Me two part or brs ?

[kacrocorals581]

Just getting on the dosing pump wagon and wondering if one mix is better than the other? Or if they are the same kind of powders with only names being the difference, I would like to use the best if one is better than the other thanks for any help.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

- Mixing the solutions by yourself is clearly cheaper than buying pre-mixed liquids
- Alk supply by so called KH buffered salts (baking soda + soda ash) is a bit better than only using baking soda
- you'll find several recipes that tell you to "dose equal amounts" of Ca and Alk component. I personally do not recommend that but better dose both components independently and according your tanks consumption
- the higher the purity of the salts you buy the less impurities you have
- recipes with included trace elements also, might bring you better results than without
- recipes with a third, separate, Mg component, give you the option to steer also the Mg value (besides Ca /Alk)

My actual favorites, all of them giving you all this options are
- fauna maring balling light
- Red Sea reef Foundation powders + color elements
- aqua Forest including the Mg component + strong components
- Brightwell aquaristics ReefCode + Mg component + traces
- Nyos salts +Mg + traces

 

[kacrocorals581]

Thanks for the info , I'm using the mix that makes a gallon from brs currently but hear good things about me coral mix that also makes a gallon just wondering if one actually has a difference.

 

[hybridazn]

I believe ME corals was the only company that would supply documentation that their 2 part is pharmaceutical grade.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Price level seems pretty high for me, even gor Pharmaceutical purity. .... BTW ... i don't think we need that for our tanks

Instructions from ME corals also says that it is soda ash, not baking soda. Regard this while calculating your dose

 

[amps]

For the powdered suppliments, it looks like they're using basic Calcium Chloride and Soda Ash. The calculations they give match Randy's 2-Part Recipe #1 (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/).

You can use any brand and get the same results. I think as long as the product you use is food grade, there won't be any problems. I currently use Arm&Hammer baking soda that I bake in the oven to get my Soda Ash (cost $2 a gallon) and BRS brand Calcium Chloride.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

- Alk supply by so called KH buffered salts (baking soda + soda ash) is a bit better than only using baking soda

Why do you think so?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Price level seems pretty high for me, even gor Pharmaceutical purity. .... BTW ... i don't think we need that for our tanks

Instructions from ME corals also says that it is soda ash, not baking soda. Regard this while calculating your dose

The BRS recipe is also using sodium carbonate (washing soda or soda ash)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just getting on the dosing pump wagon and wondering if one mix is better than the other? Or if they are the same kind of powders with only names being the difference, I would like to use the best if one is better than the other thanks for any help.

I've not seen evidence of a functional difference.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Why do you think so?

Hi Randy,
my thoughts: NaHCO3 is tendentialy lowering ph. Na2CO3 is tendentialy increasing ph. A mix of both in the proper way should equal hold tank's ph.

 

[Sabellafella]

Just getting on the dosing pump wagon and wondering if one mix is better than the other? Or if they are the same kind of powders with only names being the difference, I would like to use the best if one is better than the other thanks for any help.

I dont think they are, i tryed both and ME mixes up clear unusually fast. I think ME also tests their products for purity frequently

 

[Martin Kuhn]

The salts we use for our 2/3 part dosing are "standard products" of chemical industry.

The companies where we, as reef aquarists typically buy, just purchase larger quantities, repack and label this products.

Whatever this companies tell us with fancy labels, nice marketing texts etc ..... -> standard products just sold for a lot more money

The only thing that changes is the guaranteed purity of this products.

Information on the purity levels are available at several www Homepages. F.e. Here https://www.sciencecompany.com/Learn-Chemical-Grade-Definitions-from-Highest-to-Lowest-Purity..aspx

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi Randy,
my thoughts: NaHCO3 is tendentialy lowering ph. Na2CO3 is tendentialy increasing ph. A mix of both in the proper way should equal hold tank's ph.

Yes, that is true. But far more people will benefit from a pH boost than need pH held where it naturally is from aeration.