Magnesium Nitrate - Greenhouse Grade

[augustx]

Hi All,

I am in Canada and don't have access to food grade sodium nitrate at a reasonable cost (I might as well be buying brightwell's Neonitrate at that point).

I did find this greenhouse grade one... any advise? Thanks

 

[GlassMunky]

While I’m no chem expert I would think it would be less than desirable.
First: greenhouse grade doesn’t mean anything and most agriculture purposes aren’t that pure compared to food or pharma grades
Second: you’d also be adding in Magnesium with every dose in addition to the nitrogen so will maybe be an issue over time with MAG rising slowly?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If that was my only choice for nitrate, I'd elect ammonia dosing instead. I'd be concerned about impurities, and magnesium rising (unless you account for that somehow).

DIY Ammonia dosing for low nitrate systems

Some reef aquaria have chronic low nitrogen availability. One indicator is very low nitrate. Nitrate dosing is a fine remedy, but it is possible that ammonia dosing may be more beneficial for some organisms since ammonia can be energetically easier to assimilate than is nitrate. For this...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[augustx]

Thanks All! Any good recommendations on Ammonia products?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd check amazon for food grade ammonium bicarbonate or ammonium chloride. Not sure what all is available in Canada.

 

[augustx]

Maybe I am in luck!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, that looks good.

 

[augustx]

Randy, how long do I wait to test for Nitrate after dosing ammonium?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy, how long do I wait to test for Nitrate after dosing ammonium?

It may all get consumed by corals and such, so I would only test once every few days.