New DIY Two Part Recipes WITHOUT Higher pH Boost?

Yellowsound · Jun 28, 2019

Hi Folks,

I love the idea of a 2 part recipe that includes the magnesium:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/

However, my tank already runs with a naturally high pH (8.4-8.5), so this won't work for me.

I've been using Randy's #2 recipe, here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Is there a version of the new 2 part that includes magnesium but does not boost pH?

Potatohead · Jun 28, 2019

You can add magnesium chloride to the calcium solution if you want, but not magnesium sulfate.

JimWelsh · Jun 28, 2019

Yes. Randy both linked to it and also spelled out the recipe for it in the very first post of the first link you referenced.

JimWelsh · Jun 29, 2019

Correction: I just noticed that you said you used Randy's Recipe #2 instead of #1. The previously posted 2-part recipe I've posted was based on Randy's Recipe #1.

Randy's Recipe #2 is half as concentrated as his Recipe #1. So, take the amounts of both magnesium chloride and sodium sulfate that I've added to the two parts of his Recipe #1 in the cited links, and divide them by two. In other words, the Jim Welsh true 2-part version of Randy's Recipe #2 becomes:

Part 1 - The Calcium and Magnesium Part
Dissolve 250 g of calcium chloride dihydrate plus 130.6 g of magnesium chloride hexahydrate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon.

Part 2 - The Alkalinity and Sulfate Part
Dissolve 297 g of sodium bicarbonate plus 34.4 g of sodium sulfate in enough water to make a total volume of one gallon.

Yellowsound · Jul 1, 2019

Jim,

Thank you very much for posting this! This is incredibly helpful. I may have more questions, but this should get me started.

Thanks again!
Steve

Yellowsound · Jul 4, 2019

Hey Jim,

I’m using the Prestone Driveway Heat for the calcium chloride portion (not dihydrate). In Randy’s #2 recipe, it requires that I use 20% less than if I were using the calcium chloride dihydrate; should I also use 20% less in your recipe?

Steve

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 4, 2019

Yellowsound said:
Hey Jim,

I’m using the Prestone Driveway Heat for the calcium chloride portion (not dihydrate). In Randy’s #2 recipe, it requires that I use 20% less than if I were using the calcium chloride dihydrate; should I also use 20% less in your recipe?

Steve

Yes