Reef2Reef Calculators

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It would be really nice to have this. Whichever calculators are chosen it would be helpful if it defaulted to a set of predefined products being used, tank volumes etc that could be defined as part of our profiles

I understand the attraction, but I think that would require a lot of changes and work on the core of the way reef2reef works, for a fairly modest gain, but we can pass that along to whoever is trying to implement the calculators. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I always use the calculator you helped build for cal, mag and alk. I like it a lot; it’s perfect !

I agree. I’m going to suggest it as a design possibility to whoever codes it. I use it many times each day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Calculator for your formulas of ammonium bicarbonate and trisodium phosphate would be awesome! The common methods of dosing calcium and alkalinity would be great to have centralized here as well, albeit already hosted here as you often share Randy:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

It’s just becoming outdated and I’m not sure if the owner is even still in the hobby to update it. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A “time, money, frustration, happiness, despair calculator” would be nice….something interactive where one could move different sliders and trigger annoying sounds and visuals.

lol

Sounds perfect.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

something like the calculator I linked to in the aforementioned thread!

It can be as simple as:

— bore diameter (inside diameter of the most restrictive point in the plumbing is how I often use this!)

— operating pressure (.433psi per-vertical foot of water; extrapolate from pump’s max head height!)

— length of plumbing (applicable for frictional flow loss, especially in smaller diameter plumbing!)

calculating frictional/velocity loss through fittings is a whole other story, but is slightly less important in our low pressure applications!

Here is an example from that flow calculator… I did something relatively applicable to many people; the maximum flow rate through 6” of 3/4” Loc-Line, assuming 5PSI (~11.5ft max head)! — looks like just shy of 900gph (observed, and ignoring the fact that loc-line is not one continuous ID)!

How do you get the pressure to enter?

 

[Ziggy17]

I applaud the initiative to create some unique calculators, but I’d be over the moon happy with having all the accurate and common calculators on one page, or at least in one area here. Beats having to go to a few sites to get different calculators.
And having your DIY recipes in that area would also be amazing. One stop shop for what to use and how to use it.

 

[UncommonSense]

How do you get the pressure to enter?

How do I get pressure to enter the plumbing being calculated in question? By using a pump!

Every pump produces a known maximum pressure, which can be used to figure out your maximum flow through a given orifice diameter!

I was using this math recently when designing my own low-pressure eductor nozzles, for example!

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Copper power and copper safe calculator.

 

[MoeStachio]

Might be interesting to see a calculator for scaling DIY formulas?

Some people may not need 1ga of substance, others may need 2.75ga and not know how to math

 

[jonelder68]

your going to be busy @Randy Holmes-Farley @Miami Reef Share that magic potions

 

[Miami Reef]

your going to be busy @Randy Holmes-Farley @Miami Reef Share that magic potions

Haha, thank you. That’s very kind

I’m definitely no Randy (he’s the GOAT), but I’m always happy to help however I can.


I just try to break things down in a way that makes sense. Randy’s the real wizard: he’s a pro at the math and science. I’m just trying to find the spellbook.

 

[Miami Reef]

I’ve actually been brainstorming calculator ideas for the past several hours. I think I JUST got a very interesting one!

People who make DIY 3 part solutions don’t always want or have gallon containers; some have specific container volumes.

Basing the required solids (g) inputted based on the desired container size (2 L , 2.3 L, 1.5 gallon, etc) seems like it would be super helpful.

Loads of people have those custom acrylic containers that don’t always fit the standard “gallon” size.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

One which calculates the salinity rise from dosing 2 part, specifically B-Ionic. Is this possible?

 

[jonelder68]

Haha, thank you. That’s very kind

I’m definitely no Randy (he’s the GOAT), but I’m always happy to help however I can.


I just try to break things down in a way that makes sense. Randy’s the real wizard: he’s a pro at the math and science. I’m just trying to find the spellbook.

hmmm @Randy Holmes-Farley is Obi-wan kenobi and your Anakin Sykwalker. The one to bring reef chemistry to balance

Sorry I nerd out sometimes…

 

[Tangdora]

Is there such a thinks as a co2 to alk calculator. Ie if room c02 is xxx ppm and alk is 8.5 dkh. Then assuming perfect aeration and not assuming co2 consumption from photosynthesis than PH in a perfect world should be ……x.xx. In one of your old ph write up you had a chart showing this relationship but never gave the formulas

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I agree. I’m going to suggest it as a design possibility to whoever codes it. I use it many times each day.

I am for EVER using calculators.

I wish there were easy formulas for:
- Converting salinity SG to PPT or reverse with temp variations.
- and, yes on volume, but maybe other ways. Here is a real world problem I am having. Attached is my mixing station. They are both 300g. I mix in the one on the left then it goes through a couple sediment filters and the. Eventually into the one on the right which is then considered display ready. Due to where the bulkhead is when ever I transfer all the water from the left to the right, there are sever inches left. I don’t know how many gallons this is. I would love to know how many gallons per inch. But I don’t know the diameter. Ideally I would like to only fill it with 200 gallons of Rodi. But, right now, my rodi stops filling around 250 gallons, I drilled and put a float valve in it. I have to do a salinty test, usually around 3 PPT, but the water is often 90 degrees, so I cool it to 77 in my sump, then test then mix salt based on 35 - 3 ppt, then test again after getting the water down to 77 degrees. Fortunately, 250-300 G’s last me 6 weeks on my AWC so I don’t have to perform this poop show that often. Can you cook me up some magic pixie dust?

 

[UncommonSense]

I don’t know how many gallons this is. I would love to know how many gallons per inch. But I don’t know the diameter.

Do you recall where you bought the mixing station tanks? They should have a listed wall thickness, and dimensions!

Alternatively; just measure the wall thickness, say, where you drilled for your float valve, then measure tank OD, and subtract two wall thicknesses from that! From there; just calculate the volume of a cylinder with X height, and your now known tank ID!

For example: 3ft diameter tank, 1/2” wall thickness, 60” tall… ~4.1gal/in

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I noticed algae in my display bin. I’m going to take the entire thing apart this weekend. I can’t measure from the top, I’ll have to measure the bottom. I think they are 1/4”. These were water holding bins for FEMA trailers. I got the 2 for $100. The bulkheads were already installed. I’m going to explore raising these 6” and maybe drilling a new bulkhead on the bottom, at least I can get the majority of it out of the mixing one. Very helpful.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How do I get pressure to enter the plumbing being calculated in question? By using a pump!

Every pump produces a known maximum pressure, which can be used to figure out your maximum flow through a given orifice diameter!

I was using this math recently when designing my own low-pressure eductor nozzles, for example!

Ok, maybe some engineer can step up and help put that together. I don’t remember having a pump that stated its pressure while running (aside from maximum head). But in any case, this is out of my area of understanding and I’ll have to leave it to others to assist. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I applaud the initiative to create some unique calculators, but I’d be over the moon happy with having all the accurate and common calculators on one page, or at least in one area here. Beats having to go to a few sites to get different calculators.
And having your DIY recipes in that area would also be amazing. One stop shop for what to use and how to use it.

Yes, that’s the intent. :)