I've got a 42 gallon tank, heavy planted, but I've been noticing my plants are draining nitrate as hell. To replenish Nitrogen, I was thinking about adding a solution of NaNO3 (Sodium Nitrate), but I'm worried about my five Corydora schwartzi and four Otocinclus sp.
This sodium excess can cause any harm to them?
I also thought about using a KNO3 solution, but could'nt find Potassium Nitrate yet.
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R. Duval
Corydoras and sodium (in NaNO3)
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Bas Pels
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Whether you use KNO3 or NaNO3 will not matter much. The first thing both chemicals do in water is fall apart in K+ or Na+ and NO3-
In aquarium practise, we are normally very concerned with keeping nitrate (and other waste products) aks low as possible, but I have to admit, the waste products feed the plants.
You can add nitrate (I think sodium nitrate will cost less than potassium nitrate, per gram, and you will need less NaNO3), but would need half a laboratory to add the other substances the plants need as well
However, as I read your fishes don't prroduce enough waste products for the plants. Thus, you could ad a few more fishes, and feed a bit more, ending up in more waste products - nicely split out in nitrates, phosphates and so on, according to the needs the plants have
In aquarium practise, we are normally very concerned with keeping nitrate (and other waste products) aks low as possible, but I have to admit, the waste products feed the plants.
You can add nitrate (I think sodium nitrate will cost less than potassium nitrate, per gram, and you will need less NaNO3), but would need half a laboratory to add the other substances the plants need as well
However, as I read your fishes don't prroduce enough waste products for the plants. Thus, you could ad a few more fishes, and feed a bit more, ending up in more waste products - nicely split out in nitrates, phosphates and so on, according to the needs the plants have
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MatsP
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First of all, I agree that "natural" production of fertilizers as Bas suggests is probably the best way to go.
I also agree that just adding nitrates will not give you a balanced nutrition for the plants - the will grow well for a bit, but they will then be limited by lack of whatever else there is not enough of, and that may be either a macro- or micro-nutrient (macro => needed in "large" volume, micro => trace element, needed in small volumes).
Second, if you must add nitrates, I would suggest staying away from BOTH Potassium and Sodium-based products, as those are "aggressive" ions. Potassium may be slightly more useful to the plants - at least above water that is the case, but adding noticable amount of either will absolutely increase the conductivity of the water. A better choice may be something that is calcium or magnesium based.
Magnesium is another part that the plants need.
Posphate will eventually become a scarce resource if your plants keep growing, unless you add that.
Lack of Iron in a absorbable form is commonly a problem in planted aquariums.
The art of fertilizing a planted aquarium is complex - and I'm by no means an expert on that subject, but I know enough to know that there's no "easy" solution, and that there are MANY different components needed to promote good growth in plants.
In nature, almost all of these come from waste from animals in one way or another. So adding a few more fish may be a good start to increase the "fertilization" process.
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Mats
I also agree that just adding nitrates will not give you a balanced nutrition for the plants - the will grow well for a bit, but they will then be limited by lack of whatever else there is not enough of, and that may be either a macro- or micro-nutrient (macro => needed in "large" volume, micro => trace element, needed in small volumes).
Second, if you must add nitrates, I would suggest staying away from BOTH Potassium and Sodium-based products, as those are "aggressive" ions. Potassium may be slightly more useful to the plants - at least above water that is the case, but adding noticable amount of either will absolutely increase the conductivity of the water. A better choice may be something that is calcium or magnesium based.
Magnesium is another part that the plants need.
Posphate will eventually become a scarce resource if your plants keep growing, unless you add that.
Lack of Iron in a absorbable form is commonly a problem in planted aquariums.
The art of fertilizing a planted aquarium is complex - and I'm by no means an expert on that subject, but I know enough to know that there's no "easy" solution, and that there are MANY different components needed to promote good growth in plants.
In nature, almost all of these come from waste from animals in one way or another. So adding a few more fish may be a good start to increase the "fertilization" process.
--
Mats
Eventually I'll move my Tetras to this tank as well, of course that will raise NO3 and PO4 production, but the problem I've been facing is my plants are draining all nitrate, and phosphate has been left in excess. During light time I've measured NO3 as 0ppm and PO4 as 1 - 1.5 ppm. The plants are not using all available phosphate in the water column which has been leading to algae.
Based on Sears & Conlin case studies, plants can out-compete algae for phosphate if there's enough CO2, N, K, Micro and light available, naturally they need less P than they need N.
Mixed with the nitrate I've been adding potassium, iron and other micro-nutrients in alterning days, like this way (based somehow in Estimative Index):
Day 1: Nitrate
Day 2: Potassium and Iron
Day 3: Nitrate
Day 4: Micro
Day 5: Nitrate
Day 6: Potassium and Iron
Day 7: 20 gallon change adding KHCO3 as buffer
Other water parameters are:
pH: 6.6 during light time, 6.4 at nights;
KH: 2.5 - 3º dH;
CO2: around 20 ppm;
GH: 1.5º dH (very soft water);
NH3 / NH4: 0 ppm;
NO2: 0 ppm;
Temp: 80 - 81º F;
O2: 11 ppm or more.
Now I'm using a commercial nitrate product, but it's very expensive, that's why I expect to migrate to chemical compounds.
There are not many options available besides Sodium or Potassium nitrates... I'm still unsure if Sodium Nitrate can harm my beloved catfishes once it is a kind of salt.
Based on Sears & Conlin case studies, plants can out-compete algae for phosphate if there's enough CO2, N, K, Micro and light available, naturally they need less P than they need N.
Mixed with the nitrate I've been adding potassium, iron and other micro-nutrients in alterning days, like this way (based somehow in Estimative Index):
Day 1: Nitrate
Day 2: Potassium and Iron
Day 3: Nitrate
Day 4: Micro
Day 5: Nitrate
Day 6: Potassium and Iron
Day 7: 20 gallon change adding KHCO3 as buffer
Other water parameters are:
pH: 6.6 during light time, 6.4 at nights;
KH: 2.5 - 3º dH;
CO2: around 20 ppm;
GH: 1.5º dH (very soft water);
NH3 / NH4: 0 ppm;
NO2: 0 ppm;
Temp: 80 - 81º F;
O2: 11 ppm or more.
Now I'm using a commercial nitrate product, but it's very expensive, that's why I expect to migrate to chemical compounds.
There are not many options available besides Sodium or Potassium nitrates... I'm still unsure if Sodium Nitrate can harm my beloved catfishes once it is a kind of salt.