Randy's High pH Alk Leak from Doser

[Maximitsurugi]

Hey team. My doser leaks the RHF New DIY Alk part made from NaoH. Works awesome bu right where the doser connection joins the carrier line, I have a lot of leaking and crust forming. Throws my dosing amounts off and Alk stability suffers.

It seems that the plastic connection between the two hoses gets micro cracks. I've cycled through all the spares and they develop the same issue really quickly. Ive coated the entire joint with CA but nada. Is there a solution?

Last resort may be to buy a really long silicone tube, the type that the doser uses, and run it from the reservoir, through the dosing pump and out to the sump. Only worry is that it is so flimsy that it might kink.

Any help?

Dealing with MEN too so I need a win here.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Bump! @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Some types of tubing will get damaged at high pH (and by organic solvents when organic carbon dosing).

If you can use tubing like polyethylene or polypropylene, neither will be a concern.

The plastic connector might be something that can also be damaged. Look for polypropylene connectors like these:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Raindrip-50-Pack-1-4-in-Polypropylene-Drip-Irrigation-Couplings/3151607

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Thanks Randy!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Good luck!

 

[Maximitsurugi]

I bought the fittings @Randy Holmes-Farley and it seems I'm doing well. No leaks yet. Told the team about your formula and now everybody has gone out to buy irrigation fittings. Lol

Our resident reefing "God father" uses Seachem Reef Fusion 2 Alk but I use your BRS High pH equivalent.

How many grams would I mix to get his concentration so he wouldnt have to really mess with his doser and it would be a one to one swap?

Thanks again RHF!

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Bump @Randy Holmes-Farley

I know you're super busy saving the world with your research work my friend so sorry for bugging you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I bought the fittings @Randy Holmes-Farley and it seems I'm doing well. No leaks yet. Told the team about your formula and now everybody has gone out to buy irrigation fittings. Lol

Our resident reefing "God father" uses Seachem Reef Fusion 2 Alk but I use your BRS High pH equivalent.

How many grams would I mix to get his concentration so he wouldnt have to really mess with his doser and it would be a one to one swap?

Thanks again RHF!

You mean to match Reef Fusion?

It is not properly balanced for 1:1 (has excess calcium).

Seachem - Reef Fusion

www.seachem.com

The calcium part is 100,000 ppm. That is 2.7 times as potent as my recipe #1 and any variants of it like the hydroxide version.

The alk part is 4400 meq/l, which is 2.3 times as potent as my DIY #1 and any variants.

 

[Maximitsurugi]

Wah!!! Thanks Randy! So I'd have to essentially have him dose 2.3 times the amount of solution of NaoH to match what he is dosing now. He isnt going to be messing with the calcium part. He will keep dosing that from Reef Fusion.

Thank you all the way from Jamaica man. @Randy Holmes-Farley