Hi friends
I would like to share with everybody my experience to set up the famous and cheap two-parts(meaning now three parts) from Randy Holmes-Farley( http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/) in Canada.
Thank you very much Randy.
In US I can see in the forums that is not so difficult to find the "œingredients", but in Canada the story is a little different. Well, after a lot of research, I could get everything and put in place the system.
Let's start with the Calcium Part:
Calcium Chloride Flakes 77% by Warwick Salt
I found out this product at RONA DEPOT that for me it is very good, with good price (CAD$ 16.99 "“ 20kg)
http://www.rona.ca/en/ice-melt-20kg-1157002
The Alkalinity Part:
This was the easier part. Baking soda from Arm & Hammer you can find everywhere and cheap. I recommend buy the big box 4lb, more economical. Around CAD$10.00.
Magnesium Part:
First Part
I found out the product as below, with good price as well (CAD$ 13.99 "“ 10kg) and easy to get in Canadian Tire.
I checked in the manufacturer site and could see that this is a very good option for Mg Part:
SIFTO® SAFE STEP® NATURE'S POWER™ MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE
The fastest acting premium ice melter on the market, Nature's Power works in extremely cold temperatures. The unique crystal shape provides rapid ice penetration and keeps product from scattering to where you don't need it. Nature's Power is 100 percent magnesium chloride hexahydrate, which means it is great on vegetation and concrete when used as directed.
"¢ Sifto Safe Step Nature's Power Ice Melter is low in chlorides, making it safer for the environment
"¢ Naturally produced in North America, extracted naturally from the Great Salt Lake
"¢ Causes less cracking scaling on concrete than calcium chloride
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/sifto-safe-step-natures-power-ice-melter-10-kg-bag-0596996p.html#.VMu13yyfbEM
Second Part
Epsom Salt - Magnesium Sulfate USP
It was easy to find as well. I bought in Walmart for around CAD$8.00 - 4kg
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/epsom-salts/6000101671710
Materials:
For the three recipients I bought from Dollarama for CAD$2.50 each. The capacity of each one is almost 3 liters.
For the pumps, I bought from Ebay the Jebao Auto Dosing Pump DP-4. Around CAD$120.00. For this matter it's good. It is not so precise but it has been doing a very good job for more than 6 months. Thank God that the system activates for only 3 or 4 seconds each time, because it's really noise.
In summary: worth having this system at all
You will see the difference in your corals, mainly the hard corals. I didn't do the account yet, but I believe that I have material for much more than one year, considering that my tank's demand is low. Big difference in your pocket as well :dance:
I hope that these tips help the Canadians Residents hehehe
Regards
Bulabr
I would like to share with everybody my experience to set up the famous and cheap two-parts(meaning now three parts) from Randy Holmes-Farley( http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/) in Canada.
Thank you very much Randy.
In US I can see in the forums that is not so difficult to find the "œingredients", but in Canada the story is a little different. Well, after a lot of research, I could get everything and put in place the system.
Let's start with the Calcium Part:
Calcium Chloride Flakes 77% by Warwick Salt
I found out this product at RONA DEPOT that for me it is very good, with good price (CAD$ 16.99 "“ 20kg)
http://www.rona.ca/en/ice-melt-20kg-1157002
The Alkalinity Part:
This was the easier part. Baking soda from Arm & Hammer you can find everywhere and cheap. I recommend buy the big box 4lb, more economical. Around CAD$10.00.
Magnesium Part:
First Part
I found out the product as below, with good price as well (CAD$ 13.99 "“ 10kg) and easy to get in Canadian Tire.
I checked in the manufacturer site and could see that this is a very good option for Mg Part:
SIFTO® SAFE STEP® NATURE'S POWER™ MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE
The fastest acting premium ice melter on the market, Nature's Power works in extremely cold temperatures. The unique crystal shape provides rapid ice penetration and keeps product from scattering to where you don't need it. Nature's Power is 100 percent magnesium chloride hexahydrate, which means it is great on vegetation and concrete when used as directed.
"¢ Sifto Safe Step Nature's Power Ice Melter is low in chlorides, making it safer for the environment
"¢ Naturally produced in North America, extracted naturally from the Great Salt Lake
"¢ Causes less cracking scaling on concrete than calcium chloride
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/sifto-safe-step-natures-power-ice-melter-10-kg-bag-0596996p.html#.VMu13yyfbEM
Second Part
Epsom Salt - Magnesium Sulfate USP
It was easy to find as well. I bought in Walmart for around CAD$8.00 - 4kg
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/epsom-salts/6000101671710
Materials:
For the three recipients I bought from Dollarama for CAD$2.50 each. The capacity of each one is almost 3 liters.
For the pumps, I bought from Ebay the Jebao Auto Dosing Pump DP-4. Around CAD$120.00. For this matter it's good. It is not so precise but it has been doing a very good job for more than 6 months. Thank God that the system activates for only 3 or 4 seconds each time, because it's really noise.
In summary: worth having this system at all
You will see the difference in your corals, mainly the hard corals. I didn't do the account yet, but I believe that I have material for much more than one year, considering that my tank's demand is low. Big difference in your pocket as well :dance:
I hope that these tips help the Canadians Residents hehehe
Regards
Bulabr
