Using Ca(NO3)2 instead of KNO3?

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Darkblade48

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Nov 24, 2004
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As it says in the topic, I was curious about the effects of using Ca(NO3)2 instead of KNO3 as a source of NO3.

Of course, I know that using the KNO3 is ideal because it also provides the necessary K, but considering if I'm using K2SO4, would the lack of K from the KNO3 be okay?

I ask this because my parents recently installed a water softener in the house. This softener softens all the water in the house (kitchen, washroom, etc etc, yes, we're flushing the toilets with soft water :rolleyes:)
Anyways, the point is that the water softener replaces the Ca+ and Mg+ ions in the water with Na+ ions (or so I've read). Of course, I know that the effects of Na+ ions in the water is undesirable, but I really don't see anyway around it. However, the water is lacking in Mg and Ca now. I've been adding some MgSO4 to replace the Mg+ but I was wondering if Ca(NO3)2 could be used for the NO3 and the Ca supplements?
 
Where can you find Ca(NO3)2? I confess I've done no research on its sources though...

No, there shouldn't be any drawbacks to using it as long as you keep in mind that it contains twice the NO3 as KNO3.

If you want to use a dosing calculator that only has NO3 from KNO3, simply find out how many grams of KNO3 you would need to use to get half your target then multiply by 1.62. That should convert to Ca(NO3)2.

For K, try to get your folks to switch their water softing resing from NaCl to KCl.
 
happychem said:
Where can you find Ca(NO3)2? I confess I've done no research on its sources though...

No, there shouldn't be any drawbacks to using it as long as you keep in mind that it contains twice the NO3 as KNO3.

If you want to use a dosing calculator that only has NO3 from KNO3, simply find out how many grams of KNO3 you would need to use to get half your target then multiply by 1.62. That should convert to Ca(NO3)2.

For K, try to get your folks to switch their water softing resing from NaCl to KCl.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking about it, but it occurred to me that adding Ca(NO3)2 might not be such a good idea as it would take way too much of it to get the Ca+ up to appreciable levels, but by then, the NO3 levels would most likely be too high for comfort.

Just to let you know, Ca(NO3)2 can be found at www.hydroponics.com

And thanks for the heads up on the different resin, I'll have to check to see if I can find KCl anywhere instead of the NaCl.
 
For the KCl resin, try hardware stores. It will cost more than NaCl so it may take some convincing of your folks. Try to convince your folks about Na and high blood pressure ;) (they're completely unrelated medically for most folks, hence the ;) )

As for the Ca, just don't use Ca(NO3)2 as your sole source of Ca, I use crushed coral with my CO2, this provides me with ample buffer and Ca.
 
Just curious, but would you happen to know approximately how much more? I doubt my folks will be to willing to go along with me, considering I've already buggered them for a lot of other stuff in setting up a 90g planted (you have no idea how much fluorite a tank that size needs :)
 
I don't, I've not really looked into it. It's most likely a deal breaker since NaCl is dirt cheap and KCl would probably cost 2 to 3 times as much, but it would realy depend on your area. Check out your local hardware/home equiptment stores, they should have both.
 
Unless you have super, SUPER soft water, why would you want to harden it with as much Ca(NO3)2 as it would take to supply N, when KNO3 is dirt cheap and does a dual job, supplying K and N?
Many/most of the plants we all deal with are soft water plants. I'm finding out recently that most of the Ca we need is supplied in the trace elements mix that most of us use.
Just curious........

Len
 
I'm currently using the Chelate mix from http://www.hydroponics.com/info/aquatics/pmdd.htm

Or, if you don't want to click there, this is what it says on the packaging
Chelate Trace element (Fe 7%, B 1.3%, Mn 2%, Zn 0.4%, Cu 0.1%, Mo 0.06%)

So there's no calcium in my trace mix :(

Edit: Also, AFAIK Plantex's CSM (+B) trace mix also doesn't have calcium in it? :confused:
 
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