New DIY Two Part Recipes with Higher pH Boost

[Cassklar]

Randy thanks for your help one more question I got the sodium hydroxide ordered for the alk can I use the BRS calcium chloride bags used to mix in a gallon of water for my calcium a well as magnesium mix for dosing I have a few bags of that laying around thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy thanks for your help one more question I got the sodium hydroxide ordered for the alk can I use the BRS calcium chloride bags used to mix in a gallon of water for my calcium a well as magnesium mix for dosing I have a few bags of that laying around thanks again

yes, you just use this sodium hydroxide in place of the soda ash.

 

[Cassklar]

thank you for your help

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

thank you for your help

You're welcome.

Happy reefing. :)

 

[Cassklar]

Sorry randy another question can I make the concentration stronger if needed with this recipe as well thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry randy another question can I make the concentration stronger if needed with this recipe as well thanks again

yes, but dosing stronger enhances the need for adding it to a very high flow area with hood volume turnover.

 

[BigMax]

yes, you just use this sodium hydroxide in place of the soda ash.

Randy, question for you regarding soda ash.... Thanks for all the help!

I plan to use baking soda as outlined. If I were to bake 5-6 pounds at a time and then store in a sealed container (tupperware) will it maintain 5-6 months of shelf life? Also, I assume 300 degrees for an hour is still acceptable and a layer 1" high on a baking sheet is OK as well?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d plan to bake it more (like a turkey, it can take a long time to hit 300 deg F in the middle) and it cannot be over baked at home.

 

[Cassklar]

hello again randy that sodium hydroxide is working great especially with my ph in fact a little to good I was wondering if I could split the mix for alk like half baking soda and half sodium hydroxide to lower the ph in the mix a little thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

hello again randy that sodium hydroxide is working great especially with my ph in fact a little to good I was wondering if I could split the mix for alk like half baking soda and half sodium hydroxide to lower the ph in the mix a little thanks

Yes, but that 50:50 mix will have an overall effect similar to sodium carbonate. Either use less than 50% bicarbonate, or use 1:1 hydroxide to carbonate.

 

[Cassklar]

So like a 75% hydroxide to 25% baking soda or 60/40 something like this

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So like a 75% hydroxide to 25% baking soda or 60/40 something like this

That's fine to try and se what happens. :)

 

[Clownfishy]

I use the Aquaforest trace elements in my alk solution with no issues .

Just to confirm, you add this into the ALK part rather than dosing separately?

 

[trmiv]

Just to confirm, you add this into the ALK part rather than dosing separately?

I don’t use the Aquaforest stuff, but I’m using tropic Marin A- in my sodium hydroxide alk part. No issues.

 

[Clownfishy]

OK, I have decided to give the Sodium Hydroxide version a try. However, I have gotten myself a little confused throughout 33 pages of discussion so would it be possible to clarify my approach?

Part 1
I already have Calcium Chloride Flake Dihydrate 77% Food Grade Marine Concrete Desiccant CaCl2 so I assume this is OK?
I also already have Aquaforest Magnesium but is does not list what type of Magnesium it is. Would anyone know if this is OK to mix with the Calcium as they say this should be mixed with the Mineral Salt included in their 3 part solution. I also think I read somewhere that you can leave the Magnesium out of the mix if people were using the 3 part?

Part 2
This is the Sodium Hydroxide I was going to order.
I have a choice of Sodium Sulphate, either this one or this one.
Did I also read correctly that you can skip the Sodium Sulphate and just use the Sodium Hydroxide?

Part 3
If I dont add the Magnesium in Part 1, I was going to dose Aqua Forest Mineral salt as the bailing method.

I get very nervous trying new things on my reef and chemistry is not my strong point hence the questions!

Many thanks for any clarification you can offer and when I get all this confirmed, I will keep everyone updated with my results. As you can see, I could do with a pH boost at night and that is dosing Kalk during the night time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK, I have decided to give the Sodium Hydroxide version a try. However, I have gotten myself a little confused throughout 33 pages of discussion so would it be possible to clarify my approach?

Part 1
I already have Calcium Chloride Flake Dihydrate 77% Food Grade Marine Concrete Desiccant CaCl2 so I assume this is OK?
I also already have Aquaforest Magnesium but is does not list what type of Magnesium it is. Would anyone know if this is OK to mix with the Calcium as they say this should be mixed with the Mineral Salt included in their 3 part solution. I also think I read somewhere that you can leave the Magnesium out of the mix if people were using the 3 part?

Part 2
This is the Sodium Hydroxide I was going to order.
I have a choice of Sodium Sulphate, either this one or this one.
Did I also read correctly that you can skip the Sodium Sulphate and just use the Sodium Hydroxide?

Part 3
If I dont add the Magnesium in Part 1, I was going to dose Aqua Forest Mineral salt as the bailing method.

I get very nervous trying new things on my reef and chemistry is not my strong point hence the questions!

Many thanks for any clarification you can offer and when I get all this confirmed, I will keep everyone updated with my results. As you can see, I could do with a pH boost at night and that is dosing Kalk during the night time.

If you are using other products like Balling part C or Aquaforest mineral salt, you only use calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide.

You may want to use a magnesium supplement, if needed, since these add much less magnesium than my diy recipe.

 

[Clownfishy]

If you are using other products like Balling part C or Aquaforest mineral salt, you only use calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide.

You may want to use a magnesium supplement, if needed, since these add much less magnesium than my diy recipe.

Thank you for such a quick response and thank you for continuing to share your knowledge.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for such a quick response and thank you for continuing to share your knowledge.

You’re welcome.

Happy Reefing!

 

[Clownfishy]

yes, you just use this sodium hydroxide in place of the soda ash.

I forgot to clarify if the quantities need to change for Part 1 and Part 2 if I am not going to add Magnesium in Part 1 and Sodium Sulphate in Part 2. Apologies if this is a dumb question!

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

Part 3 - Aquaforest Mineral Salt Part
As per manufacturers instructions

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I forgot to clarify if the quantities need to change for Part 1 and Part 2 if I am not going to add Magnesium in Part 1 and Sodium Sulphate in Part 2. Apologies if this is a dumb question!

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

Part 3 - Aquaforest Mineral Salt Part
As per manufacturers instructions

No, they do not change. There are a couple of these recipes, and while the other ingredients change, the calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide do not.