2 part

[Sisterlimonpot]

Does anyone make their own 2 part? If so what are your experiences? Do you have problems getting the ingredients?

 

[Zooid]

Alkalinity is easy.....just washing soda from King Soopers.
Calcium is easy too.....5 gallon bucket of deicer from Sam's club or similar.
Magnesium was tough for me....I got mine from a place in Brighton that sells deicer. I've heard some people are able to find it at Costco or Sam's club.

 

[fox2589]

i have heard the best way to go is BRS..they sell do it yourself 2 part think..not that you don't probably know this already..haha-Drew

 

[goslugsgo]

I did the baking soda/deicer from King Soopers plus BRS mag.

 

[spleify]

I did the baking soda/deicer from King Soopers plus BRS mag.

+1 and I use Epsom salt also with the BRS mag to cut it and add equal parts of each. Been doing it for years with no ill effects.

 

[mef_rn98]

We use Randy's 2 part recipe, found via RC, and we've used both the de-icers for the calcium chloride and magnesium, but most recently have tried the BRS stuff for the calcium and mag...still make my own alk by baking up some baking soda in the oven per Randy's recipe, because I think that's still way cheaper than buying the alk at BRS. No problems from either, though.

 

[jreeceaspen]

Preston Driveway Heat! I bought a 50lb bag online at some hardware store in Nebraska for $30 including shipping, it was crazy. I buy Arm & Hammer Baking Soda at Sam's in big bags. I use BRS Dosers, they dominate and a digital 2 plug timer from HD. I use SeaChem Mag and just add about 3 tablespoons into my water change each week (I do have a 400g system though) and my wc's are 35g per week. I just tested and Mag was at 1400. I got 4 months out of a 2.5g mixture and bought the containers at The Container Store (I drip about 60 minutes per day). Here is a photo of my set-up:

I want to help out as many people as possible on this stuff. I can't tell you how much help I have got from people in the past, so I figured I need to pass on the favor (good karma I guess) to others in need. I did the bottle for about a year and absolutely hated it. I was always tweaking the drip and having to watch the dKH all the time from the CO2 (can't tell you how many times it would jump my dKH up past 9 when I wasn't watching it, what a PIA). This is set-up and go. I check to make sure the pumps are working every so often, since my timers are set to go off at intervals from 2am to 4am.

Cheers and Happy New Year

 

[jreeceaspen]

Oh and FYI: I cut Randy's recipe in half to start. I have since upped the BS, but left the Cal the same. I find my tank is always a little high on CAL (which it just tested out at 450) and a little low on dKH (around 7.8 to 8.0). I went with a new solution last month of 2/3's BS and 1/2 CAL. Every tank is different, but I would suggest starting out at half the recipe and dripping a little longer. I feel it's easier to control, as 10 drops could be a lot more than you need each day and come to find out a week later you over-shoot something (not sure how big your tank is, but with my system I can really go out of whack and it takes a lot to make a difference / I top-off about 20 gallons each week of RO water just to give you a idea). SO, go slow and take your time. Never hurts to add time to the drops rather than blow past your sweet spot.

 

[goslugsgo]

I would suggest starting out at half the recipe and dripping a little longer.

Good tip.