Mixing silcate water.

[reefndude]

Hi all. I'm want to mix a silicate solution tp feed diatoms. Using loudwolf 41% how much do I mix in with fresh?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The amount of freshwater doesn’t matter much. It just helps it disperse faster. Expect local precipitation (cloudiness) of magnesium hydroxide, but it redissolves as it mixes in. Add to a high flow area away from corals.

 

[reefndude]

The amount of freshwater doesn’t matter much. It just helps it disperse faster. Expect local precipitation (cloudiness) of magnesium hydroxide, but it redissolves as it mixes in. Add to a high flow area away from corals.

Im mixing it to feed a strain of phytoplankton. I had a video saved for mixing waterglass to fresh but can't find it. How much of the watwrglass do I add to 500 ml of fresh

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Im mixing it to feed a strain of phytoplankton. I had a video saved for mixing waterglass to fresh but can't find it. How much of the watwrglass do I add to 500 ml of fresh

Not sure I understand the question. What are you going to do with that 500 mL?

This is my recommendation for dosing a reef tank:

https://reefs.com/magazine/silica-in-reef-aquariums/
Here’s how to determine dosing amounts. I’ll assume that you want 17 uM (1 ppm SiO2) dosing, and you can scale from there. If the concentration of the supplement is 29% silica by weight (41° Baume), then it is 290,000 ppm silica. To get to 1 ppm silica, you then need to dilute by 290,000 fold. If you add 1.3 grams of this supplement (0.96 mL) to a tank with 100 gallons (378,500 mL), then the final concentration will be about 17 uM (1 ppm SiO2). I’d disperse the concentrated silicate solution into some fresh water before adding it to the tank, and then add it to a high flow area. Because the pH is high, you likely will see some cloudiness that is mostly magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide will dissolve without a problem, but to be safe, add the supplement in a high flow area.

 

[reefndude]

Not sure I understand the question. What are you going to do with that 500 mL?

This is my recommendation for dosing a reef tank:

https://reefs.com/magazine/silica-in-reef-aquariums/
Here’s how to determine dosing amounts. I’ll assume that you want 17 uM (1 ppm SiO2) dosing, and you can scale from there. If the concentration of the supplement is 29% silica by weight (41° Baume), then it is 290,000 ppm silica. To get to 1 ppm silica, you then need to dilute by 290,000 fold. If you add 1.3 grams of this supplement (0.96 mL) to a tank with 100 gallons (378,500 mL), then the final concentration will be about 17 uM (1 ppm SiO2). I’d disperse the concentrated silicate solution into some fresh water before adding it to the tank, and then add it to a high flow area. Because the pH is high, you likely will see some cloudiness that is mostly magnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide will dissolve without a problem, but to be safe, add the supplement in a high flow area.

I plan on feeding a phytoplankton curlture
I don't know how much of the waterglass I should add to 500ml of freshwater.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I plan on feeding a phytoplankton curlture
I don't know how much of the waterglass I should add to 500ml of freshwater.

You are growing diatom phyto? Most phyto in the hobby does not use silicate. Why go this route?

In any case, I’m reluctant to give advice on how much is best for growing diatom phyto and how often you’d need to add it.

Are you working off some sort of directions?

 

[reefndude]

You are growing diatom phyto? Most phyto in the hobby does not use silicate. Why go this route?

In any case, I’m reluctant to give advice on how much is best for growing diatom phyto and how often you’d need to add it.

Are you working off some sort of directions?

Yes that's exactly what Im doing. Wanting to culture Chaetoceros calcitrans

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes that's exactly what Im doing. Wanting to culture Chaetoceros calcitrans

I’d just look up recipes that folks have used. I can’t give useful advice on the amount of silicate needed and how often in such a culture. Starting with the tank dose I recommend would be fine (scaled down, of
course), but I do not know how fast they will deplete it and need replacement.

 

[reefndude]

I’d just look up recipes that folks have used. I can’t give useful advice on the amount of silicate needed and how often in such a culture. Starting with the tank dose I recommend would be fine (scaled down, of
course), but I do not know how fast they will deplete it and need replacement.

Thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out. :)

 

[reefndude]

You’re welcome.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out. :)

I sure will! Appreciate your time!