Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

[e34stx]

hi, is there a calculation to work out how much water to remove to compensate for the salinity increase? im currently dosing 115ml of alk and calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

hi, is there a calculation to work out how much water to remove to compensate for the salinity increase? im currently dosing 115ml of alk and calcium.

There is, but I think just monitoring and correcting is better than calculating since water changes will alter it.

I show roughly what it is here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
After one year of adding 8 ppm of calcium and the accompanying 0.4 meq/L (1.1 dKH) of alkalinity per day (41 mL of both parts per day or 4 gallons of both parts per year in a 50-gallon aquarium, including the effect of the magnesium part #3A, 2440 mL/year), the following residue (Table 2) would remain after calcification and adjustment for salinity (there is roughly a 32% rise in salinity over a year using this addition rate without water changes).

 

[e34stx]

thanks Randy, so far the ph boost is great

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

thanks Randy, so far the ph boost is great

You're welcome.

Glad you like it. :)

 

[e34stx]

You're welcome.

Glad you like it. :)

I take it I’m ok using redsea mag until it’s used up? Thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I take it I’m ok using redsea mag until it’s used up? Thanks again

Yes, but then I'd switch to a mag product designed for this purpose. Either my part 3, or best of all, Balling Part C.

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes, but then I'd switch to a mag product designed for this purpose. Either my part 3, or best of all, Balling Part C.

Why do you like balling part C so much? :)

 

[e34stx]

Yes, but then I'd switch to a mag product designed for this purpose. Either my part 3, or best of all, Balling Part C.

Ok thanks I use redsea Color’s so I take it I don’t need the balling part c?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why do you like balling part C so much? :)

Because, assuming it is made as specified, it is the perfect accompaniment to my DIY alk and calcium methods. There is no other product that accomplishes what it does, making my DIY have the same attributes as ESV-B-ionic or other "perfectly" designed two parts, with respect to ions such as potassium, bromide, fluoride, etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok thanks I use redsea Color’s so I take it I don’t need the balling part c?

Yes, you still need it. My Part 3 and Balling Part C are not trace element supplements. They help maintain the major and minor ions. Magnesium, sulfate, potassium, etc.

Red Sea colors is a trace element supplement. Different purpose and different composition.

 

[e34stx]

Yes, you still need it. My Part 3 and Balling Part C are not trace element supplements. They help maintain the major and minor ions. Magnesium, sulfate, potassium, etc.

Red Sea colors is a trace element supplement. Different purpose and different composition.

Ok thanks…I better make a batch of your mag up then

 

[e34stx]

Can we not add potassium in the mag mix?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can we not add potassium in the mag mix?

You can add potassium chloride to any of the parts. :)

 

[e34stx]

You can add potassium chloride to any of the parts. :)

Ok thanks any suggestions of an amount that would be sensible? I dose your recipe 1:1:1. Thanks again

 

[e34stx]

Ok thanks any suggestions of an amount that would be sensible? I dose your recipe 1:1:1. Thanks again

it would be nice to know the quantities to add to the mag mix for a stable addition via dosing 1:1:1, but just to say dosing around 120ml of the the recipe i'm managing to get a ph of 8.4 during the day and 8.31 during the night. i run a small refugium reactor on a reverse cycle. my question is at what PH is regarded as too high?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've not worked through the math on KCl dosing yet, but will get to it at some point. If you are handy with math, you can see how I did it here nd how much K/Ca is needed:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Interestingly, the potassium present as an impurity in the Dowflake works to our advantage in this use. Recipe #1 has 1,342 ppm potassium in its calcium part. That amount puts it in the right ratio relative to other ions in the recipe (chloride, sodium, etc.) so that it is neither boosted nor depleted significantly over time based on salinity changes (see modeling below).

 

[e34stx]

I've not worked through the math on KCl dosing yet, but will get to it at some point. If you are handy with math, you can see how I did it here nd how much K/Ca is needed:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Interestingly, the potassium present as an impurity in the Dowflake works to our advantage in this use. Recipe #1 has 1,342 ppm potassium in its calcium part. That amount puts it in the right ratio relative to other ions in the recipe (chloride, sodium, etc.) so that it is neither boosted nor depleted significantly over time based on salinity changes (see modeling below).

ok thanks what do you think about the PH levels?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

8.4 during the day and 8.31 during the night.

That's a good high pH to encourage hard coral calcification, but a reef tank need not be kept that high. :)

 

[Dan I]

Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley, I am jumping on your DIY recipe and I have a quick question. I found a calcium chloride and I noticed you advised regular water change when using. I have a volume of 120-130 gallon tank and am thinking of doing 20 gallon water changes once a month. Would this be okay to do when using this product. The product in question is Briner's Choice Anhydrous Calcium Chloride Pellets. Here is a product information sheet: https://www.oxy.com/globalassets/do.../173-01758-BRINERS-CHOICE-prod-info-sheet.pdf

Thanks!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley, I am jumping on your DIY recipe and I have a quick question. I found a calcium chloride and I noticed you advised regular water change when using. I have a volume of 120-130 gallon tank and am thinking of doing 20 gallon water changes once a month. Would this be okay to do when using this product. The product in question is Briner's Choice Anhydrous Calcium Chloride Pellets. Here is a product information sheet: https://www.oxy.com/globalassets/do.../173-01758-BRINERS-CHOICE-prod-info-sheet.pdf

Thanks!!

Yes, I think that's a good choice. :)