2 part or kalk

MaddReefer · May 25, 2020

Happy Memorial, hey will dosing kalkwasser raise the PH more that dosing 2 part ?

tank of gems · May 25, 2020

Yes kalk will raise your ph so keep an eye on it and its best to dose kslk thu your ato

MaddReefer · May 25, 2020

tank of gems said:
Yes kalk will raise your ph so keep an eye on it and its best to dose kslk thu your ato

Will it raise it more than the 2 part Im dosing ?

tank of gems · May 25, 2020

What 2 part are you doing. And usually kalk does raise it more. You have to keep an eye on it

MaddReefer · May 25, 2020

tank of gems said:
What 2 part are you doing. And usually kalk does raise it more. You have to keep an eye on it

Brs, 55ml of each a day. 450gal tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 25, 2020

There are three basic inorganic chemicals that can be dosed to boost alkalinity: bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide.

Two parts can be made with all three.

The typical BRS two part uses carbonate and has about half the pH boost per unit of alk added as does hydroxide that is present in limewater (kalkwasser) and in a DIY two part that some folks use. Bicarbonate has no immediate pH boost.

palmer · May 25, 2020

I am currently doing kalkwasser because for the last two years I have moved from SPS to mostly LPS-
Best results I had was using ESV 2 part - I had amazing growth but was expensive to run

WallyB · May 25, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
There are three basic inorganic chemicals that can be dosed to boost alkalinity: bicarbonate, carbonate, and hydroxide.

Two parts can be made with all three.

The typical BRS two part uses carbonate and has about half the pH boost per unit of alk added as does hydroxide that is present in limewater (kalkwasser) and in a DIY two part that some folks use. Bicarbonate has no immediate pH boost.

Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley

As you may or may not know ESV factory has shut down at this point (due to COVID). Stores here in Canada say at least a month before restock.

Getting ESV Two Part is harder than getting Toilet Paper at this poing.
I still have enought to last me 3-4 weeks but am planning for a Plan B.

I used to make your two part. When I wasn't so lazy.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

I do have a Jar or Turbo Calcium, and the other ingredients. Even a 1/2 Bucket of Dow Flake (that is years old).

QUESTION #1) Can I used the Dow Flake (that was in a sealed bucket). Even if over 5 year old?

QUESTION #2) When I switch to your TWO Part Formulas. What can to do to test the Alk/Calcium concentrations (between your Two Part and ESV) so I have some kind of GUT feeling on how to adjust my Dosing. (Just dilute down with RO and compare the two by testing?)

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 25, 2020

Old Dowflake will be fine. Might be hard as a rock, but is OK even if you have the chisel it out (clean the chisel well). I've done that.

My recipe #1 is 32% less potent than B-ionic original. Use this calcualtor to compare:

Reef Chemistry Calculator