Figuring Out DIY Two-Part Compononents

[C-Reefer]

Hey guys! Finally needing to dose two part, after 7 months. I don't want to pay $100 for the BRS two part, as you don't actually get that much powder, and it'll be far cheaper to make my own. Followin this recipe, if anyone has a better one please tell me. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#4

So, I'm having trouble finding the correct calcium chloride. I can't find any of the brands in the article. I was wondering if, as long as it is pure, if I could use any calcium chloride ice melt solution? This is probably the best I can find. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Snow-Jo...ce-Melter-Re-Sealable-Bag-MELT25CCP/206402769 . Will this work? It says its 94% pure CaCl2 pellets.

I can get epsom salts and baking powder at Walmart right? Just make sure its pure and scentless (for the epsom salts). Is it really this simple?

 

[beaslbob]

Hey guys! Finally needing to dose two part, after 7 months. I don't want to pay $100 for the BRS two part, as you don't actually get that much powder, and it'll be far cheaper to make my own. Followin this recipe, if anyone has a better one please tell me. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#4

So, I'm having trouble finding the correct calcium chloride. I can't find any of the brands in the article. I was wondering if, as long as it is pure, if I could use any calcium chloride ice melt solution? This is probably the best I can find. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Snow-Jo...ce-Melter-Re-Sealable-Bag-MELT25CCP/206402769 . Will this work? It says its 94% pure CaCl2 pellets.

I can get epsom salts and baking powder at Walmart right? Just make sure its pure and scentless (for the epsom salts). Is it really this simple?

calcium chloride is used to speed hardening of concrete at lower temperature. Check with your local redimix companies.

The hard one for me was magnesium chloride. I finally found an industrial chemical company that ships it in from another location and doesn't charge shipping.

Price calcium chloride $20-$25 for 50 pound bag. Magnesium chloride was~$30 for 50 pound bag.

Just saw you're in TN. The industrial chemical company is Brentag in Madison Alabama. They ship it in from their Tn location. You might check around.

Brentag had dowflake but not the mag flake. A local redimix place had anhydrous (94%-94%) calcium chloride 40 pound bag was $30. Kent turbo calc is anhydrous.

FWIW I requested an assay on the brands they carry and they seem acceptable. No problems reported by club members I gave some to in frag swaps.

espon salts and sodium bicarbonate form drug/grocery stores is food grade and fine.

(FWIW Mrs. Wages picking lime is the same exact al kalkwasser)

my .02

 

[Rockit]

The hard one for me was magnesium chloride.

I've had the same issue.
I haven't tried it yet, but I think this may be a viable option that's readily available to most...
https://www.safestepmelters.com/product/safe-step®-mag-chloride-8300®
It's available at walmart, Tsc and amazon so it's easy to source.
Per the MSDS, it looks like it's just magnesium chloride hexahydrate. One of the listed uses is aquaculture so I'm going to make a huge assumption that it will work.
https://www.msdsdigital.com/safe-step®-extreme-8300-magnesium-chloride-msds

Anyone have input?

 

[C-Reefer]

Can I use any of these for calcium chloride? I can find the magnesium chloride hexahydrate, and the epsom salts/baking soda. https://www.homedepot.com/s/?search=calcium chloride or https://www.lowes.com/pd/50-lb-Bag-of-Calcium-Chloride-Pellets/3540820

 

[beaslbob]

Can I use any of these for calcium chloride? I can find the magnesium chloride hexahydrate, and the epsom salts/baking soda. https://www.homedepot.com/s/?search=calcium chloride or https://www.lowes.com/pd/50-lb-Bag-of-Calcium-Chloride-Pellets/3540820

I checked two and they do seem to be 100% calcium chloride. Plus it is the 94% or so which indicates anhydrous vrs the dehydrate of the 70% dow flake. So you will have to adjust randy's formulas to take that into account. (.70/.94 for instance). My gut feel is they are ok but I would feel better reading a manufacturer's assay.

my .02

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There's no way to know from that data such a company will provide whether they are adequately pure.

The only way to know if:

1. Others have used it OK for a substantial period.
2. You do extensive (expensive) testing on it (this is what I did for Dowflake).

 

[beaslbob]

There's no way to know from that data such a company will provide whether they are adequately pure.

The only way to know if:

1. Others have used it OK for a substantial period.
2. You do extensive (expensive) testing on it (this is what I did for Dowflake).

Yeppers. and thanks.

then they changed DowFlake. LOL