Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Very. I was about to continue using Randy's original recipe #1, but then saw his threads in which he detailed other new recipes using sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfate and even Balling part C. I don't know if he was actually recommending people switch to them, or just spitballing new recipes that could reduce unwanted buildup of NaCl, etc. Even with those new options, what happens if the pH vs alk levels aren't balanced, and I need to start supplementing with sodium carbonate or bicarbonate?

Sorry if previous posts are unclear, but these recipes have evolved over many years. All are ok to use when used as directed.

But the best recipe from an ion balance perspective is:

1. Sodium bicarbonate or carbonate or hydroxide depending on the pH effect you want.

2. Calcium chloride.

3 TM Balling Part C or Aquaforest Mineral salt.

4. A magnesium supplement, which if diy is the 3/4 and 7 1/4 recipe.

5. Trace elements if you want to use them, such as TM A and K.

 

[AKReefing]

Sorry if previous posts are unclear, but these recipes have evolved over many years. All are ok to use when used as directed.

But the best recipe firm an ion balance perspective is:

1. Sodium bicarbonate or carbonate or hydroxide depending on the pH effect you want.

2. Calcium chloride.

3 TM Balling Part C or Aquaforest Mineral salt.

4. A magnesium supplement, which if diy is the 3/4 and 7 1/4 recipe.

5. Trace elements if you want to use them, such as TM A and K.

Thank you very much. I will get right on it!

My goal is a daily pH peak around 8.3.

 

[AKReefing]

283g Sodium hydroxide/1 gal

500g Calcium Chloride/1 gal

183g Balling Part C/1 gal

I get impressive pH boosts. It supplies alk, calcium, and magnesium. It maintains other major and minor elements, too; Fluoride, potassium, boron, sulfate, among many others.

Miami, are you dosing 2 gallons of Balling part C for every 1 gallon of Alk?

 

[Miami Reef]

Are you dosing 1 gallon Balling part C for every gallon of Ca and Alk?

Yes. I have 3 dosers that dose equal amounts of each to maintain alkalinity.

 

[AKReefing]

Yes. I have 3 dosers that dose equal amounts of each to maintain alkalinity.

Sorry. I meant 2 gallons of Balling part C. I saw online that it's dosed at twice the rate of alk dosing.

 

[Miami Reef]

Sorry. I meant 2 gallons of Balling part C. I saw online that it's dosed at twice the rate of alk dosing.

I already doubled the recipe when I linked the instructions to mix them.

283g Sodium hydroxide/1 gal

500g Calcium Chloride/1 gal

183g Balling Part C/1 gal

Follow that^

 

[AKReefing]

So it looks like I'll be dosing 5 liquids:
1. Calcium chloride
2. Alk (probably sodium hydroxide)
3. Magnesium sulfate/magnesium chloride blend
4. TM Balling part C
5. Seachem Reef Trace

Fortunately, I have a Hydros X10 with 4 dosing heads, plus two extras that just arrived.

I already doubled the recipe when I linked the instructions to mix them.

Follow that^

Ok. I didn't realize you doubled up. Something online mentioned risk of some not dissolving at a higher concentration.

 

[Miami Reef]

Ok. I didn't realize you doubled up. Something online mentioned risk of some not dissolving at a higher concentration.

I’ve been doing this for a while. I never had any precipitation, ever. It perfectly dissolves.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

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So if I understand this correctly,
Mix 283 grams of this porduct, sodium hydrxide, in 1 gal of rodi water.
Then you can dose that as a suppliment for adding alkalinity along with keeping higher pH.
On the reef calculator its same as liquid soda ash, because it adds same amount of alk as soda ash except for the fact it increases pH much more than soda ash.
Am I correct? and is this product listed above good/safe to use?

 

[Miami Reef]

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So if I understand this correctly,
Mix 283 grams of this porduct, sodium hydrxide, in 1 gal of rodi water.
Then you can dose that as a suppliment for adding alkalinity along with keeping higher pH.
On the reef calculator its same as liquid soda ash, because it adds same amount of alk as soda expet for the fact it increases pH much more than soda ash.
Am I correct? and is this product listed above good/safe to use?

Yes. You are correct with every statement you made in your post. Food grade sodium hydroxide is perfect, which is what the image is. That’s exactly what I use.

The 283g sodium hydroxide is the same concentration as the soda ash recipe in a gallon, so the calculator works for both.

Sodium hydroxide, just like kalkwasser, gives DOUBLE the pH boost as sodium carbonate (soda ash) per unit of alk dosed. That’s substantial. :)

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Yes. You are correct with every statement you made in your post. Food grade sodium hydroxide is perfect, which is what the image is. That’s exactly what I use.

The 283g sodium hydroxide is the same concentration as the soda ash recipe in a gallon, so the calculator works for both.

Sodium hydroxide, just like kalkwasser, gives DOUBLE the pH boost as sodium carbonate (soda ash) per unit of alk dosed. That’s substantial. :)

I have a tank that I use brs liquid soda ash, but for some reason pH runs on the low side of 7.8-8. This should help bring pH up. Thank you

 

[Miami Reef]

I have a tank that I use brs liquid soda ash, but for some reason pH runs on the low side of 7.8-8. This should help bring pH up. Thank you

Any liquid pH boosting additives will compete with tank top aeration and skimmers. Those counteract the pH effect by allowing more CO2 to enter.

I like to think of H+ as viruses. Sodium hydroxide binds them upon addition, through different reactions with carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonate. Aeration brings new CO2 in which then binds with water to release new H+ (acids).

It’s kind of like a corporate ladder, where new additions shift the current positions around. Carbonate starts higher in the food chain, which gives less effect, but sodium hydroxide works from the start which pushes everything to higher states, or something like that. lol

It’s also kind of like baseball. Lol

At least that’s how I like to think of it in my mind.


Let us know how it goes! I think I might be sodium hydroxide’s biggest fan. I adore that chemical. It’s the best alkalinity additive in my opinion!

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Any liquid pH boosting additives will compete with tank top aeration and skimmers. Those counteract the pH effect by allowing more CO2 to enter.

I like to think of H+ as viruses. Sodium hydroxide binds them upon addition, through different reactions with carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonate. Aeration brings new CO2 in which then binds with water to release new H+ (acids).

It’s kind of like a corporate ladder, where new additions shift the current positions around. Carbonate starts higher in the food chain, which gives less effect, but sodium hydroxide works from the start which pushes everything to higher states, or something like that. lol

It’s also kind of like baseball. Lol

At least that’s how I like to think of it in my mind.


Let us know how it goes! I think I might be sodium hydroxide’s biggest fan. I adore that chemical. It’s the best alkalinity additive in my opinion!

Just ordered it off Amazon. Should be here Thursday. I'll try it over the weekend and let you know.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Just ordered it off Amazon. Should be here Thursday. I'll try it over the weekend and let you know.

Just a reminder that the chemical is very hazardous both in powder and liquid form.

Use PPE

 

[AKReefing]

1. Sodium bicarbonate or carbonate or hydroxide depending on the pH effect you want.

There are many sources of sodium hydroxide available, from crystal drain cleaner, to "food grade lye" and laboratory-grade on Amazon. I know there are varied methods of producing it. Any recommendations on which might be the most pure, or at least pure enough to use in an aquarium?

 

[gbroadbridge]

There are many sources of sodium hydroxide available, from crystal drain cleaner, to "food grade lye" and laboratory-grade on Amazon. I know there are varied methods of producing it. Any recommendations on which might be the most pure, or at least pure enough to use in an aquarium?

I buy food grade caustic soda from ebay or amazon. :)

Food grade is the key

 

[sayurasem]

Hello, I’m considering switching my 2 part with Randy’s recipe. For the past year I have been using RedSea alkalinity along with limewater to keep my pH up during the night, yet I am still not satisfied.

Its an 80 gal net volume water, and currently dosing 50ml RedSea foundation B liquid and 3,500ml limewater from a reservoir every night to keep 8.0pH (my suspicion is that I don’t have max saturation even with 2 tsp/ gallon mix). Question about sodium hydroxide, is it safe dosing it with limewater at night in a span of 12 hours?

 

[AKReefing]

I buy food grade caustic soda from ebay or amazon. :)

Food grade is the key

Yeah. That's usually what I look for on chemical labels. I just suspect that some could have a few contaminants that can accumulate in an aquarium. I saw the BRSTV videos for the commonly dosed Ca, Alk and magnesium where they had lab testing done. I was surprised to see the variations of some of the contaminants on well known brands.

 

[Miami Reef]

Its alk potency will never change. Its pH effect will very slowly trend toward the soda ash version as CO2 enters.

Sodium hydroxide can turn into sodium carbonate if enough CO2 enters the solution.

But can the sodium carbonate turn into sodium bicarbonate if even more CO2 enters?

What about if you just with 100% sodium carbonate?

I think the low solubility of baking soda prevents that, but I’d like to be sure.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sodium hydroxide can turn into sodium carbonate if enough CO2 enters the solution.

But can the sodium carbonate turn into sodium bicarbonate if even more CO2 enters?

What about if you just with 100% sodium carbonate?

I think the low solubility of baking soda prevents that, but I’d like to be sure.

Sodium carbonate will tend to pick up CO2 and water. Sodium bicarbonate may tend to lose CO2 when solid.