anyone make thier oun 2 part mag and cal?

firefightered · Sep 18, 2011

anyone make thier own 2 part mag and cal?

I am looking to start making my own 2 part dosing stuff. I am not sure if there is any where in the Russellville or Humtsville area to get the Mag. salfate and calcium stuff I need. If any of you know where to get the stuff and know the correct mix that works, PLEASE let me know. I live in Russellville but work at the Arsenal in Huntsville. I am also looking for someone who would be willing to sell some RO/DI water of 5-10 gal per week. I used to buy from John but now I have had to get it from pet depot. Since then I have developed Cyno and cann't get rid of it. I am planning to buy my own but it will be a couple of months.

Tomoko Schum · Sep 18, 2011

I think the majority of people buy calcium and magnesium additives from Bulk Reef Supply now (Mike_dani may carry some). I bought a 50 lbs bag of Mississippi Lime Company's food grade Calcium hydroxide (lime) from Brenntag in Huntsville for $11. I think Beaslbob was using calcium chloride, which he bought from Brenntag at a very low price. I don't know what impurities their Calcium chloride contains, but Beaslbob seemed okay with it. People generally follow the 2 parts recipe by Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley.

pickupman66 · Sep 18, 2011

Mike had a bunch on the shelves last time I was there.

beaslbob · Sep 20, 2011

I may still have the calcium and magnesium chlorides.

Somewhere. LOL.

Tomoko Schum · Sep 20, 2011

So, when are you going to put it to use, Bob?

firefightered · Sep 20, 2011

I NEED SOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm wanting to use the Randy mix myself but can not find the right stuff around here (Mag Flake). I cann't even find a Mag test kit local!!! Have to order on line for that.

firefightered · Sep 20, 2011

Anybody want to sell me some RO/DI water?

pickupman66 · Sep 20, 2011

have you hollered at Mike_Dani? he should have some or can get the test kits. also, if you need Ro/Di, I dont know how far you are from Winchester, but I keep at least 55 gallons of it in teh garage...

mike_dani · Sep 20, 2011

firefightered said:
Anybody want to sell me some RO/DI water?

How much do you need I can deliver up to 200 gallons.

firefightered · Sep 20, 2011

Until I get my own unit (about 1-2 months) I generally only need about 5 -10 gal a week. I can pick up. I work in Huntsville. I have been getting my water from pet depot since john lost his business. Since they only have RO water and it is just a step better than tap, I have been getting cyno in my tank

. I just need a few gal. a week for top off and water changes.

mike_dani said:
How much do you need I can deliver up to 200 gallons.

beaslbob · Sep 20, 2011

firefightered said:
Until I get my own unit (about 1-2 months) I generally only need about 5 -10 gal a week. I can pick up. I work in Huntsville. I have been getting my water from pet depot since john lost his business. Since they only have RO water and it is just a step better than tap, I have been getting cyno in my tank. I just need a few gal. a week for top off and water changes.

on the cyano Have you tried a little mrs wages picking lime in you top off water? (kalk)

I seem to remember there was some way of using the calcium chloride and baking soda way way overdosed to form calcium carbonate precipitate. The result was it also precipitated out a lot of nasties like copper from the water. So the water was pure.

my .02

repoman95 · Sep 20, 2011

I have been using the Randys 2 part for about 3 months now. I just use Epsom Salt for the Mag, Arm and Hammer baking soda for the alk and I got some dowflake from a buddy who works at a concrete plant. So far I am liking it.

firefightered · Sep 20, 2011

I use Kalk 2 in my top off. I put 2 Tbs per 5 gal and it is an auto top off. How much Mrs Wages should I add?

beaslbob said:
on the cyano Have you tried a little mrs wages picking lime in you top off water? (kalk)

I seem to remember there was some way of using the calcium chloride and baking soda way way overdosed to form calcium carbonate precipitate. The result was it also precipitated out a lot of nasties like copper from the water. So the water was pure.

my .02

Tomoko Schum · Sep 20, 2011

Mrs. Wage's pickling lime is Calcium hydroxide - the same thing as kalkwasser. It won't get rid of cyano. Kalk can bind a small amount of phosphate which often fuels cyano. This may be what Bob is hinting at. However, excess nitrate is also the cause of cyano. Have you tested your water lately?

Bob's precipitation suggestion sounds really problematic. Calcium carbonate precipitate irritates the heck out of your corals, and the reaction of calcium chloride and baking soda will shoot your alkalinity down so far and so rapidly that a lot of corals will suffer. Kalkwasser/lime can bind a trace amount of copper on its own. I don't see how the so called nasties precipitate out of the water column with the reaction of calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate.

firefightered · Sep 20, 2011

I do test my water quite often. I had no nitrate problems until I was forced to use the water from Pte Depot. I checked the water from them and was getting nitrates from that. I still have not got around to ordering a mag test kit yet. I will VERY shortly. I do dose about 2 Tbl spoons of Kalk 2 in my 5 gal ato. Is this too much? Should I just add the Mrs. Wages instead of Kalk? I have been having a problem with my cal 320-389, and Alk 7-9. I figured my mag was low because I could not keep them where they needed to be. Any suggestions would help. As far as corals go I only have softies right now. I do want sps but only after I get things back in shape.
Thanks
Ed

Tomoko Schum said:
Mrs. Wage's pickling lime is Calcium hydroxide - the same thing as kalkwasser. It won't get rid of cyano. Kalk can bind a small amount of phosphate which often fuels cyano. This may be what Bob is hinting at. However, excess nitrate is also the cause of cyano. Have you tested your water lately?

Bob's precipitation suggestion sounds really problematic. Calcium carbonate precipitate irritates the heck out of your corals, and the reaction of calcium chloride and baking soda will shoot your alkalinity down so far and so rapidly that a lot of corals will suffer. Kalkwasser/lime can bind a trace amount of copper on its own. I don't see how the so called nasties precipitate out of the water column with the reaction of calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate.

Tomoko Schum · Sep 20, 2011

People typically use 1.5 to 2 tsp of kalk per gallon. You are a bit shy on the amount of kalk. Watch for the rise in pH, though, if you are going to increase the amount of kalk. Kalk and picking lime is the same thing. People use Mrs. Wages picking lime because it's cheaper than buying kalkwasser powder from an LFS. I don't know if your magnesium needs boosting without testing it. You show a wide range not only for your calcium level but also for your alkalinity. Your variations in the levels may be an inconsistency with your kalk addition rather than a lack of magnesium.

firefightered · Sep 23, 2011

Thanks Tomoko!!!! I'm still trying to figure this thing out. I havent had a lot of good advise on the water chemistry thing. If I could just figure out what would make my perimeters stay pretty close to being in check, I would start getting some sps and maybe lps in my tank. I'll probably be asking a lot more questions in the near future.

beaslbob · Sep 23, 2011

I used a pinch of plckiling lime also in top offs.

My overdosing calcium chloride and baking soda was to purify the water vrs ro/di. The precipitate is left in the bottom of the jar and water used above that.

So that was water change and the like and not done in tank.

Guy Comstock stated he used to do that at one time when he had a 900g lagoon in his basement.

But that was years ago.

my .02

Tomoko Schum · Sep 23, 2011

Questions are welcome here. We all learn from the process as you know. I am sure you'll get a lot of good help here in this forum.

Stability is the key for keeping SPS's. LPS's are a lot more forgiving in my experience.

Using ATO as the only means of maintaining alkalinity (kalk or lime) requires a closer monitoring in my opinion. As you might have noticed, the amount of evaporation varies throughout the year depending on the ambient temperature and himidity in the air. My 180 requires anywhere from 2 to 3 gallons per day of RODI water. The amount of water that I have to add to my ATO reservoir varies greatly from week to week during late summer to autumn. My tank needs a lot more top off water in summer than in winter, as well. I can easily shoot alkalinity level out of range if I add lime to my reservoir at the same ratio throughout the year.

The beauty of 2 part system is in the stability that it can provide. If you use a peristatic dosing pump like the one Bulk Reef Supply sells, it can dose your chemicals very slowly and steadily. With a timer, you can even automate the dosing.

Since I have been using a calcium reactor along with a small amount of lime in ATO for many years with a good result, I am not going to change. However, if I am starting over, I will probably go with the 2 part system with two BRS peristatic dosers on a timer.