<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14814456#post14814456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alphaferret
ya 400 is not bad I would get it up if it were me too!
i am still getting into this 2 part thing- I have an order w/ bulkreefsupply.com for some of the diy 2 part
You might be able to do cheap 2-part without ordering supplies online. (Having said that BulkReefSupply is great...but watch for shipping charges if you live far from them!)
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
That's a link to Randy's article on what you need to make it...REAL EASY.
What I use (I have a CA Reactor, I only used it to raise levels to the point I wanted them to so the Reactor would maintain it) is;
Calcium Chloride sold as "Hardness Plus" at "Leslie's Pool Suppy" it costs I think $11 for 8 pounds or something like that, enough for many gallons.
Baking soda ... 12 pounds for $6 at Costco!
I use the "baking the baking soda" method that Randy suggested.
So for less than $20, you can probably make at least 5 gallons (of each part) of 2 part solution, if not way more (You might even get more than 10 gallons, I haven't really bothered to figure it out)
Compare this to B-Ionic that sells for about $25 for one gallon each of CA and Alk!!
So check out the link and check out your local pool supplier (for Calcium Carbonate). If you live somewhere that sells Dow Flake and/or Mag Flake, this should be a no-brainer decision.
V