I have been dosing vodka to keep my nitrates below API test detection levels, and, like many, still have phosphate issues. I suspect my system is now nitrate limited, and was thinking about dosing KNO3 along with the vodka in a bid to reduce phosphates.
Do you see any issues with mixing KNO3 in with my ethanol? Would it dissolve in Vodka? (I would have to buy another dosing pump if they can't be mixed).
I have had little to no issues dosing carbon this time around, other than hair algae is beginning to sprout in multiple spots from the old rock.

Any comments or advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 9, 2016

Yes, at the concentration you'd use, it should dissolve fine.

What is the phosphate level?

Waterjockey · May 9, 2016

Thanks Randy! My phosphate level seem to hover around .25 per API. I just bought a Hanna low range phosphate device, so I will compare it later today to the results I have been getting via API. With the rate of growth and the lush dark green colour of the hair algae that has begun to sprout in the last week, I don't doubt the phosphate #. I have checked my RODI output to ensure that wasn't a source, and I feed sparingly once per day for the last few weeks, and reduced my fish load by about 50% (I had too high a bio-load to truly be sustainable long term).

I just wanted to add, on my return to reefing, I have read many of your articles, repeatedly, and found them to be very informative, you have an ability to distill complex chemistry down to a level a person like myself can easily understand. I just wanted to say thanks for all the great help you have provided me (via your articles and reading forum discussions) as I continously learn as much as I can.

Cheers!

Waterjockey · May 13, 2016

Hi Randy.

So I just used my Hanna phosphate checker and my phosphate levels are apparently .98...much higher than the .25 to .50 that I was getting on the API test....so I double checked my rodi outlet to be sure, it reads 0.0 phosphate. I have a supply of Potassium Nitrate I was going to begin dosing, but I was wondering if I should purchase Sodium Nitrate to dose instead? Or in the grand scheme of things would it matter much?

Thanks!

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 13, 2016

Waterjockey said:
Hi Randy.

So I just used my Hanna phosphate checker and my phosphate levels are apparently .98...much higher than the .25 to .50 that I was getting on the API test....so I double checked my rodi outlet to be sure, it reads 0.0 phosphate. I have a supply of Potassium Nitrate I was going to begin dosing, but I was wondering if I should purchase Sodium Nitrate to dose instead? Or in the grand scheme of things would it matter much?

Thanks!

It depends on how much you end up dosing, but sodium nitrate might be better if the dosing needs to be extensive (as needed to reduce that much phosphate).

Waterjockey · May 13, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It depends on how much you end up dosing, but sodium nitrate might be better if the dosing needs to be extensive (as needed to reduce that much phosphate).

Thanks so much. I'll wait for the Sodium Nitrate to come in before I start then.