Tropic Marin triple buffer powder to liquid for dosing

[Soueify]

Hey all! I hope everyone is doing great!

I have some questions regarding TM triple buffer. I have searched online and was not able to find the answers I am looking for, so I am hoping this is not a repeated question! I realize those are pretty specific product oriented questions but I do need the information and I am hoping you fellow reefers can help!

So here it goes,

I use the Triple Buffer powder to maintain my alk at 9.5, forwhich I need about 5 grams per day. Dosing manually has its drawbacks so I wanted to dissolve it in RO water and dose the amount that will contain 5 grams (I can calculate that no issue) automatically .

The real questions are as follows:

-What is the maximum concentration of TB powder in water? I mean what is the maximum gm/l that can be reached, after which any more will settle on the bottom?
-What is the shelf life of this solution?
-Is it possible to add Tropic Marin Pro Coral Mineral to the same solution? so I can dose one liquid? what is the maximum concentration for that??

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You cannot combine them.

You will also need a calcium solution.

The buffer is probably at least as soluble as baking soda (one of the ingredients) so can be about 100 g/L.

FWIW, I recommend balanced methods, not piecemeal alk and calcium and magnesium like this method involves.

 

[Soueify]

You cannot combine them.

You will also need a calcium solution.

The buffer is probably at least as soluble as baking soda (one of the ingredients) so can be about 100 g/L.

FWIW, I recommend balanced methods, not piecemeal alk and calcium and magnesium like this method involves.

Thank you very much Randy for the insight here! you are a true hero!

I have some TM Carbo-Calcium but my calcium is a bit over 500 so I am reluctant to add even more and was just going to stick with TB.

What do you recommend in this situation??

 

[Soueify]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I apologize for the basic question above , I did some more measurements and caught up on my reading and now I am dosing TM Carbocalcium. started slow and increasing the dose gradually until things stabilize at my desired levels.

I am also thinking of starting carbon dosing (vinegar), and was wondering whether I can add the vinegar to the carbocalcium solution (140 g/L as per instruction) directly?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I apologize for the basic question above , I did some more measurements and caught up on my reading and now I am dosing TM Carbocalcium. started slow and increasing the dose gradually until things stabilize at my desired levels.

I am also thinking of starting carbon dosing (vinegar), and was wondering whether I can add the vinegar to the carbocalcium solution (140 g/L as per instruction) directly?

Probably that combination works. The concern is the dilution allowing bacteria to grow in it, but hopefully the acidity of the vinegar will stop it.

Buffer alone is ok when calcium is higher than you want, but 500 ppm is also a fine value for it.

 

[Soueify]

hmmm you got a solid point there! I was focused on the chemistry side of things so much that I forgot the biology! I guess I can take the safe side and dose vinegar separately as long as I still have the space for it.

I wanted to ask you another question though; is there anything I can dose in conjunction with TM carbocalcium to give my pH a sustainable boost? I am trying to maintain my kH at 10.5 and increase fresh air circulation in my home (although this is not always possible here in Kuwait) but still it seams my pH barely lingers around the 8 mark. I figured if I dose NaOH for example I would be overdosing alkalinity and hence would require supplemental calcium dosing, which is basically 2 part in parallel with carbocalcium, a bit of overkill there!

Is there anything I am missing or is the only way to switch to 2 part?

Thank you Randy, infinitely helpful as always!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

hmmm you got a solid point there! I was focused on the chemistry side of things so much that I forgot the biology! I guess I can take the safe side and dose vinegar separately as long as I still have the space for it.

I wanted to ask you another question though; is there anything I can dose in conjunction with TM carbocalcium to give my pH a sustainable boost? I am trying to maintain my kH at 10.5 and increase fresh air circulation in my home (although this is not always possible here in Kuwait) but still it seams my pH barely lingers around the 8 mark. I figured if I dose NaOH for example I would be overdosing alkalinity and hence would require supplemental calcium dosing, which is basically 2 part in parallel with carbocalcium, a bit of overkill there!

Is there anything I am missing or is the only way to switch to 2 part?

Thank you Randy, infinitely helpful as always!

There's nothing you can dose to boost pH which is not an alkalinity supplement, and hydroxide (such as sodium or calcium hydroxide) is the best you can do along those lines.