HC03-NAhc03

[DeniableArc]

g’day @Randy Holmes-Farley I am unsure what aquaforest is telling me about their diy balling method. They make 2 versions of a 3 part pre made balling solutions called component 1+2+3+ and component 1+2+3+ pro. The component 1+2+3+ pro is double the strength of the original version. They also make a diy version but only of the original weaker strength. My question is I am told by aquaforest that there is no recipe for the stronger version, you can make the magnesium and calcium stronger but not the alk - even though they sell the pre made pro at double strength. They state the original version contains ::: “Component 2+ contains: NaHCO3, F, I. (25 ml dissolved in 100 l/27 US gal raises KH by 0,65 dKH (Alk: 0,23 meq/l)).” While the original weaker contains::: “ Component 2 Pro contains: HCO3-, F, I (25 ml / 100 l raises KH by 1.3 dKH – Alk 0.46 meq / l). Why wouldn’t I be able to double the concentration of the alk to match the stronger pro version?
Thanks for your time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The concentration of two part systems is generally limited by the solubility of the alk part, driven by sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate solubility.

in my diy recipes, the carbonate version is twice as concentrated as the bicarbonate version for this reason, and similar reasons may apply here despite them only writing bicarbonate above.

It may also be that you can up the potency that you make, as long as you can get it to dissolve. If the liquid gets cold, that’a when the alk part will precipitate fastest.

 

[DeniableArc]

The concentration of two part systems is generally limited by the solubility of the alk part, driven by sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate solubility.

in my diy recipes, the carbonate version is twice as concentrated as the bicarbonate version for this reason, and similar reasons may apply here despite them only writing bicarbonate above.

It may also be that you can up the potency that you make, as long as you can get it to dissolve. If the liquid gets cold, that’a when the alk part will precipitate fastest.

Are both alk ingredients the same NaHC03 and HC03? If they are then I can test it in a smaller scale to see if it’s soluble at 2x concentration

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are both alk ingredients the same NaHC03 and HC03? If they are then I can test it in a smaller scale to see if it’s soluble at 2x concentration

Yes, those are the same, but they may not be listing all alk ingredients. Worth a try to see what happens.