Requesting suggestions on DIY 3 part

[Cephas27]

Hi All,

As the title suggests, I have a 53 gallon reef tank, and intend to make my own 3 part following Randy Holmes' method. However, the ingredients (Calcium Chloride Dihydrate, Sodium bicarbonate, Magnesium sulphate and Magnesium chloride Hexahydrate) I am getting where I stay are Merck GR grade. I don't have much idea on this subject, and as far as I have read The GR grade represents high quality.

Questions:

1) Has anyone used these chemicals from Merck for making a DIY2/3-part? if not, are there any other parameters I need to check before buying these.

2) Are there any downside to dosing diy solutions, I am not dosing any other trace elements currently, what would be a good way to substitute replenishing the trace elements in the tank.

Many Thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

I dose Dowflake for Ca, pool supply soda ash for alk and both Mag Flake and bulk Epsom salt for Mg. I've been using them in 4 tanks for over 5 years now and the DT is sps/lps dominate. No issues.

You need to get spec sheets from the manufacturer (maybe online or by email from the company) to know exactly what is in them. I'm not familiar with Merck GR grade products or what they are used for.

Trace elements can be replenished by water changes. Don't dose what you can't test for.

 

[Cephas27]

Thanks a lot Ron for the quick reply, will look into the description of these products to check the purity.. Did you ever face issue such as the substrate forming clumps with this method of dosing, i have read a couple of posts where they were facing such an issue.. thanks for your help!!

 

[michaelg]

is it considerably cheaper than buying from somewhere like bulk reef supply? or is all you can get? GR is "guaranteed reagent"- might be their highest purity, and won't be cheap. ACS grade (or even lower) is fine. These chemicals will come with a certificate of analysis so you can see what might be contaminants. High phosphate/nitrate is one thing, other would be contaminating heavy metals.

 

[jbvdhp]

I use baked baking soda and calcium chloride from a pool supply (Leslie's pool supply). It's Dow mini pellets so it's a tad more concentrated in the calcium. The magnesium I'll use Randy's recipe or tech m if I need to raise it quickly.

I'm sure you can check the MSDS if it's coming from Merck.


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[Cephas27]

Thanks Michael & Jbvdhp. @Michael - I am in India, so the availability of reef products is quite limited and highly priced. The GR grade all 4 ingredients, 500gm each I am getting for $25-30, and which should last me a long time. Would there be a problem if I use GR grade, as in will I have to adjust the portions etc? @jbvdhp - I am trying to find the MSDS for these online now, the vendor from whom I am planning to buy said he will give a quality analysis certificate along with the products. is there some specific technical term that I should be checking in that?

Thanks again for your replies!!

 

[jbvdhp]

Thanks Michael & Jbvdhp. @Michael - I am in India, so the availability of reef products is quite limited and highly priced. The GR grade all 4 ingredients, 500gm each I am getting for $25-30, and which should last me a long time. Would there be a problem if I use GR grade, as in will I have to adjust the portions etc? @jbvdhp - I am trying to find the MSDS for these online now, the vendor from whom I am planning to buy said he will give a quality analysis certificate along with the products. is there some specific technical term that I should be checking in that?



Thanks again for your replies!!

I think you want to make sure the MSDS lists, for example, if making the calcium solution, that calcium chloride and whatever else may be in it is practically inert and safe for your reef. I am using a "pool chemical" which in reality is Dow mini pellets and there was talks that it has elevated levels of bromide. On the MSDS it lists Ca as being 94-97% of the main ingredient and the rest of it as Na an Cl and something other than stuff you don't want in your tank (Cu, Br).

If you're using lab grade stuff and see the MSDS and things are ok, I would probably use it. Can you use baking soda for your Alk? Surely that has to be available in India?


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[michaelg]

You are fine with those chemicals- they are high grade and will have minimal contaminants. Personally, I wouldn't even bother with COAs- this is nothing at all like the dow grade CaCl2 or other very cheap grades used in the hobby.

Food grade chemicals are usually OK. A while back there were issues with phosphate in Calcium hydroxide from Mrs. Wages brand. Phosphate will be the thing to look out for in food grade materials- other serious toxins would not be present by and large.


MDSDs aren't useful for this by the way (as an FYI)- they are the material safety data sheets, and don't have lot based purity analysis. They will tell you possible medical side affects, etc and are required for shipping of chemicals. The Certificates of Analysis do....

 

[Cephas27]

Thanks a lot again guys for the ultra useful information. i am planning to make the supplements tomo (Saturday is dedicated to reef tank) and will update how it goes!! Will also update what i find in the MSDS and the certificate of analysis!! fingers crossed

 

[Cephas27]

The COA on tge boxes..


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[Cephas27]

Update- thanks Ron, jvbdhp and Michael the merck chemicals seems to have worked perfectly.. Have finally got my levels in place!!! And thanks a ton Randy.. If you ever read this.. The calculations of the doses worked perfectly.. Now planning to get a dosing pump( jebao dp4- seems to be a good one for tge price) and keep tge levels steady[emoji4]


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