DIY all for reef not mixing together

[Shirak]

Can you post a photo?

 

[Shirak]

So when does it form sludge? If the carbo cal is almost all gone before adding the Mag.. then what?

What are you using to measure the liquids?

 

[Cell]

I'm fairly certain the trace elements are needed to get everything into solution and in fact are really a key component in this regard.

 

[Shirak]

I'm fairly certain the trace elements are needed to get everything into solution and in fact are really a key component in this regard.

Yes the fluid in the trace elements will finish helping the carbo cal dissolve but the majority should be dissolved in just the RODI

 

[PegasisR]

How are you measuring the RODI?

Are you waiting until the CarbCa is almost all gone before adding the Mag? Then wait until it's almost all gone and cleared up before adding the Traces?

I tried that too and it didn't work. Also I'm using a beaker that has the measurements on the side

 

[PegasisR]

So when does it form sludge? If the carbo cal is almost all gone before adding the Mag.. then what?

What are you using to measure the liquids?

Carbo doesn't dissolve at all, even when I go really slow with the carbo

 

[Cell]

This was more or less my experience as well. But I'm also mixing by hand so that doesn't help. Adding K+ was magic though.

 

[Shirak]

Carbo doesn't dissolve at all, even when I go really slow with the carbo

Maybe something wrong with the carboCa? I have never had a problem dissolving it. You are using RODI? btw a beaker is not very accurate. Better to weigh 750g of water.

 

[Shirak]

I mix up 2L at a time so I use a 500ml graduated cylinder for measuring the trace elements. I also use a heated magnetic stirrer too.

 

[Shirak]

Carbo doesn't dissolve at all, even when I go really slow with the carbo

Maybe your RODI isn't pure?

 

[PegasisR]

Maybe your RODI isn't pure?

Rodi is pure, measuring 0tds. I'm running a spectrapure Megamax cap unit with .5 micron sediment, .5 micron carbon filter, 99% reject membrane

 

[PegasisR]

That's how it looks even after a long time mixing

 

[Shirak]

That's how it looks even after a long time mixing

Is that just the carboCa and water? The beaker isn’t an accurate fluid measuring device. That could be part of the issue. You also mentioned it was mixing at 2000 rpm?? Maybe your looking at a cloud of micro bubbles? If you let it sit for 30min what happens?

 

[PegasisR]

Is that just the carboCa and water? The beaker isn’t an accurate fluid measuring device. That could be part of the issue. You also mentioned it was mixing at 2000 rpm?? Maybe your looking at a cloud of micro bubbles? If you let it sit for 30min what happens?

Yes it's carbo and water and ill measure the grams of water . When the water and carbo mix, it's forming micro bubbles and acts like a soda would... I've read on other threads where people are mixing at 3000rpms

 

[Cell]

The markings on the side of beakers/flasks/bottles arent exact, but they are close enough for this purpose imo. Just err on the side of a little excess water ie. just above the line, if uncertain.

 

[Cell]

Decided to make a bottle.

Here is 750mL RODI + carbo calcium. No mixing yet.

 

[PegasisR]

Measured everything perfectly in grams and im still getting a slurry

 

[Cell]

After hand mixing a few minutes, time for 12g of Bio Mag:

 

[Cell]

Bio Mag in, plus a few more minutes of hand mixing. I let it settle a bit for the pic. Time for A-

 

[Cell]

A- in plus a few minutes of mixing, going for K+ now: