Randy's DIY Iron and Calcium

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

Hey everyone,

I made Randy's Iron supplement and the sediment isn't dissolving, is it okay if I have some sediment or does it need to completely dissolve before use?

Regarding Randy's Calcium supplement I was wondering if it would be okay to use the following:

DOW Dowflake Xtra Calcium Chloride | Home Hardware

Get the DOW Dowflake Xtra Calcium Chloride - 20 kg at your local Home Hardware store. Buy online and get Free Shipping to any Home location!

www.homehardware.ca

 

[laverda]

Hey everyone,

I made Randy's Iron supplement and the sediment isn't dissolving, is it okay if I have some sediment or does it need to completely dissolve before use?

Regarding Randy's Calcium supplement I was wondering if it would be okay to use the following:

DOW Dowflake Xtra Calcium Chloride | Home Hardware

Get the DOW Dowflake Xtra Calcium Chloride - 20 kg at your local Home Hardware store. Buy online and get Free Shipping to any Home location!

www.homehardware.ca

I would say probably not. It is not very pure at only 83-87%. You need to look at the MSDS sheets and see what the impurities might be. I have 99% pure, with the impurities listed are water and magnesium. I would be glad to sell you some cheap, but shipping and duties may make it not worth it.

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

I would say probably not. It is not very pure at only 83-87%. You need to look at the MSDS sheets and see what the impurities might be. I have 99% pure, with the impurities listed are water and magnesium. I would be glad to sell you some cheap, but shipping and duties may make it not worth it.

That's odd. Apparently, this stuff is purer than the one Randy recommends. Thank you, but duties would definitely make it not worth it. What about the following?

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

 

[laverda]

That would be a better choice. I would still check the material safety Data Sheets to see what the impurities might be. Probably water mostly. I sell small amounts for $2.00 a pound.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Fergon iron tablets have insoluble material used to make the tablets. My procedure is to let that settle and not use it:

Put one pill in about 25 mL fresh water/RODI (volume is not that important since dose is not that important for iron). Let it soak for a while or overnight until the tablet breaks apart.

Swirl it to mix. Let is settle overnight. Then use the clear greenish liquid. Dose about 1 mL per 100 gallons once a week (dose is not critical).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That's odd. Apparently, this stuff is purer than the one Randy recommends. Thank you, but duties would definitely make it not worth it. What about the following?

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

No, not necessarily purer, just has less moisture in it.

Dowflake that I recommended is calcium chloride dihydrate. The dihydrate means it has 2 water molecules in the solid for every one calcium chloride. That water accounts for a large portion of the drop from 100% calcium chloride.

 

[laverda]

Randy, Thanks for the clarification. The MSD sheets should say that, correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy, Thanks for the clarification. The MSD sheets should say that, correct?

Dihydrate? Maybe.

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

No, not necessarily purer, just has less moisture in it.

Dowflake that I recommended is calcium chloride dihydrate. The dihydrate means it has 2 water molecules in the solid for every one calcium chloride. That water accounts for a large portion of the drop from 100% calcium chloride.

Sounds good, but I'm confused now. I know little about this stuff; I was hoping to get a clear-cut answer. Since the one you recommended is not available to me locally would it be fine to get the dowflake xtra? I'd honestly prefer something I can get in Canada.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good, but I'm confused now. I know little about this stuff; I was hoping to get a clear-cut answer. Since the one you recommended is not available to me locally would it be fine to get the dowflake xtra? I'd honestly prefer something I can get in Canada.

Dowflake extra is fine. It is just a little more potent (about 10%) due to less water in it.

Dowflake did make a change about 10 years ago, allowing more bromide in the product, but if you do regular normal water changes, that is OK.

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

Dowflake extra is fine. It is just a little more potent (about 10%) due to less water in it.

Dowflake did make a change about 10 years ago, allowing more bromide in the product, but if you do regular normal water changes, that is OK.

Perfect, I'll grab some then. What do you consider as 'normal water changes'? At most I'd do a 20% water change a month (50 gallon). I have no reason to do water changes other than to add trace elements at this point. Would that be fine?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Perfect, I'll grab some then. What do you consider as 'normal water changes'? At most I'd do a 20% water change a month (50 gallon). I have no reason to do water changes other than to add trace elements at this point. Would that be fine?

That's reasonable.

In case you are interested, here's one of many old threads on it:

Bromide in Dowflake may be OK w/water changes - Reef Central Online Community

Bromide in Dowflake may be OK w/water changes The Reef Chemistry Forum

www.reefcentral.com

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

That's reasonable.

In case you are interested, here's one of many old threads on it:

Bromide in Dowflake may be OK w/water changes - Reef Central Online Community

Bromide in Dowflake may be OK w/water changes The Reef Chemistry Forum

www.reefcentral.com

You read my mind, thank you.

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

So according to that article, there have been some people who do no water changes and have noticed no negative side effects with high levels of Bromide. However, if I'm being anal about the bromide and if I do 20% water changes, then I should have approximately 120-150 ppm of bromide in the water constantly. If that's the case, if I do 20% water changes, then I should be able to maintain a safe level of bromide in the DT while using Dowflakextra? Please Correct me if I'm wrong. Sorry, I've never actually dosed, so I'm a total noob.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So according to that article, there have been some people who do no water changes and have noticed no negative side effects with high levels of Bromide. However, if I'm being anal about the bromide and if I do 20% water changes, then I should have approximately 120-150 ppm of bromide in the water constantly. If that's the case, if I do 20% water changes, then I should be able to maintain a safe level of bromide in the DT while using Dowflakextra? Please Correct me if I'm wrong. Sorry, I've never actually dosed, so I'm a total noob.

I cannot be sure if the level is the same now as when that came out in 2008.

Also, the amount will depend on how much you use each day.

I will say that in all the years since then, with all of the people using Dow products, I have never heard of a problem attributed to the bromide.

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

Also, the amount will depend on how much you use each day.

I figured as much.

I will say that in all the years since then, with all of the people using Dow products, I have never heard of a problem attributed to the bromide.

If that's the case, I have nothing to worry about.

I cannot be sure if the level is the same now as when that came out in 2008.

Considering the second quote I can't see that being a problem.

I have one more question before I get out of your hair. Since Dowflakextra is 10% more potent, should I use 450 grams of it per gallon of freshwater to get a solution of approximately 37, 000 ppm calcium?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have one more question before I get out of your hair. Since Dowflakextra is 10% more potent, should I use 450 grams of it per gallon of freshwater to get a solution of approximately 37, 000 ppm calcium?

yes