Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The alk part of this is using Lye correct? I thought I saw that in a previous post? That seems incredibly dangerous to recommend. CHemical rated gloves and or arm protectors, face protection. Like, this is not to be taken lightly it will cause chemical burns, likely requiring medical treatment.

Lye can be used to recharge Deionization media as well, and I've avoided it for the danger of it. I'm not the most dextrous person and could see spilling it all over myself in a very dangerous way.

it's hard to miss the high pH warning in red text in post 1.

That said, sodium hydroxide is often used safely, such as in drain clog openers. You just have to be careful.

As with all reef chemicals, do not allow children to access them.

 

[WestMI-Reefer]

I guess you didn't read the recipe in post 1.

it's hard to miss the high pH warning in red text.

That said, sodium hydroxide is often used safely, such as in drain clog openers. You jsut have to be careful.

He should just use your original recipe if he feels uncomfortable with sodium hydroxide, correct? You’re baked baking soda recipe for alkalinity has been working well for me still

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

He should just use your original recipe if he feels uncomfortable with sodium hydroxide, correct? You’re baked baking soda recipe for alkalinity has been working well for me still

Yes, the risks of sodium carbonate solutions are lower, and it is a fine way to go.

 

[rastaangel]

Randy In your post you suggest to add sodium sulfate. Can it be anhydrous? That’s all I can find on Amazon in Canada

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy In your post you suggest to add sodium sulfate. Can it be anhydrous? That’s all I can find on Amazon in Canada

There are three recipes.

In one of them, sodium sulfate is used in order to reduce the number of parts to just 2. That system requires sodium sulfate, and anhydrous material is fine.

In the second pure DIY, you need three parts, and no sodium sulfate. The sulfate comes from the Epsom salt.

In the third recipe (my preference), you need three parts and use Tropic Marin Balling Part C for the third part. No sodium sulfate is used in that recipe.

 

[rastaangel]

There are three recipes.

In one of them, sodium sulfate is used in order to reduce the number of parts to just 2. That system requires sodium sulfate, and anhydrous material is fine.

In the second pure DIY, you need three parts, and no sodium sulfate. The sulfate comes from the Epsom salt.

In the third recipe (my preference), you need three parts and use Tropic Marin Balling Part C for the third part. No sodium sulfate is used in that recipe.

I am currently using the fauna marin balling lite system so I am using a 3 part system already. I want to start using sodium hydroxide as a night PH boost along with Kalk as I’ve hit my daily evap limit but looking for more. I ask about the sulphate as every ICP test I’ve done I’ve been low on sulphate so if I was gonna use it I may as well add some to the mix was just unsure about if the type I can get off Amazon Canada being anhydrous type matters

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am currently using the fauna marin balling lite system so I am using a 3 part system already. I want to start using sodium hydroxide as a night PH boost along with Kalk as I’ve hit my daily evap limit but looking for more. I ask about the sulphate as every ICP test I’ve done I’ve been low on sulphate so if I was gonna use it I may as well add some to the mix was just unsure about if the type I can get off Amazon Canada being anhydrous type matters

How low on sulfate? You certain its not just low salinity?

Salt mixes do not all start at the same point, but perhaps the ATI 3 part is not designed correctly to balance sulfate.

All of the versions of DIY two parts that I describe in this link below are going to be very close to net neutral on sulfate:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/randy-recommended-diy-two-part-recipes.984604/

 

[Jasonak]

Has anyone mixed this up in a 5 gallon bucket ? Can you mix little at a time to keep heat down ?

 

[rastaangel]

How low on sulfate? You certain its not just low salinity?

Salt mixes do not all start at the same point, but perhaps the ATI 3 part is not designed correctly to balance sulfate.

All of the versions of DIY two parts that I describe in this link below are going to be very close to net neutral on sulfate:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/randy-recommended-diy-two-part-recipes.984604/

Last Icp was 2387 out of a zone of 2550-2850. So it’s not crazy low but it has been consistently low. My salinity is held at 35.3-35.6 (Hanna and apex)

 

[bozo]

Another couple of questions.

I'm making these solutions to bring up ALK, CAL, and MAG in my 50 gallon water barrel for weekly auto water changes.

1. Is it ok for me to add all 3 solutions to the barrel? I'd add the solutions at separate times obviously. Add 1, mix, repeat.

2. I noticed the Magnesium SOP in Post #1 is Recipe #1, Part 3B. In your article, it says that Part 3A is preferred from an aquarium chemistry standpoint.

I've always used 3B since I'm too lazy to get magnesium chloride hexahydrate.

For my use (adding straight to the new saltwater barrel to get mag up), can I just use Part 3B, 8 cups of epsom salts mixed to a total volume of 1 gallon? And then dosing that solution to get the mag up in that barrel?

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What levels are you trying to attain in a salt mix, and what levels do you get without dosing?

The alk part for dosing a salt mix should be sodium bicarbonate. The others (carbonate and hydroxide) raise pH too much and risk calcium carbonate precipitation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Has anyone mixed this up in a 5 gallon bucket ? Can you mix little at a time to keep heat down ?

It's fine to mix a little into a lot of water, then wait and mix more once it cools. Just don't be aerating it excessively or it will suck in CO2 and defeat its high pH purpose.

 

[Jasonak]

Ive been dosing this a few days now and adjusting the amount to try and get it dialed in. This morning it spiked from 8.22 to 8.3 in half hour. Does that seem extreme ? It has not jumped like this before so had me little alarmed so I turned of the DOS.

 

[bozo]

What elevle3s are you trying to attain in a salt mix, and what levels do you get without dosing?

The alk part for dosing a salt mix should be sodium bicarbonate. The others (carbonate and hydroxide) raise pH too much and risk calcium carbonate precipitation.

My current salt mix (Fritz RPM Blue Bucket) gives me the following

ALK: 7.3 dKH
CAL: 380
MAG: 1220
pH: 7.7-7.8. I think this is low because ALK is a little low. I could be wrong

I'm trying to obtain these levels with new saltwater:

ALK: 8.5
CAL: 450
MAG: 1400

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ive been dosing this a few days now and adjusting the amount to try and get it dialed in. This morning it spiked from 8.22 to 8.3 in half hour. Does that seem extreme ? It has not jumped like this before so had me little alarmed so I turned of the DOS.

No, that's fine. I'd expect that for dosing about 0.25 dKH.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My current salt mix (Fritz RPM Blue Bucket) gives me the following

ALK: 7.3 dKH
CAL: 380
MAG: 1220
pH: 7.7-7.8. I think this is low because ALK is a little low. I could be wrong

I'm trying to obtain these levels with new saltwater:

ALK: 8.5
CAL: 450
MAG: 1400

Higher salinity will solve part of that issue, but you can use the calcium and my magnesium parts of DIY (not Balling Part C). Definitely do not use sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate for that alk boost. Using sodium bicarbonate/baking soda.

 

[Jasonak]

No, that's fine. I'd expect that for dosing about 0.25 dKH.

Thank you! its 300 with 90 sump im dosing 300 mil a day at present, its doing 2.3 mil about every 11 minutes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Last Icp was 2387 out of a zone of 2550-2850. So it’s not crazy low but it has been consistently low. My salinity is held at 35.3-35.6 (Hanna and apex)

I'd probably just pick up with a balanced chloride/sulfate method rather than try to raise it rapidly

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you! its 300 with 90 sump im dosing 300 mil a day at present, its doing 2.3 mil about every 11 minutes.

The pH in the sump likely rose more than in the tank, if that's where you measure it.

 

[Jasonak]

The pH in the sump likely rose more than in the tank, if that's where you measure it.

Measure in the sump return and dose in the last baffle before the return pump.