New DIY Two Part Recipes with Higher pH Boost

[MnFish1]

I think Mnfish might be wondering if the first recipe of the sodium hydroxide (the true 2 part that uses sodium sulfate) is better than the 2nd recipe that is a 3 part.

Is that right, @MnFish1 ?

Correct - why is the second recipe better than the first - or vice versa - I dont remember lol. I mean thousands of reefers use recipe xx (as I said I dont remember which one) - and now a new one is suggested - why? Where is the evidence. ?

 

[Miami Reef]

Correct - why is the second recipe better than the first - or vice versa - I dont remember lol. I mean thousands of reefers use recipe xx (as I said I dont remember which one) - and now a new one is suggested - why? Where is the evidence. ?

It’s a chemist’s chest game at trying to fit the needed ingredients in a part while balancing the solubility rules.

In both of Randy’s sodium hydroxide recipes, there are basic ions that make up the parts:

Calcium, sodium, sulfate, hydroxide, magnesium, and chloride.

In the first version, we got the calcium, magnesium, and chloride from part one (using calcium chloride and magnesium chloride). Adding magnesium sulfate will precipitate calcium sulfate. That’s why we don’t use magnesium sulfate at all.

The sulfate, sodium, and hydroxide come from sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfate. If you add magnesium sulfate to the alk part, you’d precipitate magnesium hydroxide.


The reason for the 2nd recipe is because some people didn’t want to source sodium sulfate.

It’s just chemistry. It’s 2 sides of the same coin.

 

[Miami Reef]

And just so you are aware, this is the original recipe for sodium hydroxide. It’s version one.

From the first post in this thread:

Here's a first crack at what may end up being multiple possible recipes for a DIY two part that either has a higher pH or can be made more concentrated than traditional two part recipes.

This is the 2nd version:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/second-new-diy-two-part-recipe-with-higher-ph-boost.357080/


Here are the main differences:

If you want a true 2 part (only using 2 solutions), use the first version.

If you don’t want to source sodium sulfate, use the 2nd version.

If you want to use balling part c (most ideal, but with a slightly higher cost), use the 2nd version.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, thanks. I would never have figured out that was the question since I do not think this recipe is the best, nor is it the most recent. personally think it is an unnecessary pain to try to fit everything in a 2 part diy, like this one. 3 part is easier.

If not doing water changes, ion balance is very important, and I’d definitely use one of the balanced part 3’s (Balling C and AF mineral salt). If doing water changes it is less critical, with the more changed the less important. That said, I still recommend it.

 

[Miami Reef]

personally think it is an unnecessary pain to try to fit everything in a 2 part diy, like this one. 3 part is easier.

Can you elaborate why it’s a pain? The recipe seems to be successful at it, although I know it wasn’t easy creating it.

Is it inferior chemistry-wise compared to the 3 part (without the balling salt?)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can you elaborate why it’s a pain? The recipe seems to be successful at it, although I know it wasn’t easy creating it.

Is it inferior chemistry-wise compared to the 3 part (without the balling salt?)

More chemicals to buy (sodium sulfate) and maybe more expensive than Epsom salt for sulfate. Maybe not a big deal. It is not inferior relative to the mag cl and sulfate part 3, but is clearly inferior to sodium chloride free salt part 3’s.

 

[AKReefing]

Has anyone used either of the two new recipes in Post #1 yet? What results have you experienced, either good or bad? I'm interested in trying one.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Has anyone used either of the two new recipes in Post #1 yet? What results have you experienced, either good or bad? I'm interested in trying one.

I recommend the version Miami noted in the other thread. :)

 

[AKReefing]

I recommend the version Miami noted in the other thread. :)

Is this the one?
283g Sodium hydroxide/1 gal
500g Calcium Chloride/1 gal
183g Balling Part C/1 gal

I'm confused now. I'm also looking at another thread in which you had two others (non-hydroxide) listed above this one: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/randy-recommended-diy-two-part-recipes.984604/#post-11355499

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is this the one?
283g Sodium hydroxide/1 gal
500g Calcium Chloride/1 gal
183g Balling Part C/1 gal

I'm confused now. I'm also looking at another thread in which you had two others (non-hydroxide) listed above this one: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/randy-recommended-diy-two-part-recipes.984604/#post-11355499

That is recipe C in the linked thread.

 

[AKReefing]

I feel like I'm in Who's on First.

 

[AKReefing]

That is recipe C in the linked thread.

Yes, I saw that. You had them listed in your preferred order.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, I saw that. You had them listed in your preferred order.

No, I did not.

A, B and C are the same basic recipe with different pH effects from different alk sources. Aside from pH, they are identical and equally good.

Perhaps it could be more clear, but A, B and C are all equally good and listed as

"The best three, IMO, are:"

Then after them for recipes D-F it states:

"Next step down in desirability, but also in cost:"

 

[AKReefing]

No, I did not.

A, B and C are the same basic recipe with different pH effects from different alk sources. Aside from pH, they are identical and equally good.

Ok. Wrong impression. Thank you.

 

[euphlife]

Tropic Marin c still work?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tropic Marin c still work?

Still? Yes. It’s a preferred recipe.

 

[Nonya]

Still? Yes. It’s a preferred recipe.

How about now? LOL

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How about now? LOL

Yes, still is. lol

 

[Ilya_Tihomirov]

Part 2 - The Alkalinity and Sulfate Part​

Dissolve 374.7 g of sodium carbonate (594 g of baking soda that has been baked; = 3.535 moles of sodium carbonate) plus 68.7 g of sodium sulfate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon.​

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Hi!
Is it possible to use the second part without the first? And why is sodium sulfate in the solution?

 

[Miami Reef]

Hi!
Is it possible to use the second part without the first? And why is sodium sulfate in the solution?

This recipe is better: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/

A proper two/three part will contain sulfate because if not, it will drop too low over time. The ions like fluoride, potassium, bromide, boron, etc will also deplete over time if not using a complete system.