Homemade 2-part recipe (B-Ionic ....)

[Crit21]

How much was it?

 

[racer69]

I was looking at the ensign II myself. How far does it pump? They have refurbished units for $139. I may have ot get one.

 

[calvin415]

The guy that sell them for 139 sells them on ebay as well and I picked mine up for a Buy Now of 99 plus 10 for shipping. I don't recall how far it pumps since I have mine right next to my sump, but I'm sure he's got the details on his ebay ads. Try shooting him a message, he's slow to respond, but his ebay handle is tanksalot.

 

[Crit21]

Did you need anything else to make it work--sensors for pH, Ca, Alk?

 

[calvin415]

No, it runs 24/7 and just doses based on what you set the pump to run at. 1 unit/hr will dose .3ml/hr or 7.2ml per day. It will pump up to 295 units/hr which is 2,124 ml or 2.124 L per day.

 

[Crit21]

I was at Seascape yesterday and got into a discussion with Sage about the recipe. Naturally, she said that it's dangerous. Then I noticed she sells calcium chloride pellets identical to the ones in Excel ice melt. I'm fairly sure the Excel is from the same source as the CaCl2 she's selling. there are only two sources in the country. LOL. I'm using the 2-part recipe twice a week and my chemistry is great.

 

[racer69]

People will say things are dangerous without actually knowing anything about it, especially if they have a negative interest in the item in question. I know it is safe just from the large amount of research I have done. I use 120 ml of each part every day, and my corals are growing like crazy. If it was dangerous I would have seen something in the last four months other than growth.

 

[Crit21]

I agree to an extent. TRhere are people out there who will try home recipes without knowing the purity of the ingredients or the effects of overdosing. Those are the people who don't test their water. Those are also the people who are surprised when they crash their tank.

She has another reason to put down those recipes--if she said they work, she'd lose business.

 

[Crit21]

Racer, what are your water parameters now that you're using the baking soda and calcium chloride recipes?

 

[racer69]

Calc-420
ALk-8-9 dkh

 

[Crit21]

Have you figured the changes you get with each dose?

 

[racer69]

No, once I found the amount to make it stable, I just continue with that dose. For my tank that is 120ml per day.

 

[Somguynco]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Incase you didn't read it, an update to the 2-part additive article.

 

[racer69]

Thank you for the thread. I just got through reading it and will soon try the improved 3rd part.

 

[Crit21]

Well, it's been at least 2 months and the 2-part (plus Mg supplement) recipe is working well. My Ca and Alk are looking great and so are my corals. All of my SPS are looking healthy and actually growing. I had 2 monti frags that were about 1/4" across grow to about 1" x 2" in 2 months.

 

[racer69]

I am bumping this to the top for those who havn't read it. The Haj was looking for the recipe, so I hope this helps.

 

[murfman]

who is using the magnesium part?

 

[Crit21]

I am. I think Racer69 is too. It's a no-brainer. After you use a gallon of each of the Ca and Alk mixes you dunp in a certain amount of the Mg solution.

 

[pgrantz]

I've used part three for a long time. Works great.

 

[racer69]

Dan is right, I add about a 1/3 of a gal of mag for every gallon of 2 part used.