Aquaforest 1+2+3

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Got it thank you.
To the other question if I try to use your diy method and can be successful at it, would I still need the aquaforest for the other trace elements or no?

You should not use the Aquaforest for trace elements when using another alk and calcium system. Use either Balling Part C to make it ionically balanced (instead of the DIY third part), or use a trace element supplement (or both, which is optimal).

 

[RELLIK-REEF]

Thank you for all your help. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Got it thank you.
To the other question if I try to use your diy method and can be successful at it, would I still need the aquaforest for the other trace elements or no?

I use Aquaforest kH buffer, Calcium, Magnesium, and Mineral Salt,

I modified slightly to convert to Randys recipe, in that I bake the kH buffer to convert the Sodium Bicarbonate to Sodium Carbonate and then use 0.63 x the amount per litre of DI water, so instead of 80g I use 50.4g.
This has the effect of increasing pH of the tank.

I mix the Calcium solution per the instructions (which is 50g of Ca and 10g of Mg per 1000ml DI water).

Mineral Salt is per instructions.

I then add Components Strong as the Aquaforest docs state at the rate of 5ml per 1000ml of the prepared solutions.

Been working fine for me for 5 years.

Regards
Graham.

 

[Coling]

I use Aquaforest kH buffer, Calcium, Magnesium, and Mineral Salt,

I modified slightly to convert to Randys recipe, in that I bake the kH buffer to convert the Sodium Bicarbonate to Sodium Carbonate and then use 0.63 x the amount per litre of DI water, so instead of 80g I use 50.4g.
This has the effect of increasing pH of the tank.

I mix the Calcium solution per the instructions (which is 50g of Ca and 10g of Mg per 1000ml DI water).

Mineral Salt is per instructions.

I then add Components Strong as the Aquaforest docs state at the rate of 5ml per 1000ml of the prepared solutions.

Been working fine for me for 5 years.

Regards
Graham.

I have been considering implementing Kalkwasser to supplement my Components 1+2+3+ for a boost in pH, but if I can get a similar pH boost by just baking my Aquaforest kH buffer, then that would be much simpler. @Randy Holmes-Farley do you think I could get a similar pH boost by baking my kH buffer as I would from Kalkwasser & Aquaforest Components 1+2+3+?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have been considering implementing Kalkwasser to supplement my Components 1+2+3+ for a boost in pH, but if I can get a similar pH boost by just baking my Aquaforest kH buffer, then that would be much simpler. @Randy Holmes-Farley do you think I could get a similar pH boost by baking my kH buffer as I would from Kalkwasser & Aquaforest Components 1+2+3+?

Not unless you have a blast furnace.

Baking sodium carbonate in a home oven will get to sodium carbonate, which will raise pH, but not as much as sodium hydroxide or kalkwasser.