Inexpensive two-part calcium and alkalinity system

[britfish]

This is a link to making your own very inexpensive two-part calcium and alkalinity additive system
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

Has anyone tried it ? Results?

[KyleV]

Bad link. Try again because I'd be interested in trying it.

[JimD]

Here ya go..


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

[britfish]

Thanks JimD. I fixed my link also.

[stoneroller]

I've been using the two part solution for several months now and am happy with the results. I bought the kit from twopartsolution.com (now bulkreefsupply.com) and its far cheaper than B-Ionic.

[britfish]

Thanks "stoneroller" for the link to www.bulkreefsupply.com (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com)
The only problem is the shipping costs are so high. There has to be a local supply for Dowflake. You can get the baking soda and epson salts from the local supermarket. I've heard that in some towns HomeDepot carry Dowflake in 50lb bags for about $20. I'll check it out tomorrow.

Also, FYI, I just found this link
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#12
to an improved recipe which adds magnesium chloride (Magflake). Maybe HomeDepot carry this also!

[britfish]

Looks like buying from http://bulkreefsupply.com is going to be the best way to go. I figured a 3 month supply is going to cost me about $24 including shipping which is only $8/month. Not bad compared to the cost of B-ionic!

Just placed an order with bulkreefsupply for recipe #1 and the cost is a lot lower than I thought - only about $3/month!!!

[stoneroller]

Exactly, I bought six kits to make it worth it.

[ou812pezz]

I've made and used it with great results. I also have a few bags of the DOW flake left over for sale.
http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=38722

[britfish]

Exactly, I bought six kits to make it worth it.
All we need now is an inexpensive automatic dosing solution! Any suggestions?

One option is to calculate the amount needed for my volume of water and add it to my auto top-off water but the dosage would vary slightly depending on the amount of evaporation and hence the amount top-off water used but this may be the best solution as it's ZERO additional cost.

The Kent drip system (about $25) is another low cost option but I understand you have to constantly adjust the drip rate as it varies depending on the volume in the container.

What method are you currently using?

[britfish]

Link to an excellent reef chemistry calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

and a water volume calculator that takes into account the water displaced by adding live rock, sand, etc.
http://reef.diesyst.com/volcalc/volcalc.html

[stoneroller]

I just manually add it everyday, just like feeding the fish. I use kalk in my topoff water, also.

[stoneroller]

PS. I like the flash version of the calculator!

[britfish]

I just manually add it everyday, just like feeding the fish. I use kalk in my topoff water, also.
Why do you also use Kalk in you top-off water? Aren't you double dosing?

[JimD]

Kalk is not the same as Ca and Alk.

[britfish]

Isn't the purpose of adding Kalk to replenish Calcium?

[Ping]

Kalk dosing is the best method to a balanced system. It is very hard for Kalkwasser to be the only additive. Even with a supersaturated addition to all topoff water, most SPS systems require more CA and ALK than can be provided with Kalkwasser alone.

The next best way of dosing is to use a Calcium reactor along with a Kalk reactor.

The 3rd, and the cheapest, is 2 and 3 part solutions. I use a homemade 2 part solution along with a kalk reactor. The problem: long term ionic imbalances, Increased Chloride and Sodium ions in relation to natural seawater = increased Specific Gravity and ionic imbalance.

Perform regular (weekly) water changes when using a Chloride and Sodium solution to help maintain NSW parameters when not using the Balling method.

[britfish]

I understand that if you have a tank near the high end of calcium and alkalinity demand, then Kalk alone may not be adequate and that you may need to supplement it with extra calcium and alkalinity by using a two-part solution for example.

You could achieve the same calcium and alkalinity results by simply using a higher dosage of the two-part solution. However, if I understand you correctly, you're saying this is not a good idea because long term you will create ionic imbalances.

In other words you should NEVER only use a two-part additive, whether it's B-Ionic or a home made solution, you should ALWAYS use it in conjunction with Kalk. Is this correct?

[Ping]

No, Kalk is not a requirement. Many people run successful tanks on 2 part solutions alone. In the long run, they will go out of balance, if not watched closely, and without regular large water changes. Large % regular water changes mediate most long term 2 part problems

Whenever possible, Kalk should be our first choice in dosing for many reasons. pH, PO3 and4 precipitation, balanced ratios.

[JimD]

Kalk is mainly used to help maintain levels once you get them where you want, also, it will help precipitate PO4.

[beareef19]

I have been using only kalk for the past two years and I have always had problems keeping my alk in the correct range due to the fact that my corals were using it up as they build thier skeletons. After reading the link on this two part solution I realized they are used in conjunction with each other I started using the two part solution and with in 5 days I have hit a target of where my tank should be ,I am still adding kalk with my top off water but I am now watching my levels alot closer and adjusting the amount of two part solution to keep with in the levels I want.

Barry

[britfish]

I've researched this some more and according to Randy Holmes-Farley who developed the two-part formula I'm planning to use, the improved recipe does not substantially skew the aquarium's ionic balance any more that just using Kalk alone and this can be mitigated with regular water changes (which should be done anyway) as stated by Ping. Obviously every aquarium's demand for cal and alk are going to be different and the solutuion neeeds to be tailored to fit the demand and an eye kept on the water chemistry.

I'm going to dose my two-part manually to begin with but have found a low-cost method for automating the process on another forum and plan to give that a try asap.