papagimp
COMAS Rocks!
I just finished reading Randy's recipes for the 2 part Alk & Calcium supplements (but I think 3 part is more accurate since he uses a magnesium supp. as well ) . I was hoping somebody with experience using homemade recipes could give me their feedback on making it myself vs. buying stuff at stores. I know it'll be cheaper to make myself, but is it really as good as he claims?
Also, what other chem suppliments are you using in addition to these, or are you simply using jus the 2 part solutions?
background: I've been using a line of seachem products following a supplement regime listed at garf.org but lately my Alk won't go over 8 dKH and my calcium stays about the minimum 400ppm. My original thoughts were that my LPS corals , specifically my frogspawn and hammer, have started showing an increase in growth that was never present before and are using up more of the Calcium and whatnot. And since I'm going to be upgrading to a 150g in the future, I'd like to find ways to cut down costs, and making this stuff up myself would definatly cost less than dosing my tank with lot's of expensive products that may not be as good as the manufacters claim them to be.
I've also had problems with the pH venturing a bit too low (7.8) but I think that was due to CO2 levels in the house, Added more aeration and the pH seems to be leveling back around 8.1-8.3.
Also, what other chem suppliments are you using in addition to these, or are you simply using jus the 2 part solutions?
background: I've been using a line of seachem products following a supplement regime listed at garf.org but lately my Alk won't go over 8 dKH and my calcium stays about the minimum 400ppm. My original thoughts were that my LPS corals , specifically my frogspawn and hammer, have started showing an increase in growth that was never present before and are using up more of the Calcium and whatnot. And since I'm going to be upgrading to a 150g in the future, I'd like to find ways to cut down costs, and making this stuff up myself would definatly cost less than dosing my tank with lot's of expensive products that may not be as good as the manufacters claim them to be.
I've also had problems with the pH venturing a bit too low (7.8) but I think that was due to CO2 levels in the house, Added more aeration and the pH seems to be leveling back around 8.1-8.3.
The Calcium Chloride went into the water easy. A work of warning, the chemical reaction that takes place between the CaCl and the H20 get really hot. Nothing that will burn your hands, but we're talking up to 150+ºF. I couldn't lift the jug that I mixed it in for very long. Of course, I'm also a wuss when it comes to heat.
