The difference in Alk products.

[doubleshot00]

Like what is the real difference in all the Alk products? I currently use Red Sea Alk but what about B-ionic or soda ash?

 

[Rmckoy]

Like what is the real difference in all the Alk products? I currently use Red Sea Alk but what about B-ionic or soda ash?

I’ve always through esv also included a few other elements not only Alk or cal in their 2 part

@Randy Holmes-Farley will have a better answer

 

[doubleshot00]

I’ve always through esv also included a few other elements not only Alk or cal in their 2 part

@Randy Holmes-Farley will have a better answer

Yeah with all the different products like what's really the difference. I know a lot of people use esv but is so much cheaper than Red Sea

 

[Nano_Man]

You need Randy and his recipe book

 

[nothing_fancy]

Some will contain trace elements. I recently weened my tank off AFR and started using Randys Recipe #1 and I couldn't be happier with the results. Still dialing it in a little bit but it's much more stable than anything else I've tried. It leaves room for messing with your own trace element regimen if that's something you're into.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The major differences between alk products are:

1. The pH effect, coming from bicarbonate (slight pH lowering), carbonate (substantial pH boost) and hydroxide (highest pH boost, twice as much as carbonate)

2. Whether they are balanced with other ions for use in a complete two part. This can be accomplished in a third part (like Balling Part C) or in the alk and calcium additives (like ESV) or none there except by impurity (soda ash or baking soda alone, for example). Note that the purpose of these other ions can be to supplement, or the levels can be much lower and be intended to prevent the supplement method itself from lowering them as salinity rises and is then readjusted downward).

 

[doubleshot00]

The major differences between alk products are:

1. The pH effect, coming from bicarbonate (slight pH lowering), carbonate (substantial pH boost) and hydroxide (highest pH boost, twice as much as carbonate)

2. Whether they are balanced with other ions for use in a complete two part. This can be accomplished in a third part (like Balling Part C) or in the alk and calcium additives (like ESV) or none there except by impurity (soda ash or baking soda alone, for example). Note that the purpose of these other ions can be to supplement, or the levels can be much lower and be intended to prevent the supplement method itself from lowering them as salinity rises and is then readjusted downward).

Will i get the PH boost in soda ash like i do with Red Sea ALk?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will i get the PH boost in soda ash like i do with Red Sea ALk?

Soda ash should be similar or higher boost, depending on exactly how they formulated it besides carbonate:

"Carbonate & buffer complex for balanced formation of Coral Skeleton"