2 part options

[Dr.HarlemTutu]

I’m using 2 part pharma from BRS. Looking for a comparable alternative. Similar pricing would be good... just wanting to possibly move on from this particular supplier.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Almost any 2 part made of reefs will work. Lots of people, me included, use bulk chemicals and they can work fine as well.

I use Dowflake (snow melt) for Ca. Soda ash from a pool supply or baking soda from the grocery store for alk. And a mix of Mag Flake (snow melt) and Epsom Salt for Mg. Randy Holmes Farley has mixing and use instructions. Heck, the chemistry calculator I use even has Randy's recipes listed along with a lot of brand named products.
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

 

[LiveWire]

If you are having an issue with BRS you may want to reach out to them as I am sure they will correct any issue that you may be having. If you are just looking to change it up you may want to look into ME Coral. They make some top notch 2 part and other products as well.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I agree that BRS has great customer service. If you're having an issue reach out and they will make it right.

That being said, I just use baking soda cooked in an oven to make washing soda, and use driveway heat for calcium chloride. Mag is the petsafe sidewalk salt and some epsom salt, same as Ron Reefman mentioned. I have been using for quite a while and never had an issue at all. It's also much cheaper, and all can be bought locally, at least in the winter. harder to find the ice melters in the summer. I typically just stock up a bit in the winter.

 

[Dr.HarlemTutu]

So this is industrial grade... how would it work? Just a few impurity’s??? For the alk portion.

What I like about the BRS stuff is the purity and I think it’s pretty balanced with there mixing instruction. I’m sure I could refer to Randy’s calculators to help dial this in as well.

Nothing against BRS, I am having an issue that I don’t feel they are dealing with. But that’s beside the point really... just my issue.[emoji106]

 

[Dr.HarlemTutu]

And this for calcium... I like the packaging of both these. Less than half what I’m spending.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

That's the wrong calcium supplement. You need Calcium CHLORIDE, not carbonate. Calcium carbonate is equivalent to the antacid tums tablets. Just use randy's instructions for mixing it up, and it's used exactly the same as the BRS stuff. I haven't personally used those from dudadiesel, but they look alright to me. I normally look for food grade in my additives, but because driveway heat and mag flake ice melt have been proven to work well in many peoples tanks, I make an exception for the calcium and magnesium supplements.

 

[Dr.HarlemTutu]

That's the wrong calcium supplement. You need Calcium CHLORIDE, not carbonate. Calcium carbonate is equivalent to the antacid tums tablets. Just use randy's instructions for mixing it up, and it's used exactly the same as the BRS stuff. I haven't personally used those from dudadiesel, but they look alright to me. I normally look for food grade in my additives, but because driveway heat and mag flake ice melt have been proven to work well in many peoples tanks, I make an exception for the calcium and magnesium supplements.

Oops, yea, I knew that . Thanks!

 

[laverda]

I buy baking soda at Costco. I have 50 pounds of 99% pure calcium chloride pellets for $45 plus shipping. Sadly I do not get the great shipping rates BRS and others do.

 

[ZoWhat]

Everyone thinks 2part is one Part Calcium, one Part Carbonate

A lot of ppl forget all the TRACE ELEMENTS that are included in professional 2part..... potassium, strontium come to mind

 

[Ike]

Everyone thinks 2part is one Part Calcium, one Part Carbonate

A lot of ppl forget all the TRACE ELEMENTS that are included in professional 2part..... potassium, strontium come to mind

Most of that stuff is in traces naturally and they just list them, they're also not needed as a supplement. The only reason of significance to use commercially available two parts is for convenience.

 

[ZoWhat]

Most of that stuff is in traces naturally and they just list them, they're also not needed as a supplement. The only reason of significance to use commercially available two parts is for convenience.

Yes. Bc Arm n Hammer, Calcium chloride, Dow Flake from your local HomeDepot....has all the trace elements your coral needs in perfect balance....and makes pies, and melt snow off your driveway. Amazing

 

[laverda]

Everyone thinks 2part is one Part Calcium, one Part Carbonate

A lot of ppl forget all the TRACE ELEMENTS that are included in professional 2part..... potassium, strontium come to mind

I use 2 part. I also dose magnesium, boron, potassium, Strontium, iodine and other trace elements. They may not be needed if your doing water changes. I have not done one in 3 years now. I may have to soon as my nitrates and phosphates have shot up recently.

 

[doughboy]

I've been using pool supply chemicals for 8+ years with no issue
https://www.lesliespool.com/leslies-hardness-plus-pool-chemical/hardness-plus.htm
https://www.lesliespool.com/leslies-soda-ash-buckets/soda-ash.htm

you can make 6 gallons of alk from 5lb soda ash for $19 (375 grams per gallon of solution)
and about 7 gallons of alk from 8lb calcium chloride for $26 (500 grams per gallon of solution)
under $10 per gallon of 2 part solution