Using Laboratory-Grade Chemicals for DIY Supplementing

[McGinnis]

Randy,
I know that you make no claim to have tried any of the USP/FCC grade chemicals for supplementing ions in your DIY receipes, but I work in a laboratory where Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, and several other chemicals are readily available. I was wondering if you had an "opinion" on what you feel would work to create a supplement to dose for daily replenishment of necessary ions? The reason I ask has to do with an inability to get any of the recommend De-Icer products that you have listed in the Improved Method, so in order to still supplement I would like to consider the possibility of using these chemicals. Any information or thoughts regarding there use would really be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

USP or FCC would almost certainly be fine. The only issue might be ammonia in magnesium chloride, which might still qualify for such a grade. I would avoid technical grades.

 

[McGinnis]

Randy,
Thanks, I had a feeling that would be your recommendation. Working in the lab I am a member of, we get the majority of our chemicals from JT Baker and Fisher, so I trust their specifications and grade standards.

About the Ammonia, do you feel the contents could be significant in a system? Most of the grades I have looked at state there is less than .005% per container, is this significant in a marine system?

Also, if I am going to supplement these chemicals for the commercially available ones, which chemicals should I be using? Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Calcium chloride (dihydrate or anhydrous), anything else? Thanks for the assistance.

I don't really post much here, just read your recommendations and follow them closely...but with the obstacle of not finding your recommended products, I felt this may be my only option. Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you have an ammonia spec, that tells a lot.

Let's say you want to raise magnesium by 100 ppm. That will take 315.5 g of magnesium chloride hexahydrate in 100 gallons of tank water

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

if that contains 0.005% ammonia, then that 315.5 g contains 16 mg of ammonia. That results in 16 mg/100 gallons = 0.04 mg/l =0.04 ppm ammonia. That is some, but likely not too much in a healthy system.

PS, you might check the math.

 

[McGinnis]

Randy,
You are absolutely correct. Thanks for calculating that out. I was not really thinking about that aspect of it. I just assumed that with almost zero value ( I know, almost is not quite zero!) I would be OK.

So, I can use the Calcium Chloride Dihydrate, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate, and your Reciepe #2 to maintain a balanced system. Do you feel this should be correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, that sounds like a fine plan.

 

[McGinnis]

Thanks Randy, I will keep you informed of the results. Might make for another chapter in your Reef Chemistry Experiments novel.

 

[McGinnis]

One more question....sorry....if I am just supplementing for daily doses, should I follow your weight recommendations per gallon as if I were using the Dow and Mag flakes?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

if I am just supplementing for daily doses, should I follow your weight recommendations per gallon as if I were using the Dow and Mag flakes?

For making individual additions, use this calculator:

Reef Chemicals Calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

For my DIY two part recipes, calcium chloride dihydrate can substitute directly for Dowflake and Magnesium chloride hexahydrate for the MAG flake.

 

[McGinnis]

Thanks Randy,
That is what I had hoped you would say!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.