Randy Recommended DIY Two Part Recipes

[rishma]

@Randy Holmes-Farley, could I mix a little bit of Sodium hydroxide into my Kalkwasser to balance the alkalinity (excess calcium) and get a little more pH boost?

My guess is the answer is no, because someone would have done it, but I figure you can tell me why (what reactions).



Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley, could I mix a little bit of Sodium hydroxide into my Kalkwasser to balance the alkalinity (excess calcium) and get a little more pH boost?

My guess is the answer is no, because someone would have done it, but I figure you can tell me why (what reactions).



Thanks!

No. The hydroxide from the sodium hydroxide limits the solubility of the calcium hydroxide. You’d reduce the kalk
Potency by the same amount of sodium hydroxide you added.

 

[rishma]

No. The hydroxide from the sodium hydroxide limits the solubility of the calcium hydroxide. You’d reduce the kalk
Potency by the same amount of sodium hydroxide you added.

Inconvenient but not surprising. Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Inconvenient but not surprising. Thank you!

lol

Happy Reefing!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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!

BRS sells the ingredients. Any food grade calcium chloride is good. Some folks use something called Briners Choice. Dowflake is likely still ok, but has some extra bromide in it now.

 

[huttoreefer]

Hello Randy,

I got my alk and cal to roughly their correct range, when I look into dosing suggested daily dosing chart, based on low demand, I need to add 60ml Alk and 50ml Cal for my 100gal daily, these are big numbers. I used to dose red sea B 15ml every 3 days and that will bring up around 4ppm.

Can you give me some suggestions here pls?

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello Randy,

I got my alk and cal to roughly their correct range, when I look into dosing suggested daily dosing chart, based on low demand, I need to add 60ml Alk and 50ml Cal for my 100gal daily, these are big numbers. I used to dose red sea B 15ml every 3 days and that will bring up around 4ppm.

Can you give me some suggestions here pls?

Thanks

What did you base those numbers on? I haven’t advised dosing off 1:1 without a clear reason.

 

[huttoreefer]

What did you base those numbers on? I haven’t advised dosing off 1:1 without a clear reason.

I read from this chart Randy.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t understand. The chart advises equal doses for two different recipes. Was it a typo in your post to say 60 and 50 mL?

 

[huttoreefer]

I don’t understand. The chart advises equal doses for two different recipes. Was it a typo in your post to say 60 and 50 mL?

Sorry Randy, I was a little messed up reading your instruction.

So for my understanding, once my tank (100gal) roughly corrected, I can start dosing 30ml each part 1 and 2 from recipe #1 following low demand column. Am I correct sir?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry Randy, I was a little messed up reading your instruction.

So for my understanding, once my tank (100gal) roughly corrected, I can start dosing 30ml each part 1 and 2 from recipe #1 following low demand column. Am I correct sir?

Yes, but move both up and down together based on alk readings in the tank. After a while of monitoring, adjust the calcium slightly off the alk match, if needed.

 

[Silly clownfish]

Randy,
Thank you for all of your great advice and patience.

At the beginning of this thread you recommend the baking soda recipe over the soda ash version. Is this preference just due to the impact on pH? My pH stays nicely between 7.9 and 8.3 with the amount of the soda ash version I use. And since I buy soda ash in 50lb bags for the deacidifer for my well water, it is cheap and readily available for me. Just wondering if there is any other benefit to baking soda.
Thanks,
Kim

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy,
Thank you for all of your great advice and patience.

At the beginning of this thread you recommend the baking soda recipe over the soda ash version. Is this preference just due to the impact on pH? My pH stays nicely between 7.9 and 8.3 with the amount of the soda ash version I use. And since I buy soda ash in 50lb bags for the deacidifer for my well water, it is cheap and readily available for me. Just wondering if there is any other benefit to baking soda.
Thanks,
Kim

The first post said sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide were all equally good recipes.

 

[AKReefing]

Significant water changes go a long way to reducing concerns about ionic balance coming from use of sodium carbonate and calcium chloride.

Would periodically replacing some of the aquarium water with RO water to reduce the increased salinity be the preferred method here?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would periodically replacing some of the aquarium water with RO water to reduce the increased salinity be the preferred method here?

Yes, that’s the preferred thing to do if salinity is rising. :)

 

[AKReefing]

Yes, that’s the preferred thing to do if salinity is rising. :)

I realize it seemed like a newbie question. To me, water changes tend to involve some amount of salt mix to also replenish trace minerals. I dose Seachem Reef Trace now anyway. Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I realize it seemed like a newbie question. To me, water changes tend to involve some amount of salt mix to also replenish trace minerals. I dose Seachem Reef Trace now anyway. Thanks.

That’s why this forum is here! :)

 

[huttoreefer]

Randy, just curious what if forgetting to bake the baking soda, and eventually use it the whole time?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy, just curious what if forgetting to bake the baking soda, and eventually use it the whole time?

It’s fine. Just no pH boost. Inadequate baking may also make it very hard to fully dissolve at the recommended ratio.

 

[huttoreefer]

It’s fine. Just no pH boost. Inadequate baking may also make it very hard to fully dissolve at the recommended ratio.

Thank you sir, just so concerned about this lately.