New DIY Two Part Recipes with Higher pH Boost

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.

 

[zheka757]

Sodium hydroxide really hurts! Was messing with doser, and line popped of and spilled some on my face! Not far from my eyes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sodium hydroxide really hurts! Was messing with doser, and line popped of and spilled some on my face! Not far from my eyes.

Definitely wear safety glasses when using it and many of the other harsh chemical we use.

It's the number one mantra of lab safety.

If you are exposed, rinse the area right away with large amounts of water.

 

[drawman]

Sodium hydroxide really hurts! Was messing with doser, and line popped of and spilled some on my face! Not far from my eyes.

Man lucky! Glad it didn't blind you!

 

[Hooz]

A lot of the links aren't working anymore in the thread. Where is everyone buying their raw materials these days for the DIY 2-part sodium hydroxide?

 

[Troylee]

A lot of the links aren't working anymore in the thread. Where is everyone buying their raw materials these days for the DIY 2-part sodium hydroxide?

Amazon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I recommend this recipe as being easier, and recommend tropic Marin Balling Part C for part 3.

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Hooz]

I recommend this recipe as being easier, and recommend tropic Marin Balling Part C for part 3.

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

I was looking at this one specifically because it included the magnesium in the "2-part". Do you not recommend doing that anymore? I was trying to keep dosing pumps to a minimum on this tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I was looking at this one specifically because it included the magnesium in the "2-part". Do you not recommend doing that anymore? I was trying to keep dosing pumps to a minimum on this tank.

It is not as good as the version I mentioned, which balances many mire ions, but it is likely good enough.

 

[KTTX]

For this version:, how much of each of each,part to increase Alk by .5 dhk in a 60 gallon?


The sodium hydroxide version:

Part 1 - The Calcium and Magnesium Part
Dissolve 500 g of calcium chloride dihydrate plus 261.2 g of magnesium chloride hexahydrate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon.

Part 2 - The Alkalinity and Sulfate Part
Dissolve 282.8 g of sodium hydroxide (=7.07 moles of sodium hydroxide to match the 3.535 moles of sodium carbonate in alkalinity) plus 68.7 g of sodium sulfate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS SOLUTION: IT HAS A pH ABOVE 14. Do not get it in your eyes or on your skin.​

 

[Miami Reef]

For this version:, how much of each of each,part to increase Alk by .5 dhk in a 60 gallon?


The sodium hydroxide version:

Part 1 - The Calcium and Magnesium Part​

Dissolve 500 g of calcium chloride dihydrate plus 261.2 g of magnesium chloride hexahydrate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon.​

​

Part 2 - The Alkalinity and Sulfate Part​

Dissolve 282.8 g of sodium hydroxide (=7.07 moles of sodium hydroxide to match the 3.535 moles of sodium carbonate in alkalinity) plus 68.7 g of sodium sulfate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS SOLUTION: IT HAS A pH ABOVE 14. Do not get it in your eyes or on your skin.​

Use this calculator and select “Liquid Soda Ash” to calculate it.

Alkalinity Supplement Calculator - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[chris_pull]

@Randy Holmes-Farley what would these values be per litre? I always worry about messing up when I covert from US gallons!

Thanks!

 

[chris_pull]

@Randy Holmes-Farley also, could you please tell me how to make a sodium and sulphate part that is based on sodium carbonate but with the same alkalinity strength as the hydroxide version? I want to be able to switch between the two depending on pH for ultimate complexity!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley what would these values be per litre? I always worry about messing up when I covert from US gallons!

Thanks!

Divide each amount by 3.79.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley also, could you please tell me how to make a sodium and sulphate part that is based on sodium carbonate but with the same alkalinity strength as the hydroxide version? I want to be able to switch between the two depending on pH for ultimate complexity!

Thanks in advance.

Use 1.33 times as much Na2CO3 as the recipe calls for in NaOH. Everything else identical.

 

[chris_pull]

Divide each amount by 3.79.

Use 1.33 times as much Na2CO3 as the recipe calls for in NaOH. Everything else identical.

Thanks so much!

 

[chris_pull]

Thanks so much!

Sorry I have an other question. Sorry if you've answered this somewhere in the thread but I missed it.

10 ml of my current alkalinity supplement raises dkh in 100 litres by 1dKH. What would 1 ml in 100 raise dkh by for your DIY recipe?

Many thanks again!

 

[Miami Reef]

Sorry I have an other question. Sorry if you've answered this somewhere in the thread but I missed it.

10 ml of my current alkalinity supplement raises dkh in 100 litres by 1dKH. What would 1 ml in 100 raise dkh by for your DIY recipe?

Many thanks again!

1mL of Randy’s high pH alkalinity solution would raise 100L by 0.053dKH.



Use this calculator and select BRS liquid soda ash. Much easier for you to calculate your alk dosing needs for the future.

Alkalinity Supplement Calculator - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[chris_pull]

1mL of Randy’s high pH alkalinity solution would raise 100L by 0.053dKH.



Use this calculator and select BRS liquid soda ash. Much easier for you to calculate your alk dosing needs for the future.

Alkalinity Supplement Calculator - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Thank you! Does sodium hydroxide supply the same then as soda ash?

I wonder if I can make it more concentrated to avoid having to fill up containers as much, but not a massive issue if not! Will still save me a fortune.

 

[Miami Reef]

Does sodium hydroxide supply the same then as soda ash?

If you follow the recipes provided by Randy Holmes-Farley, both recipes provide the same concentration of alk.

Hydroxide can be made a little more concentrated, but the calcium chloride will be limited (it’s already near its max solubility limit).

My recommendation is to keep the same stock recipe that Randy provided for these 2 reasons:

1) It’s simpler to dose: dose the same volume of each part to maintain alk. Calcium and magnesium will then remain in line. Easy to remember and less math required.

2) Less finicky: at higher concentrations, local precipitation near the dosing line considerably increases. You will need to increase turbidity near the dosing lines and slow down the flow rate of the alk line to prevent precipitation, which wastes the solution and can cause a mess in the sump.