DIY coral snow recipe?

[Manose]

I have seen various different recipes but want a confirmation before I do this.
Ratio of tank water to calcium carbonate? I have 100 gal
I think this will work for the calcium carbonate?
Amazon product ASIN B0064GZPPO

 

[scooterh928]

It’s what I used

 

[MoeStachio]

Image doesn't show up for me.

I used brewing calcium carbonate from LD Carlson

5 level TBSP to 230ml for a yield of ~250ml

Dosing 1-2ml per time for my 15g, mixing with MicroBacter7 as needed

Thats basically it

 

[MoeStachio]

Oh and that's 230ml of RODI WATER, nit tank water.

Let it sit for a few hours before using for best results.

 

[Miami Reef]

Let it sit for a few hours before using for best results.

Why? Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water. You can’t rehydrate them. There’s no difference.

 

[MoeStachio]

Let it sit for a few hours before using for best results.

Why? Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water. You can’t rehydrate them. There’s no difference.

I assume that it's a storage thing If that's the case.

I don't recall the recipes ever stating a reason for it - just that every single one I saw mentioned fresh water/ RODI



I'm just a dude doing stuff

 

[Miami Reef]

If they add bacteria to it, then it might make sense to wait a bit.

But if it’s just CaCO3 powder? I see no reason to.

 

[EricR]

I doubt it's that critical but I've just been going by (on my 40 gallon tank):
- 1 tablespoon per 50 gallons
- mix into about 8 oz RODI
- let sit for 5 minutes (not sure why,,, maybe for bacteria to adhere IF adding that), then dose

I don't mix in bacteria just because I use PNS and when I asked if this would be detrimental to any of the PNS strains, the response I got was that the likely high pH of the calcium carbonate solution could have potential effects (to PNS).
*no idea how bad or if that may also apply to whatever's in MB7

EDIT -- links in case of any interest...

SunnyX DIY coral snow dosing:
Cyano eradication

drivemecrazy response to PNS effect question:
PNS and calcium carbonate

 

[MoeStachio]

Let it sit for a few hours before using for best results.

Why? Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water. You can’t rehydrate them. There’s no difference.

https://www.reef2reef.com/posts/10283431/

Just says to let is sit for two hours.

Works wonders by the way

 

[MoeStachio]

I doubt it's that critical but I've just been going by (on my 40 gallon tank):
- 1 tablespoon per 50 gallons
- mix into about 8 oz RODI
- let sit for 5 minutes (not sure why,,, maybe for bacteria to adhere IF adding that), then dose

I don't mix in bacteria just because I use PNS and when I asked if this would be detrimental to any of the PNS strains, the response I got was that the likely high pH of the calcium carbonate solution could have potential effects (to PNS).
*no idea how bad or if that may also apply to whatever's in MB7

EDIT -- links in case of any interest...

SunnyX DIY coral snow dosing:
Cyano eradication

drivemecrazy response to PNS effect question:
PNS and calcium carbonate

Oh I add the bacteria and then dump the snow in

In theory you don't want the bacteria to adhere with the flocculant. If it does you're just expelling it together.

I beleive Sunny's point of adding it was to have the CaCO bind to the organic, and have the bacteria replace it on the rocks. This giving the leg up to the good guys to outcompete the bad guys

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If they add bacteria to it, then it might make sense to wait a bit.

But if it’s just CaCO3 powder? I see no reason to.

Agree. No reason to wait.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oh I add the bacteria and then dump the snow in

In theory you don't want the bacteria to adhere with the flocculant. If it does you're just expelling it together.

I beleive Sunny's point of adding it was to have the CaCO bind to the organic, and have the bacteria replace it on the rocks. This giving the leg up to the good guys to outcompete the bad guys

IMO, these two mechanisms are mostly unrelated as a way to deal with cyano, and either alone may be adequate.

The fine particles of calcium carbonate tend to bind both soluble and particulate organics, making the water clearer and reducing a food source cyano thrives in (dissolved organics).

The added bacteria bind to surfaces and displace cyano from them.

 

[MoeStachio]

Oh I add the bacteria and then dump the snow in

In theory you don't want the bacteria to adhere with the flocculant. If it does you're just expelling it together.

I beleive Sunny's point of adding it was to have the CaCO bind to the organic, and have the bacteria replace it on the rocks. This giving the leg up to the good guys to outcompete the bad guys

IMO, these two mechanisms are actually unrelated as a way to deal with cyano, and either alone may be adequate.

The fine particles of calcium carbonate tend to bind both soluble and particulate organics, making the water clearer and reducing a good source cyano thrives in (dissolved organics).

The added bacteria bind to surfaces and displace cyano from them.

Yes that's what I understand is the point.

The CaCO3 binds the particles for removal and (or atleast I assume) the bacteria immediately moves into the space created

Whether this is based in science, or superstition, logic or sheer madness, I don't know.

What I do know, is that the community here has far more experience and knowledge than I do- so I should really listen as long as it passes a logic sniff test.

This one does. So I do it. It works for me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes that's what I understand is the point.

The CaCO3 binds the particles for removal and (or atleast I assume) the bacteria immediately moves into the space created

Whether this is based in science, or superstition, logic or sheer madness, I don't know.

What I do know, is that the community here has far more experience and knowledge than I do- so I should really listen as long as it passes a logic sniff test.

This one does. So I do it. It works for me

Well, there’s an assumption there that organics are being removed from a space bacteria then occupy. The sand surfaces? Rock surfaces? That seems unlikely to me. I cannot prove it doesn’t happen, but no one can prove it does either.

 

[Manose]

I am trying this for some vermatid snails that I cant reach
lets see if I got this right
1. leave pumps on
2. tank is 100gal so 2 tablespoons in 250ml ro water
3. add all at night
4. rinse and repeat everynight?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve heard some folks say it did not help their situation, but it’s an ok thing to try.

 

[Manose]

I’ve heard some folks say it did not help their situation, but it’s an ok thing to try.

Yeah it's hit or miss from reading different stories but I wanted to make sure I got the ratio correct beefore I try it.

 

[Manose]

I am about to do this and I am a bit nervous on the process
1. why can't I mix with tank water instead of rodi - my tank is a no water change tank so I don't want the rodi to lower salinity?
2. 2 teaspoons per 250ml water for a 100gal tank?

 

[Wolf89]

I am about to do this and I am a bit nervous on the process
1. why can't I mix with tank water instead of rodi - my tank is a no water change tank so I don't want the rodi to lower salinity?
2. 2 teaspoons per 250ml water for a 100gal tank?

It literally makes no difference for both questions. Tank water or RODI works just fine.
CaCO3 will not affect your tank. You can add the whole bag if you wanted to. I do enough to make visibility in my tank only a few inches, but it really doesn't matter. Do more or less.

 

[BriDroid]

I mix 10 Tablespoons with 450ml of water and keep it stored in an old phytoplankton jug. It settles out, but I shake it well before dosing. I usually put it in after a water change, 1ml for every 10 gallons. It will cloud the water, but clears in a hour or two.