Randy Holmes DIY 2 Part question

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Scale? As in for measuring weights, then I do. Or size? its granular, but I can get powdered form. I question it because your calculators to raise dkh it's giving different amounts for sodium carbonate and baked baking soda.

Yes, to measure weights because I do not know the bulk density of your product (the weight per unit volume; it varies with manufacturer).

When my recipe calls for 594 grams of baking soda that is then baked, you can substitute approximately 375 grams of sodium carbonate.

 

[becks]

Ok great thanks...I can use cups as that's 240ml in metric. But the bulk weight said 400 to 700 kg/mg3. if it's easier I'll use us cups and convert to ml

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok great thanks...I can use cups as that's 240ml in metric. But the bulk weight said 400 to 700 kg/mg3. if it's easier I'll use us cups and convert to ml

To be accurate with volume, you need to know the bulk density. Without knowing it, use weight.

 

[becks]

Ok great thank you for your help randy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Randy, I'm in process of switching over to two part and I have a question for you. I just made up some magnesium using 5 cups magnesium chloride from BRS and 3 cups Epsom salts from Walmart. After mixing the solution completely, it became tinted slightly yellow. I assuming its the impurities from the Epsom salts that caused this. Should it be of any concern?

 

[mcarroll]

(*cue sound of an old thread being ressurected*)

For Epsom salts only, use 64 ounces in 1 US gallon (2260 grams in 3.9 L total volume after the solid is added and dissolved.

If you use magnesium chloride hexahydrate as well as Epsom salt, use about 1360 g of the chloride and 900 g of the Epsom salt.

Do you recall if there's a writeup you've done where you mention masses and using a scale? I'll change my bookmark!

(The version of your two-part writup that I always refer to doesn't mention mass units, only volume in cups, but I prefer to use a scale!)

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Recipe #1, Part 2: The Alkalinity Part

Spread baking soda (594 grams or about 2 ¼ cups)

Recipe # 1, Part 1: The Calcium Part

Dissolve 500 grams (about 2 ½ cups) of calcium chloride dihydrate

Recipe #1, Part 3B

Dissolve a 64-ounce container of Epsom salts (about 8 cups)



For the magnesium parts, use the same total mass whether it is chloride, sulfate, or a mix of the two. The exact mass ratio isn't critical as the magnesium demand cannot be determined exactly from the alk demand, but is an estimate anyway.

 

[mcarroll]

That's the one I've always referred to (I even keep a local copy to encourage re-reading!), but it doesn't mention gram units anywhere for the Magnesium reagents.

Just wondered if you've done a writeup (maybe elsewhere) that also contained the measurements in gram units.

This became a little more important than it's been in the past when I got my latest magnesium chloride material and it's not processed very much! It's all huge, thick flakes instead of powder.

So I didn't imagine that volume measurements would be right....but then I noticed the recipe guide has no gram units to compare with. Doh!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The recipe was determined to make it ultra easy for folks to just use a 64 oz (1814 g) container of Epsom salt, which is the typical size at my store.

 

[mcarroll]

The recipe was determined to make it ultra easy for folks to just use a 64 oz (1814 g) container of Epsom salt, which is the typical size at my store.

I think I see what you meant by total mass....I read the oz as volume instead of weight and didn't know the 1814g conversion off-hand.

However, 1360 + 900 from the quote earlier is more like 2200g.....and this is what I ended up mixing.

So I guess my Mg part too strong vs normal now by about 400g of material, right?

I haven't had a chance to test the tank water since putting the Mg online so not sure what the actual result has been. (Everyone in the tank looks happy, so not really worried....just curious.)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It was definitely ounces of mass for the magnesium part. lol

What level of magnesium you are at will also depend on where your salt mix starts, but in general, it moves so slowly that it is unlikely to be off much.

 

[Myka]

@becks You could add Aquaforest Components Strong to your 2-part for trace elements. You'd also have to add a 3rd part for Mineral Salt (plus the trace that goes in that one too). The mix for Aquaforest is very close to the same strength at Randy's Recipe #2.

For the Components Strong there are 4 little bottles. You add 5 mL from two of the bottles per 1 liter of your calcium solution, then 5 mL of the third bottle per 1 liter of your KH solution, then 5 mL of the fourth bottle per 1 liter of your Mineral Salt solution.