Randy Recommended DIY Two Part Recipes

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will calcium sulfate redissolve in the aquarium?

Yes, assuming it is in adequate flow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm kinda lost too:grinning-face-with-sweat:. Let's redo the math.
Since your recommendation is doubling Balling Part C, then:

• 594 grams of baking soda = 163 grams of sodium = 19.5 grams of magnesium needed to offset sodium chloride buildup (12% of 163 grams).
• Balling Part C has 3350 mg/L of magnesium. So that’s 3350 x 3.78 x 2 (2 gallons added for every 1 gallon of Recipe #1) = 25.3 grams of magnesium. That would be 15.5% of 163 grams, which exceeds the 12%.

To calculate the additional magnesium needed for coral consumption, we actually need to subtract the excess from Balling Part C (25.3 - 19.5) / 47 g/L = 123 ml of Part C from your recipe needs to be added on top of Balling Part C.

Correct me if I’m wrong,
Thanks!

Where did you get the Part C magnesium concentration? Perhaps they calculated the balanced amount in a different way or maybe they or I made a mistake.

 

[VLJ]

Where did you get the Part C magnesium concentration? Perhaps they calculated the balanced amount in a different way or maybe they or I made a mistake.

Concentration of each Part can be found here:
Tropic Marin® Original Balling Components

 

[VLJ]

I was curious enough to calculate at which ratio Balling Part C magnesium is balanced to their Parts A and B.

Given that the concentration of Balling Part B is 2800 dKH/L and is a mix of carbonate and bicarbonate with a ratio of about 20%:80% (calculated based on the concentration), we can easily calculate how magnesium is balanced.

Alkalinity part:
The mixture of 286 grams of 20% sodium carbonate and 80% sodium bicarbonate contains approximately 87 grams of sodium in one gallon.
0.12 x 87 = 10.4 grams

Calcium part:
The 288 grams of calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl₂·2H₂O) contains approximately 78 grams of calcium in one gallon.
0.065 x 78 = 6 grams

Totaling 16.4 grams of magnesium deposition for every gallon dosed, based on Randy’s calculations in the previous post.

Now, since Balling Part C is concentrated at 3350 mg/L of magnesium, 3350 x 3.78 (liters in a gallon) = 12.6 grams.

That's a little shy of 16.4 grams.

Would be grateful if @Hans-Werner could chime in on how magnesium is balanced in the original Balling method.

Thanks!

 

[ravi197699]

Hello experts I am using recipe below and Baking soda is not dissolving all the way, I still have baking soda settling on the bottom of the container, is this normal, I even tried warm water as well still same, any suggestions?

Recipe 2, Alkalinity

NO BAKING REQUIRED. LOWERS PH

Dissolve 297 grams of baking soda (about 1 1/8 cups) in enough water to make 3.78L total (1 gallon). To dissolves may require a lot of mixing. Warming it will help dissolve faster. This solution will contain about 950 meq/L of alkalinity (2660 dKH). Be sure to NOT use baking powder.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much is in the bottom? Ignore a dusting, but for large amounts, warming it more will dissolve it.

 

[ravi197699]

How much is in the bottom? Ignore a dusting, but for large amounts, warming it more will dissolve it.

It is kind of sludge, same happened with Magnesium as well

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is kind of sludge, same happened with Magnesium as well

You are using ro/di as the water source?

What source of the chemicals?

 

[ravi197699]

You are using ro/di as the water source?

What source of the chemicals?

 

[ravi197699]

RODI water and baking soda is Arm and Hammer Baking soda from Amazon,

 

[geko522]

When dosing Sodium Hydroxide, I dose it in a powerhead, but before it gets to the powerhead it is milky looking. Is this normal?

Also, the recipe is for 1 gallon of rodi water, can this recipe be cut in half then half again to just make 1/4 gallon?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When dosing Sodium Hydroxide, I dose it in a powerhead, but before it gets to the powerhead it is milky looking. Is this normal?

Also, the recipe is for 1 gallon of rodi water, can this recipe be cut in half then half again to just make 1/4 gallon?

Yes, that is normal. You might dose it right after the powerhead, or the impeller may get calcium carbonate deposits a lot faster.

 

[geko522]

Yes, that is normal. You might dose it right after the powerhead, or the impeller may get calcium carbonate deposits a lot faster.

Thank you @Randy Holmes-Farley

If I did 70.75 grams of sodium hydroxide to 946ml of water is that ok? I split the 283 grams to 1 gallon of water. Or is it best to just make the whole gallon?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you @Randy Holmes-Farley

If I did 70.75 grams of sodium hydroxide to 946ml of water is that ok? I split the 283 grams to 1 gallon of water. Or is it best to just make the whole gallon?

It can be made in any convenient size. :)

 

[huttoreefer]

Hello Randy,

Is it okay to dose only Recipe#1 part 2 since my Calcium is already on point?

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello Randy,

Is it okay to dose only Recipe#1 part 2 since my Calcium is already on point?

Thanks

What are the current alk and calcium values?

 

[huttoreefer]

What are the current alk and calcium values?

It's at 7dkh Alk and 400 Cal

 

[Miami Reef]

Good catch @Randy Holmes-Farley by questioning the assumption!

It's at 7dkh Alk and 400 Cal

You numbers are very balanced. Thus, you should equally use both parts to maintain it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, and I agree with dosing both parts. :)

Folks often assume that if they want to boost alk by, say 1 dKH, that the balanced amount of calcium that gets dosed is a lot, when in reality it is only about 7 ppm.

 

[brendan2u]

Is there a recommended source/product for the Calcium dihydrate/ anhydrous calcium chloride? It looks like the products from the original early 2000s article have been discontinued/rebranded and I want to make sure I'm buying the correct thing without unwanted additives.

Baking soda is easy enough! Calcium on the other hand... gotta get the right one!