DIY ZINC SUPPLEMENT?

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

Have been dosing zinc in my main and backup after multiple ice tests showed both systems were chronically low. I believe supplementing has actually helped a lot but the only zinc supplement I can find is pretty expensive for a small bottle. getting a little costly. wondering if there's an easier diy liquid version we can make at home?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sure, this has one:

diy iron and manganese supplement

We use the following. We used the following concentrations (always up to 1000 ml solution: SrCl2 · 6H2O for Strontium: 24,35 gramm NiSO4 · 6H2O for Nikkel: 0,45 gramm MnSO4 · 4H2O for Manganese: 0,43 gramm ZnSO4 · 7H2O for Zinc: 4,39 gramm You must know that these amounts require a super...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

Hey Randy, thanks a ton for the quick response. I dug a little deeper and I found a thread where you recommended this product to someone, and I think id like to try it unless you can recommend something better. But I'm wondering how can I determine how much I need to dose of the DIY mixture?

This is all the information I have on the stuff that I'm using now.

I'm sure once I start using the mixture, I'll send in a couple ICP tests to dial it in. I just don't want it to be way, stronger or way weaker. If I can get as close to this mixture as possible, that would be the easiest starting point for sure. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Amazon product ASIN B01J6JXE12

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The posted picture says:

1 mL per 100 L boosts zinc by 10 ug/L

The DIY link I posted above (and which i corrected a typo in just now) says:

For the zinc sulfate, dissolve 1 gram of the solid material in 1 L of RO/DI. That solution contains 400 mg of zinc, so the concentration is 400 mg/L or 400 ug/mL.

Adding 1 mL to 100 L of tank water will boost aquarium zinc levels by 400 ug per 100 L or 4 ug/L.

Thus, that diy is somewhat less potent and adding 2.5 times as much as you do with the pictured bottle will match it.

Alternatively, if you dissolve 2.5 grams anhydrous zinc sulfate in a liter of RO/DI, it will match the pictured bottle in potency.

NOTE that this diy is for anhydrous zinc sulfate. If you have a hydrate or other ionic form of zinc, the numbers will change a bit.

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

The posted picture says:

1 mL per 100 L boosts zinc by 10 ug/L

The DIY link I posted above (and which i corrected a typo in just now) says:

For the zinc sulfate, dissolve 1 gram of the solid material in 1 L of RO/DI. That solution contains 400 mg of zinc, so the concentration is 400 mg/L or 400 ug/mL.

Adding 1 mL to 100 L of tank water will boost aquarium zinc levels by 400 ug per 100 L or 4 ug/L.

Thus, that diy is somewhat less potent and adding 2.5 times as much as you do with the pictured bottle will match it.

Alternatively, if you dissolve 2.5 grams anhydrous zinc sulfate in a liter of RO/DI, it will match the pictured bottle in potency.

NOTE that this diy is for anhydrous zinc sulfate. If you have a hydrate or other ionic form of zinc, the numbers will change a bit.

Outstanding, wow thank you so much for the help on that. Was looking very much like Greek to me there . Really appreciate you simply simplifying that for me. I'll keep you posted on how it goes then for sure!

This will save me a ton believe me.

 

[rtparty]

Outstanding, wow thank you so much for the help on that. Was looking very much like Greek to me there . Really appreciate you simply simplifying that for me. I'll keep you posted on how it goes then for sure!

This will save me a ton believe me.

Adam, do you notice any differences when dosing zinc?

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

Adam, do you notice any differences when dosing zinc?

I did actually. It was chronically low to non detectable for a good while, however, it was around the same time I started dosing ammonia as well, but once I brought the zinc levels up the system has been looking really good and growth is also good. if anything another piece to the puzzle

At this point I definitely don't want to stop dosing zinc. It was just getting pretty expensive with the commercial bottles. Hoping this does the trick.

 

[Lavey29]

I would second a noticeable coral improvement with dosing zinc twice a week. Only 2ml at a time.

 

[rtparty]

I did actually. It was chronically low to non detectable for a good while, however, it was around the same time I started dosing ammonia as well, but once I brought the zinc levels up the system has been looking really good and growth is also good. if anything another piece to the puzzle

At this point I definitely don't want to stop dosing zinc. It was just getting pretty expensive with the commercial bottles. Hoping this does the trick.

Like better colors? More growth? Healthier tissue? I have leftover zinc from my Moonshiners days so I was curious what you’re seeing to see if I “see” it as well

 

[Hypnotize]

Like better colors? More growth? Healthier tissue? I have leftover zinc from my Moonshiners days so I was curious what you’re seeing to see if I “see” it as well

I’ve seen much healthier corals from continuously dosing Zinc, scientific papers seem to back that up aswell.

https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/server/api/core/bitstreams/b6f54b5e-1302-4149-91bb-922f782a4af8/content

 

[MarinTherapy]

Not really DIY, but try reaching out to Triton's [email protected] email. They are one of the few companies I trust in this industry given their incredibly strict sourcing and product development standards.

Not to say that's needed for something as readily available at USP standards such as Zinc but given the size of your system, there is a good chance they can get you a good deal so that the price points may be similar.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just a comment on purity.

If you add 10 ppm of calcium per day, its purity is quite important. A 0.1% impurity is adding 10 ppb of it. Could be a significant risk.

If you add 10 ppb of a trace element per week, something that is a 0.1% impurity in it only adds 0.01 ppb per week. Very low risk.

 

[sticksreef]

The posted picture says:

1 mL per 100 L boosts zinc by 10 ug/L

The DIY link I posted above (and which i corrected a typo in just now) says:

For the zinc sulfate, dissolve 1 gram of the solid material in 1 L of RO/DI. That solution contains 400 mg of zinc, so the concentration is 400 mg/L or 400 ug/mL.

Adding 1 mL to 100 L of tank water will boost aquarium zinc levels by 400 ug per 100 L or 4 ug/L.

Thus, that diy is somewhat less potent and adding 2.5 times as much as you do with the pictured bottle will match it.

Alternatively, if you dissolve 2.5 grams anhydrous zinc sulfate in a liter of RO/DI, it will match the pictured bottle in potency.

NOTE that this diy is for anhydrous zinc sulfate. If you have a hydrate or other ionic form of zinc, the numbers will change a bit.

Hello im looking into diy zinc, is the formula above for the product pictures here: thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes. Food grade zinc gluconate is also a good option.

 

[dlemonz]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B087RSQ565/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=8d373d82f2121352c8f2c5441cfc85b2&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1777981874&sr=1-3-3c6b3b04-89d4-46ee-857c-1e2f0de6a70e&ref_=sbx_s_sparkle_sbtcm_asin_2_img&pd_rd_w=MHhuK&content-id=amzn1.sym.aaeb8a5f-b8dc-4432-a5cb-67b920049d8c%3Aamzn1.sym.aaeb8a5f-b8dc-4432-a5cb-67b920049d8c&pf_rd_p=aaeb8a5f-b8dc-4432-a5cb-67b920049d8c&pf_rd_r=Q6YZGEYQF52FRR3MQW3Z&pd_rd_wg=E1dok&pd_rd_r=0cebb0b2-b069-4c92-8d81-6f4db2feb063&th=1&psc=1

 

[dlemonz]

@Randy Holmes-Farley can you use just standard zinc tablets?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley can you use just standard zinc tablets?

Maybe. Depends on what else is in them. The one you linked is probably Ok if you let the undissolvable solids settle out.

I think using the recommended zinc gluconate powder is a good bet:

https://a.co/d/0025Jafa

 

[dlemonz]

Maybe. Depends on what else is in them. The one you linked is probably Ok if you let the undissolvable solids settle out.

I think using the recommended zinc gluconate powder is a good bet:

https://a.co/d/0025Jafa

Thanks I ordered this. However, if my math is correct wouldn’t it take only 7.3 mg of powder to raise a 500L tank to levels of 2.10 ug/L?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Zinc gluconate is about 14% zinc by weight. 7.3 mg of powder this contains about 1 mg of zinc, and adding that to 500 L boosts zinc by 1,000 ug/500 L = 2 ug,/L. So your math checks out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there some place you think there is an error in the linked direction for zinc sulfate?