Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

[Betex]

Thanks Randy for all your help with this and all the time you spend helping everyone here.

I've been using your DIY recipes for 11 years -- first the 3-part, then the 2-part with magnesium chloride and sodium sulfate. I've also been using saturated kalkwasser for top off.

I've wondered if my tanks might have some ionic imbalance, and an ICP test confirmed that some were a bit low, potassium and strontium in particular. So I'm going to start using TM Balling Part C (which means I'll go back to your 3-part, but not use the third magnesium part). In determining dosage, I need to consider not only how much Alkalinity (or calcium) I'm dosing, but also what I'm adding in as kalkwasser, correct? Assuming yes, any suggestions for how to calculate this based on how much saturated kalkwasser I add in my top-off?

Thanks.

If memory serves be right @Randy Holmes-Farley 's recipe is x45 stronger than kalk per gallon in the past when switching I think I just divided by 45 and it was pretty dang close.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy for all your help with this and all the time you spend helping everyone here.

I've been using your DIY recipes for 11 years -- first the 3-part, then the 2-part with magnesium chloride and sodium sulfate. I've also been using saturated kalkwasser for top off.

I've wondered if my tanks might have some ionic imbalance, and an ICP test confirmed that some were a bit low, potassium and strontium in particular. So I'm going to start using TM Balling Part C (which means I'll go back to your 3-part, but not use the third magnesium part). In determining dosage, I need to consider not only how much Alkalinity (or calcium) I'm dosing, but also what I'm adding in as kalkwasser, correct? Assuming yes, any suggestions for how to calculate this based on how much saturated kalkwasser I add in my top-off?

Thanks.

No, ignore the kalkwasser additions in determining Balling Part C as it does not create any significant ion imbalance.

 

[astreck827]

I’ve been using this alkalinity recipe for a few batches now with good results, but there are some parts I don’t really understand. It’s certainly due to my lack of advanced chemistry knowledge, but… my understanding is that corals combine calcium and carbonate to form their skeletons. if we swap sodium bicarb or sodium carbonate for sodium hydroxide, where is the carbonate coming from? Is there enough free carbon for the hydroxide ions to bind to and form carbonate? And am I missing any major components by sticking to premade BRS 2 part packets for the calcium and magnesium portions?

 

[drawman]

I’ve been using this alkalinity recipe for a few batches now with good results, but there are some parts I don’t really understand. It’s certainly due to my lack of advanced chemistry knowledge, but… my understanding is that corals combine calcium and carbonate to form their skeletons. if we swap sodium bicarb or sodium carbonate for sodium hydroxide, where is the carbonate coming from? Is there enough free carbon for the hydroxide ions to bind to and form carbonate? And am I missing any major components by sticking to premade BRS 2 part packets for the calcium and magnesium portions?

It's the combination of CO2 (atmospheric) and OH (from the hydroxide) that form carbonate and bicarbonate. RHF's article on kalkwasser give a run down on it:

https://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/#4

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, CO2 plus hydroxide gives carbonate, and that is also why it raises pH: by consuming CO2.

 

[KTTX]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
use this to make my Alk.

Part 1- Alk part
Add 283 grams of sodium hydroxide to 1 gallon of fresh water.

Its done well in raising my PH 8.71 to 9.03

PH little higher now than I prefer. Is it ok to dilute this solution?

 

[Miami Reef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
use this to make my Alk.

Part 1- Alk part
Add 283 grams of sodium hydroxide to 1 gallon of fresh water.

Its done well in raising my PH 8.71 to 9.03

PH little higher now than I prefer. Is it ok to dilute this solution?

I would recalibrate your pH probe.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
use this to make my Alk.

Part 1- Alk part
Add 283 grams of sodium hydroxide to 1 gallon of fresh water.

Its done well in raising my PH 8.71 to 9.03

PH little higher now than I prefer. Is it ok to dilute this solution?

Do you really mean those pH values?

yes, all of my recipes can be diluted.

 

[KTTX]

Do you really mean those pH values?

yes, all of my recipes can be diluted.

Yes, I asked myself that too. :)

Do you really mean those pH values?

yes, all of my recipes can be diluted.

Yes, but I will calibrated again today.

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes, I asked myself that too. :)

Yes, but I will calibrated again today.

What’s your alkalinity? What pH calibration solutions are you using?

 

[KTTX]

What’s your alkalinity? What pH calibration solutions are you using?

Alk is 7.9 to 8.1 daily. I used APEX 7 and 10 calibration solution.

 

[Miami Reef]

Alk is 7.9 to 8.1 daily. I used APEX 7 and 10 calibration solution.

I highly doubt the pH results of your alkalinity is around 8dKH.

Make sure you rinse the probe in RO/DI prior to dipping in any of the solutions (a quick tap on the probe to shake off excess RO/DI is adequate).

Make sure the pH solutions are around 77-78F when calibrating.

Gently stir the pH probe in the solutions until the readings stabilize.

Report back on the results. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Right, those pH values are suspect since the tank would be experiencing rapid precipitation at that pH (9.03).

 

[thejacgues]

Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley thanks for the recipe. As far as I am aware, average consumption of kH to Ca is around 7.14:1, right? I wonder, if 1kg of Sodium Hydroxide lasts me for 1 month, how long would 1kg of Tropic Marin Component C server me for? To make a true 4-part out of your great recipe.

 

[Muffin87]

The cost is not so bad if I am calculating correctly.
1kg is ~$18
Using the BRS recommendation of 7.5 scoops per gallon of water.
That 1kg should make right under 6 gallons of the mixture.
Based on 130ml of alk/cal dosed daily, so 130ml of Part C or 3640ml(~1 gallon) a month.
So 2 boxes a year or $36/year.

For the 3rd part you can either use the magnesium mix or balling part C. The latter is more desirable because it keeps more ions than just chloride and sulfate in balance.

Could you use the same recipe from this thread, and just swap the magnesium part for Tropic Marin Part C at 7.5 scoops per gallon?

Alk	283 grams Sodium Hydroxide
Calcium	500 Grams calcium chloride dihydrate OR 400 grams calcium chloride anhydrous or monohydrate
Tropic Marin Part C	168 grams (7.5 scoops)

Adding 1 gallon RO/DI to each part, and dosing in equal amounts.

Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[Miami Reef]

Could you use the same recipe from this thread, and just swap the magnesium part for Tropic Marin Part C at 7.5 scoops per gallon?

Yes. Exactly correct. Tropic marine balling part C and the DIY magnesium mix are interchangeable, with the Balling Part C more desirable for keeping the sea water more in balance, but also more expensive.

 

[Muffin87]

you'd use 236 mL of the AF mineral salt solution for each 100 mL of the alk part of my Recipe #1 or the hydroxide recipe given here.

How would you prepare the solution of AF Mineral Salt to match it with the dose of Alk like that?

Following the aquaforest recipe, you'd dissolve 25 gr Mineral Salt + 10 MgCl2x6H2O in 1 liter RO/DI.
That means 236 ml contains 5,9 gr of dry Mineral Salt + 2,36 dry MgCl2x6H2O.
Is that equivalent to 200 ml of Tropic Marin Part C, containing 8,8 of dry Part C?

Thanks a lot! The AF Mineral Salt seems it'd turn out to be a much cheaper option than TM Part C!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Could you use the same recipe from this thread, and just swap the magnesium part for Tropic Marin Part C at 7.5 scoops per gallon?

Alk	283 grams Sodium Hydroxide
Calcium	500 Grams calcium chloride dihydrate OR 400 grams calcium chloride anhydrous or monohydrate
Tropic Marin Part C	168 grams (7.5 scoops)

Adding 1 gallon RO/DI to each part, and dosing in equal amounts.

Thanks a lot for the help.

Yes, stop using the part 3 and use Balling Part C at the standard dose recommended by BRS for my carbonate recipe (which BRS uses via soda ash) or as recommended by TM based on alk or calcium dosed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How would you prepare the solution of AF Mineral Salt to match it with the dose of Alk like that?

Following the aquaforest recipe, you'd dissolve 25 gr Mineral Salt + 10 MgCl2x6H2O in 1 liter RO/DI.
That means 236 ml contains 5,9 gr of dry Mineral Salt + 2,36 dry MgCl2x6H2O.
Is that equivalent to 200 ml of Tropic Marin Part C, containing 8,8 of dry Part C?

Thanks a lot! The AF Mineral Salt seems it'd turn out to be a much cheaper option than TM Part C!

I just based the recommendation off of the AF directions. I’ve never compared the AF to Bslling Part C recipes, but I would assume they are similar.

 

[LadyTang2]

Dear @Randy Holmes-Farley

This thread helped me a lot, Thank you for you incredible contributions to reefing and your presence here, year after year, helping folks out. You're the man.