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Thanks
Don’t want to throw anything off over a misinterpretation ;Bookworm
Will do
Randy, I have 2 questions
1. As I use anhydrous CaCl2 should the 20% reduction in volume be applied as in Recipe-1...?
2. I almost never need to dose the Mg part of the standard recipe-1 as I never see my Mg below 1350 and usually more like 1450 ... I put this down to my NSW water changes but for whatever reason it appears I rarely need to dose Mg. Can I just omit it from the Calcium part of the new recipe...? or would that have other implications.
Thanks..John
Thanks..got that..will put the Mg part in and measure in a month.Yes to the anhydrous.
I'd personally add the magnesium and then not worry or measure it for a long time. It will add very little, and really shouldn't cause magnesium to rise substantially. I think the risk of overdose is super low. People using commercial two parts with the magneisum in it do not see overdoses.
Also, many people have faulty readings on magnesium kits. If you do not add any and use NSW, I cannot; see how it would ever get to 1450 ppm unless the salinity was very high.
That said, you could leave it out if you really want.
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 one has about twice the pH raising effect compared to a carbonate based two part, per unit of alkalinity or calcium added. Note that I have neither made nor used this recipe. I fully expect it to work, but first adopters will be guinea pigs.
Note that the formation of some cloudiness of magnesium hydroxide is expected when the alk part hits the water (as carbonate versions also do). That is OK since it redissolves on mixing in more. But since the local pH is higher, there may be more chance for local precipitation of calcium carbonate, which is not optimal since it may waste additive (but otherwise is not a huge problem, IMO). To reduce this chance, add slowly to a very high flow area.
This first one is based on Jim Welsh's version of a DIY two part:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/s...hould-i-expect-to-change.215171/#post-2466696
Jim's recipe (with some text added by me):
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 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.
This recipe is the same strength as Randy's Recipe #1 (e.g., BRS). To make these two parts with the same strength as B-Ionic, then multiply the amounts of the salts by 1.5 (but note dissolving the carbonate can become challenging).
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.
This recipe is the same strength as Randy's Recipe #1 (e.g., BRS). To make these two parts with the same strength as B-Ionic, then multiply the amounts of the salts by 1.5. This version can readily be made more concentrated, if that is a goal.
Actually, I have just dumped my Mag test kit and bought a new one (Salifert) and it tests 1150 repeatable. You were saying..?Great. Looking forward to the results.
Actually, I have just dumped my Mag test kit and bought a new one (Salifert) and it tests 1150 repeatable. You were saying..?
I understand that one is Sulfate and one is chloride. Being adding the Magnesium is not required, can Epsom salt be substituted for the chloride. Didn't want to buy other chemicals if I didn't need to.