Change in params when switching from premixed

[Scribe]

I just switched from BRS premixed chems to bulk/mix your own. It seems to have sent my params off a bit. Anyone else have this experience. I do not blame BRS ini the least. Just for the record.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What recipe did you switch to?

What did you observe?

Their recipe is a modification of one of my published recipes, but if you follow their numbers you need to be using the same type of materials, such as the hydration state, etc.

 

[Scribe]

You just blew my mind. I'm far from a chemist. I was just using their pre mix of calcium, Alk, and mag. My Alk seemed to go up a little...but my calcium went way up. I followed the directions on the bulk containers. Have to double check for specifics.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What materials did you buy, especially for calcium?

 

[Scribe]

Calcium chloride and soda ash

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

But the calcium chloride, specifically.

Was it anhydrous or the dihydrate? That is, is there significant water in the solid crystal?

If anhydrous, that could be the difference since it is about 20% more potent than the dihydrate that BRS and my recipes normally call for.

 

[Scribe]

I'll have to check.

 

[Scribe]

High purity crystalline dihydrate

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So that should be the same as the BRS mix if you mixed it in the same proportions. Did you mix them the same?

I'm not sure why you are now getting more potency from the calcium if you were dosing the same as before.

 

[Scribe]

Pretty sure they were mixed exactly the same. Keeping an eye on the params to see if the stabilize or what. I was just curious if this was a common occurrence or not. I'm guessing not though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It shouldn't be a common occurrence. I've not heard of it as a general thing.

Whatever the reason, dosing less should solve the problem.

 

[Scribe]

Yeah. I reduced the time of calcium dosing a bunch already. Thanks for the replies, I'm guessing this is a case of user error.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing