Ez E Calcium & Alkalinity maintenance?

[TexasState]

I have a 29G mixed reef tank with two small clams (3 to 4 inches.) My tank are lit 24/7 if the 13Watts PC in the refugium are counted in. IMHO, Kalkwasser take too much effort to use.
Any body having good lucking using just Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium and Seachem Reef Builder to maintain their calcium and alkalinity?

The products described above are easy to mix and quick to dissolve.

[z28pwr]

Vinh, I use the Tech A and B which is pretty simple to use.

[whatsareef]

I have been using Tech A & B also.... Pretty simple

[GaryP]

Does anyone know where you can buy sodium carbonate (Washing soda or soda ash) locally? I have about 20 lbs. of baking soda and would like to make up some DIY buffer. I've done this in the past and it works just as well as the commercial stuff.

Gary

[Jimnorris]

Vinh,
Seachem is a very good product. The Reef Builder and Reef Calcium is a very good A & B additive. IMO ESV B-Ionics is a much better way to go.
Jim

[matt]

Gary;

I'd like to know this too. I checked at target and walmart with no luck. I'm sure it can be bought as lab grade sodium carbonate at analytical scientific, but it's probably expensive. For normal buffering, if you don't need to correct for an existing low ph, plain baking soda works fine as a buffer, as the sodium bicarbonate disassociates into carbonate ions in salt water. But it won't raise your ph in the way that sodium carbonate will; for most situations, I would think this is actually preferable.

[JimD]

"Super washing soda" I got some at HEB, Ive only used a couple of tablespoons of it, If someone wants the rest, let me know and Ill bring it to the meeting. Probably 53 ounces left in the box.

[GaryP]

Jim,

I'll take it thanks. I'll be at the meeting.

Matt,

Most solid buffer preperations are a 6:1 ratio of bicarbonate: carbonate with a pinch of borate thrown into some preparations. I used to have access to excess lab chemicals that were being disposed of. I always tried to grab the inorganics that I could use for my tanks such as buffer components, magnesium, manganese, strontium, and iodine. I need to find the formula for Lugols solution. I know its a mixture of sodium iodide and iodine. I guess I need to check Moe.

[TexasState]

I've got some soda and other stuff too. It's been so long, I don't remember if it's from a lab grade order pool or not. If you want it, let me know and I'll see if I still have it, or already throw it away.

[GaryP]

Yes, I'll be happy to take it off your hands. Like I said I have a bunch of bicarb. I need the soda to balance it out. I'm using about a half pound of buffer per week. One of these days I'll get around to building a calcium reactor. Its not in the budget now.

Gary