DIY Three Part with Balling Part C Recipe

[spsick]

Are folks mixing 8 scoops per gallon of Part C without issues? I thought BRS and TM changed their recommendation back to the 4 scoops per gal on the box due to possible precipitation issues.

 

[Miami Reef]

Are folks mixing 8 scoops per gallon of Part C without issues? I thought BRS and TM changed their recommendation back to the 4 scoops per gal on the box due to possible precipitation issues.

I’ve mixed 8 scoops many, many times with no precipitation. It completely dissolves.

 

[spsick]

I’ve mixed 8 scoops many, many times with no precipitation. It completely dissolves.

Awesome thank you. I’d certainly like mixing less often!

 

[ingchr1]

I fixed the first post. It was confusing before, I’ll admit. Especially since I tried adding all the recipes in one thread.

Can you let me know if it’s clear now?

Much clearer then when first posted, thank you.

One question on the Part C, when BRS first put this out they said they worked with TM and to use 168g per gallon (~7 1/2 scoops). It's not a big difference from the 182g (8 scoops), but is that just to account for having slightly less water volume due to the amount of salt being added to get to double the concentration of the 91g (4 scoops) per gallon? If that makes sense.

I weighed out 168g back in 2020, and it was closer to 7 scoops. So, I use 7 scoops per gallon.

Would be good if others could check me on this.

 

[Miami Reef]

I weighed out 168g back in 2020, and it was closer to 7 scoops. So, I use 7 scoops per gallon.

Would be good if others could check me on this.

I just weighed 7 scoops. I had to research how to accurately use measuring cups because I normally weigh it out. I assumed 8 scoops = 182g based on the instructions.

7 non-compacted leveled-out scoops equals 179.8g. That’s very close.

I’ll change it in the first post.

 

[ingchr1]

...I assumed 8 scoops = 182g based on the instructions...

One would think so. Seams that their instructions are off by a 1/2 scoop.

You'll now get an extra batch per every seven.

 

[Nossatron]

Make this:

Dissolve 3/4 cups Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate) and 7¼ cups magnesium chloride hexahydrate in enough purified fresh water to make one gallon of total volume.

Add 1,074mL of that solution when you finish the other parts.

If you want to make it equal, add 1,074mL of that solution to 20L. Then it will be equal 1:1:1:1

️ Good morning

So 1:1:1:1 this is recommended to be a 4 part? Or can I brew the 3rd part to be more concentrated rather than having a 4th part.

What's the initial idea of a one time dose? Also where does the figure of 1074mL come from

No. You aren’t adding 5.7% more. That’s not what I’m trying to say.

To put it another way, you will add x0.0537 as much as the other parts.

What other parts?

I just don't understand sorry.

 

[Miami Reef]

️ Good morning

So 1:1:1:1 this is recommended to be a 4 part? Or can I brew the 3rd part to be more concentrated rather than having a 4th part.

What's the initial idea of a one time dose? Also where does the figure of 1074mL come from


What other parts?

I just don't understand sorry.

It’s a three part. Let’s just opt out of the magnesium step. It’s not worth it since it’s really stumping you up. It’s not that important.


This is for 20L batches as you requested.

Sodium hydroxide (alk) : 1,495g/20L

Calcium chloride dihydrate: 2,642g/20L

Aquaforest Mineral Salt: 1000g/20L


That’s all you will need. The magnesium will take a VERY long time to ever deplete, it may never deplete if you change some water occasionally.

 

[204Reef]

It’s a three part. Let’s just opt out of the magnesium step. It’s not worth it since it’s really stumping you up. It’s not that important.


This is for 20L batches as you requested.

Sodium hydroxide (alk) : 1,495g/20L

Calcium chloride dihydrate: 2,642g/20L

Aquaforest Mineral Salt: 1000g/20L


That’s all you will need. The magnesium will take a VERY long time to ever deplete, it may never deplete if you change some water occasionally.

Hello Miami,

I think I can clarify what he's asking and/or confirm one of my own questions from some time back:

As you say, magnesium isn't depleted quickly, but it is depleted to the point that for every gallon of each of three parts used, you need to add 203ml of that 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) magnesium sulfate mixture, correct?

So the question is: why not just add the appropriate amount of dry magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate to the Part C directly and save on a dosing pump head or remembering to do the manual addition? Will it precipitate in Part C? And if not, then how much in grams of magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate needs to be added to a gallon (or in his case 20L) of Part C so you don't need to manually add it later?

I did a rough calculation and I think its around 69.6 grams of magnesium chloride and 6.7g of magnesium sulfate need to be added to every gallon of Part C to represent the 203ml of magnesium solution added after every gallon used, but I'm not 100% sure of my calculation here.

 

[Nossatron]

It’s a three part. Let’s just opt out of the magnesium step. It’s not worth it since it’s really stumping you up. It’s not that important.


This is for 20L batches as you requested.

Sodium hydroxide (alk) : 1,495g/20L

Calcium chloride dihydrate: 2,642g/20L

Aquaforest Mineral Salt: 1000g/20L


That’s all you will need. The magnesium will take a VERY long time to ever deplete, it may never deplete if you change some water occasionally.

No no i get you now. See when I was sending through the recipe I was reading that the third part needed 7½ cups of Magnesium Chloride and ¾ cups of magnesium sulphate per one gallon

I thought Aquaforest mineral salt is just used for ionic balance and we still need the magnesium. If we use the mineral salt for the entirity of part 3 then top off the remainder with the mag solution to account for some of the consumption. Strange they just don't balance out mineral salt.


I think I got that from the days of running the af balling as you need to mix a bag of magnesium.

Tia

 

[Nossatron]

Hello Miami,

I think I can clarify what he's asking and/or confirm one of my own questions from some time back:

As you say, magnesium isn't depleted quickly, but it is depleted to the point that for every gallon of each of three parts used, you need to add 203ml of that 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) magnesium sulfate mixture, correct?

So the question is: why not just add the appropriate amount of dry magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate to the Part C directly and save on a dosing pump head or remembering to do the manual addition? Will it precipitate in Part C? And if not, then how much in grams of magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate needs to be added to a gallon (or in his case 20L) of Part C so you don't need to manually add it later?

I did a rough calculation and I think its around 69.6 grams of magnesium chloride and 6.7g of magnesium sulfate need to be added to every gallon of Part C to represent the 203ml of magnesium solution added after every gallon used, but I'm not 100% sure of my calculation here.

Yup and I didn't realise it didn't require the full magnesium part. It utilizes the mineral salt mag. I didn't think it was able to fully supliment the mag as much as it does.

This whole time when he's been saying the other 3 parts has been blowing my mind.

I don't know the specific weights yet of the magnesium but can sort that out when I get home unless you're pretty confident with your conversion.

Appreciate the input

 

[Nossatron]

Righeto I believe i've cracked it:
3/4 cups of Mg Sulfate = 300g per gallon / 3.785 = 79.252 grams per litre
7.1/4 cups of magnesium chloride = 2685g per gallon / 3.785 = 709.379 grams per litre.

To make up total for solution 20L*5.4% =1080mls of mag solution

Total calculated to add to Part 3 (with Mineral Salts) for a complete 20L solution
79.252+8% = 85.592 grams of Magnesium Sulfate
709.379+8% = 766.046 grams of Magnesium Chloride

Note: this is only using the below calculator. Weights may differ based on the links accuracy
Note: If making a one gallon solution as the recipe is based off it would be: 204.412 mls of solution per gallon

79.252*20.44121% = 16.2 grams of Magnesium Sulfate per gallon (0.571oz)
709.379*20.44121% = 145.006 grams of Magnesium Chloride per gallon(5.115oz)

@Miami Reef This sound like about what you were meaning

Chemical Weight Calculator

 

[ingchr1]

Tropic Marin A & K is a good option. You’d add Trace A to the alkalinity solution and Trace K to the calcium solution:

80mL low demand, 160mL medium demand, or 330mL high demand system.


If you use baking soda/sodium bicarbonate for the alk, use this:

40mL low demand, 80mL medium demand, and 165mL high demand.

How does one determine what demand their tank is? Demand of what?

 

[204Reef]

Righeto I believe i've cracked it:
3/4 cups of Mg Sulfate = 300g per gallon / 3.785 = 79.252 grams per litre
7.1/4 cups of magnesium chloride = 2685g per gallon / 3.785 = 709.379 grams per litre.

To make up total for solution 20L*5.4% =1080mls of mag solution

Total calculated to add to Part 3 (with Mineral Salts) for a complete 20L solution
79.252+8% = 85.592 grams of Magnesium Sulfate
709.379+8% = 766.046 grams of Magnesium Chloride

Note: this is only using the below calculator. Weights may differ based on the links accuracy
Note: If making a one gallon solution as the recipe is based off it would be: 204.412 mls of solution per gallon

79.252*20.44121% = 16.2 grams of Magnesium Sulfate per gallon (0.571oz)
709.379*20.44121% = 145.006 grams of Magnesium Chloride per gallon(5.115oz)

@Miami Reef This sound like about what you were meaning

Chemical Weight Calculator

I think you've made an error at the beginning. Does 3/4 of a cup of Mg Sulfate really weigh 300g and especially can it be that 7 1/4 cup of mag chloride weighs 2685g?

The recipe for the mag solution at the beginning of the thread is 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) magnesium sulfate. While there are no grams given for the epsom salts, etc, I can't imagine they are so hydrated as to be double the weight of the BRS versions... can they? Perhaps Miami or Randy might want to chime in?

 

[Miami Reef]

How does one determine what demand their tank is? Demand of what?

The demand is based on Tropic Marin’s instructions on the bottle.

There’s no perfect way to determine how much to dose trace elements. Judging the tank’s inhabitants and maybe ICP would be adequate. I think Randy has a thread on his suggestion.

Perhaps Miami or Randy might want to chime in?

I don’t think I can help with the conversion. The recipe and instructions in the first post is Randy’s recipe. I just gathered all the info in one place with the balling and magnesium part. I cannot alter the recipe without risking an error.

If @Randy Holmes-Farley would like to chime in, he could. I personally cannot.

 

[ingchr1]

The demand is based on Tropic Marin’s instructions on the bottle.

There’s no perfect way to determine how much to dose trace elements. Judging the tank’s inhabitants and maybe ICP would be adequate...

I think ICP is probably the way to go. Maybe do an ICP, go through a gallon of solution, then do another ICP and adjust.

The 80/160/330 comes from BRS, which I do think they worked with TM on.

Here are TM's instructions, which I take as 1-2 ml per 100l of aquarium water daily.

I don't think either method is ideal without ICP, so at least you have some idea of how you are trending.

Following TM instructions, I'm currently at 2ml/day of each Elements. Based on my daily dosing rate of Alkalinity/Calcium, that is 175ml of Elements into a gallon. I was at 1.7ml/day (140ml/gal), but my last ICP was low in most elements. So, I bumped it up. Will see where I'm at once this gallon is done. I'm looking for ballpark, not precision.

For reference my tank has ~31 gallons of water in it and currently consumes ~2dKH/day. I dose 47ml/day of each Part.

 

[Miami Reef]

Then I'd be left with 1,74ml when the others are empty. I might find the weight of the mg chloride and sulfate and add to the 20l solution.

Making a 1 gallon solution of the magnesium from the first post will have enough solution even after going through 20L of the alk and ca

When you get to the point of having a remainder of magnesium solution, make a separate one and top off the first solution.

I hope that makes sense. That’s the easiest way without all the conversions and math.