Futuretotm
Well-Known Member
Any recommendations? @Randy Holmes-Farley
Being in FL I don't see CaCl/snow melter at home depot etc.
Being in FL I don't see CaCl/snow melter at home depot etc.
Cheap/alternate source for calcium chloride?
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Futuretotm
Well-Known Member
Thank you. However, how do I figure out how much quantity to dissolve in a one gallon of RODI? so that it matches the strength of BRS cacl that I am using now?
Timfish
Crusty Old Salt
If I wanted to be absoulutly sure I'd run some tests starting with the same amount as you're currently using. But calcium consumption will vary over time so what ever dosing regimen I'm using at any given time I'd be checking periodicly to adjust for what's being taken up by the various animals in my systems.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Follow my recipes, which is what BRS uses.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I’d look for food grade.
Isaac Alves
www.instagram.com/theloneaquarist/
I get the Calcium Chloride from morebeer.com…
5lb bags are only ~$17
www.morebeer.com
if you order more than around $60 i I shipping us free… in Southern California, could be different shipping to your area.
5lb bags are only ~$17
Calcium Chloride | MoreBeer
Calcium chloride is used in place of Gypsum when sulfates are not desired. Calcium chloride brewing adjusts mash pH down. Free shipping on most calcium dichloride orders over $59.
if you order more than around $60 i I shipping us free… in Southern California, could be different shipping to your area.
Big E
Valuable Member
You can get a 50lb bag of Peladow from Amazon for $50 free shipping
MSDS
I used Dow Flake and then Peladow. I couldn't get either when I needed a refill and bought BRS Calcium chloride and it wasn't any better. In other words, my dominant acro system could care less what brand was used.
This across about 15 years.
MSDS
I used Dow Flake and then Peladow. I couldn't get either when I needed a refill and bought BRS Calcium chloride and it wasn't any better. In other words, my dominant acro system could care less what brand was used.
This across about 15 years.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
Hey @Big E ....
So how do we mix this up? Just like randys recipe calls for? Being a pellet does it weigh different then the granular calcium chloride like BRS sells?
Been looking for cheaper alternatives to BRS calcium chloride, and the beer stuff is a tad cheaper, but the peladow is way cheaper.
Already used to using DIY products and the peladow hits that nail on the head.
So how do we mix this up? Just like randys recipe calls for? Being a pellet does it weigh different then the granular calcium chloride like BRS sells?
Been looking for cheaper alternatives to BRS calcium chloride, and the beer stuff is a tad cheaper, but the peladow is way cheaper.
Already used to using DIY products and the peladow hits that nail on the head.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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"f you use an anhydrous or monohydrate calcium chloride (such as Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat or Peladow Calcium Chloride), then you should use about 20% (1/5) less solid calcium chloride by volume to make the recipe. Note that the solution will get quite hot when dissolving anhydrous calcium chloride. See the section on substitutions for further information."
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
Thanks Randy, but math is most certainly not my strong point. If I'm making recipe 2, it calls for 1 1/4C of calcium chloride(I weigh this out to 250G with BRS calcium chloride), how much is 1/5 less of that?
Been years since I read the "recipe" article, so thank you for clarifying that peladow is on your recipe list.
is this now 200G?
Been years since I read the "recipe" article, so thank you for clarifying that peladow is on your recipe list.
is this now 200G?
Big E
Valuable Member
From my experience----
When I went from Dow flake to Peladow I used 2.25 cups to one gallon of RO and it wasn't enough so I went to 2.5.
BRS is the same 2.5 cups to a gallon.
----------------------------------------------------------
It boggles my mind when people complain about 2 part being too expensive. It's by far the most economic solution for alk/calc supplementation. They don't seem to grasp the fact you don't need commercial three part mixes if you do water changes.
I've been doing recipe # 1 since 2008 and I have never had to dose Mg and my Sodium and chloride is spot on perfect so no need for the ionic balanced part C.
From ICP tests that I have done twice for both my tanks in the last 4 years.
ATI-
Reef lab--
200mls of DIY two part dosed daily is under $30 a year.
Done with my rant
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
Exactly the reason I was looking for a more economical way to dose 2 part.
I'm dosing 238ml daily to my 80G cube( I see we have similar size tanks), and BRS calcium chloride is just way to expensive.
I've been doing 2 part for many years(plain jane arm and hammer for ALK), but the recent increase in price has driven me to find alternatives. I was considering a calRX, but now that I can find a more economical solution, the huge cost of starting up a calRX can be put off for a while now.
I'm dosing 238ml daily to my 80G cube( I see we have similar size tanks), and BRS calcium chloride is just way to expensive.
I've been doing 2 part for many years(plain jane arm and hammer for ALK), but the recent increase in price has driven me to find alternatives. I was considering a calRX, but now that I can find a more economical solution, the huge cost of starting up a calRX can be put off for a while now.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
Guess I didn't thank you for that either. So thank you @Big E .
I'll weigh out 2.5C, and go from there. I like to be somewhat precise in mixing my supplements so they are the same every time. Using a cup on a pellet would seem that it wouldn't be too precise every time.
I'll weigh out 2.5C, and go from there. I like to be somewhat precise in mixing my supplements so they are the same every time. Using a cup on a pellet would seem that it wouldn't be too precise every time.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
You got the math right. If using recipe 2 the new weight would be 200grams instead of 250.
I use Randy’s recipe 1 and for a year or so I used Prestone Driveway Heat that I bought at Walmart. I never had an issue with it, but it would leave a pink residue in my mixing container that eventually scared me away from using it.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
My current BRS calcium chloride leaves my DOS lines pink too. Never thought anything of it, as it's just the lines and stays clear when dosed and in the container.
Gtinnel
10K Club member
With the Prestone driveway heat it wasn’t just a slight pink residue, it would leave probably a 1/2 inch of stuff at the bottom of my 1 gal mixing jug. I never noticed any discoloration with my BRS calcium, but my dosing lines aren’t clear.
I think I remember BRS doing a video of icp tests of different diy calcium and alk additives. I think theirs showed the pink residue to but the icp didn’t show any issues with it.
Big E
Valuable Member
I ran a calcium reactor for 8 years and will never go back. Even the highest end reactors always had problems from plugged lines, valves, media turning to mush, bad regulators and adding P04 to the water.
I did it the simple way too, counted bubbles and drip/flow set off my alk readings in the tank. I never used a controller..........just added complexity and one more thing to go bad. Low ph was another problem and then when the reactor can't keep up on comes the Kalk reactor as a necessary add on.
Peristaltic pumps have gotten better for the hobby and more precise valves over the years so it has gotten better but still to me they are one big pain in the butt.
