Homemade two part ca/alk question

[gflat65]

Do I have to mix with water, or can I just dose similarly to the Seachem Reef Builder (or whatever the alk part in power form is called). I'm cooking the baking soda now... If it is best to dissolve the baking soda in water, how much would I expect to add at a time (just to get a baseline)? I add three extra heaping tablespoons of dry alk-part every other day (Seachem).

TIA

 

[Sir Knight]

It is usually mixed with ro/di water in gallon jugs. Two cups per gallon for the Baking soda. If you are baking the baking soda this would mean that your Ph is low. If it isn't I would recommend not baking it. When baking you are creating soda wash. The reason for not using soda wash is because of impurities.
Baking soda is food grade where as soda wash isn't.

You do the same for the Cal part except you use one cup of dow flakes per gallon of RO/DI and don't bake.

As far as how much to add, that will depend on your tanks needs.

 

[crumbletop]

To make Randy's two-part (alk) you need to mix the baked baking soda with water. 2 1/4 c per gallon if memory serves. You can calculate how much you need to add using this calculator:

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

I'm not sure how the two-part alk liquid compares to the seachem alk buffer in terms of how much you add.

 

[crumbletop]

I double checked just to make sure. It's two cups per gallon of the dowflake (Ca), and 2 1/4 c of baking soda (baked) for the alk (for recipe #1, low pH). Here is the link

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

Don't forget the Mg too.

 

[cee]

If you mix 2.25 cups (or a 1 lb. box plus 1/2 cup) of baked baking soda into a gallon of RO/DI water, then 71 mL of the saturated solution will raise 100 gallons of water 1 dKH. That's just under 5 tablespoons, BTW, and that's how I remember it. Everything else is proportional.

Dave

 

[Pickupman66]

hey, I am having a terrible time keeping my alk in check. it is always low. Ca is over 500ppm, ph at 8.2. will part of this recepie work. I really dont want to add more CA to the tank, just a good way to maintain alk. also, I really need a good kit. the seachem one I have just gives ranges and not actually meg/l.

 

[boofer]

Gary, No you dont have to mix with water, you can just use the baked baking soda like the Seachem...use the calculator to figure out the difference (if any) to dose between the 2. Same thing with the Dowflake also.

Pickupman66- Yes, just dose the alk (version 2 since you ph is already good) till your CA comes down to where you want it or just use regular baking soda. Every Seachem kit ive used gives you meq/l....you sure its a Seachem kit?

 

[Pickupman66]

sorry red sea kit. I need to buck up and get a better one. I have been too lazy with it lately, so I have been slowly bringing it up with some seachem reef buffer.

so I can just use regular baking soda added just like I add the buffer? how cool is that. and way cheaper.

 

[Sir Knight]

Here is a link to the 2 part additive and a couple of different videos that I just found maybe of some use to some of you

http://www.reefvideos.com/

Some pretty good stuff.

 

[gflat65]

Thanks for all the good info and links.

 

[gflat65]

Ahhh. Found an issue with the calculator. I am trying to compare liquid to powder... Time to put on the math cap...

 

[turboex901]

gary, this has always been something that intrigues me but until i see someone else do it im too scared to try on my own. im a visual learner maybe we could discuss this at a future meeting? it would save us big tank folks a TON of money. <~~~steve

 

[gflat65]

Steve,

It's really easy. You just have to find some Dow Flake (many use the Prestone Driveway Heat, but some have found Dowflake) and some baking soda. You don;t have to cook the baking soda, but I did because my pH runs a little low, anyway. That may change once I get my alk back up, but it may take the whole batch... If your pH is usually higher, you would just mix a gallon of water with a predetermined amount of powder (2 or 2.25 cups). Definitely worth a look at a meeting.

 

[foggy54]

Steve,

Come to the Dec. meeting and I'll hook you up, I have some Dow Flake so you can try it out.........

 

[turboex901]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8590073#post8590073 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by foggy54
Steve,

Come to the Dec. meeting and I'll hook you up, I have some Dow Flake so you can try it out.........

sounds like a deal! im quite anxious to check this out. me and my wife are def. coming, weve heard wonderful things about youre tanks. were really excited to check them out<~~~steve

 

[gflat65]

What's funny is that the display is upstairs in the wall, but most of us end up hanging out in the basement around the other tanks for a good part of the night, like its the man room or something. I guess that's cause that's where the frags are. Sharks circling...