Going 2 Part

[ksed]

Since my calc reactor broke thinking of going 2 part + Kalk to achieve higher PH , especially in winter months when windows are closed for extended period of time. Since dosing manually I notice improvements in overall health. As well as much less cyano, and algae.

My question is if I dose calcium chloride and carbonate , will this mess up the chloride/sulfur ratio?
Thanks

 

[dankaqua]

My question is if I dose calcium chloride and carbonate , will this mess up the chloride/sulfur ratio?

I'm guessing your asking about the Sodium Chloride ratio...?

When dosing 2 part, the addition of Calcium Chloride (CaCl2 - part 1) and Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3 - part 2) is taken up by corals (etc) as Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). The result is that the "left over" Chloride from part 1 and the Sodium from part 2 becomes Sodium Chloride(NaCl) which is just salt.

The Balling method talks about how the production of NaCl in your tank increases the salinity of your tank, and then adding fresh water to balance out the specific gravity results NaCl at a higher percentage than in "normal sea water".

The Balling method goes on to advocate the dosing of "all elements in sea water not including NaCl" to keep those elements "in balance" (and thus adding fresh water to maintain specific gravity dilutes all elements equally).

Is that the ratio you were referring to?

 

[ksed]

Thanks for your help!
Maybe J was getting confused with magnesium. There’s a chloride and sulfur component. I suppose this doesn’t not apply with calcium?

 

[beaslbob]

I think you were talking about the magnesium component.

Once you find magnesium chloride the epsom salts is easy. I found a source of magnesium chloride from Brentagg here. It's an industrial chemical supplier and they trucked in a bag from another location with no shipping charge. 50# bag was 20 bucks or so.

That said, a couple of people here did the initial magnesium adjustment from 700-800ppm to 1350ppm using pounds of epsom salts will no ill effect.
my .02

 

[ksed]

Thanks everyone!
I remember reading @Randy Holmes-Farley once mentioned he wouldn’t use a calcium reactor. Is this due to PH? And if so would you still prefer dosing over calc reactor in a fairly well stocked SPS tank?
Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Since my calc reactor broke thinking of going 2 part + Kalk to achieve higher PH , especially in winter months when windows are closed for extended period of time. Since dosing manually I notice improvements in overall health. As well as much less cyano, and algae.

My question is if I dose calcium chloride and carbonate , will this mess up the chloride/sulfur ratio?
Thanks

If you do not do water changes, and do not use an appropriate DIY like my recipe, then yes, it will. My DIY uses magnesium sulfate to eliminate this particular concern.

Craig Bingman showed that here:


Simulating the Effect of Calcium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate Additions on Reef Systems

Aquarium Frontiers On-Line: Biochemistry of Aquaria

Additional Simulations: The Combined Effect Of Calcium Chloride/Sodium Bicarbonate Additions And Water Exchanges

Aquarium Frontiers Biochemistry of Aquaria

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks everyone!
I remember reading @Randy Holmes-Farley once mentioned he wouldn’t use a calcium reactor. Is this due to PH? And if so would you still prefer dosing over calc reactor in a fairly well stocked SPS tank?
Thanks

Yes, I don't prefer the pH lowering effect.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm guessing your asking about the Sodium Chloride ratio...?

When dosing 2 part, the addition of Calcium Chloride (CaCl2 - part 1) and Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3 - part 2) is taken up by corals (etc) as Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). The result is that the "left over" Chloride from part 1 and the Sodium from part 2 becomes Sodium Chloride(NaCl) which is just salt.

The Balling method talks about how the production of NaCl in your tank increases the salinity of your tank, and then adding fresh water to balance out the specific gravity results NaCl at a higher percentage than in "normal sea water".

The Balling method goes on to advocate the dosing of "all elements in sea water not including NaCl" to keep those elements "in balance" (and thus adding fresh water to maintain specific gravity dilutes all elements equally).

Is that the ratio you were referring to?

I think he meant that with chloride addition alone, and with no sulfate addition, seawater begins to skew to more chloride and less sulfate at maintained salinity.

 

[ksed]

Thanks Randy!
I do use your magnesium ratio of chlorine/ sulfate.
But my tank doesn’t seem to take up much magnesium , therefore not sure if there’s enough sulfur to keep it in balance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy!
I do use your magnesium ratio of chlorine/ sulfate.
But my tank doesn’t seem to take up much magnesium , therefore not sure if there’s enough sulfur to keep it in balance.

It shouldn't need much.

Do you know if you are dosing less than the recommended amount (which is low, 610 ml of magnesium part per gallon of alk part)?

 

[ksed]

Yes!

 

[jstephens24]

I think you were talking about the magnesium component.

Once you find magnesium chloride the epsom salts is easy. I found a source of magnesium chloride from Brentagg here. It's an industrial chemical supplier and they trucked in a bag from another location with no shipping charge. 50# bag was 20 bucks or so.

That said, a couple of people here did the initial magnesium adjustment from 700-800ppm to 1350ppm using pounds of epsom salts will no ill effect.
my .02

there is a brentagg close to where I live but which magnesium chloride do you buy? There are 4 or so options and some say minimum order of 10

 

[beaslbob]

there is a brentagg close to where I live but which magnesium chloride do you buy? There are 4 or so options and some say minimum order of 10

I think it's magnesium chloride from the American salt company. Or something like that. They sell me individual 50 pound bags with no shipping $25-30 or so. Whey ship it in on a truck from another location. Before ordering I did call the company qc and get an assay.