Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks Randy!

So as long as I’m dosing the BRS magnesium mix I don’t have to worry about adding the sulfate in the sodium hydroxide? I can use the recipe on the first page to mix one gallon? And will I need to change my total mililiters dosed with this mix?

Would this work?

Sodium Hydroxide - Pure - Food Grade (Caustic Soda, Lye) (2 Pound Jar) https://a.co/d/1bNJ6Xv

That product looks fine and it’s an exact swap for the sodium carbonate that BRS was selling for my recipe.

I actually recommend the mag part be based on alk/calcium dosing amounts rather than measurement. It provides more than magnesium and magnesium testing has pretty poor accuracy relative to its very slow demand.

 

[BoneDoc]

I was wondering if we can add the Tropic Marin A- to add some trace elements to the mix

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I was wondering if we can add the Tropic Marin A- to add some trace elements to the mix

I think so. If you do not see any solid precipitate when adding it then it is good to go.

 

[BirdGuy21]

That product looks fine and it’s an exact swap for the sodium carbonate that BRS was selling for my recipe.

I actually recommend the mag part be based on alk/calcium dosing amounts rather than measurement. It provides more than magnesium and magnesium testing has pretty poor accuracy relative to its very slow demand.

Is there a ratio I should be aiming for with magnesium? I only have to dose it once a month, maybe, based on Tridenf test results. I dose around 130ml Alk and calcium a day.

Besides common sense, is there any other safety concerns I should consider with sodium hydroxide?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there a ratio I should be aiming for with magnesium? I only have to dose it once a month, maybe, based on Tridenf test results. I dose around 130ml Alk and calcium a day.

Besides common sense, is there any other safety concerns I should consider with sodium hydroxide?

Don't get the hydroxide solution or solids on your skin, or especially not in your eyes. If you splash it on your clothes, rinse them off because it can degrade some fabrics. I used a much stronger high pH solution at work years ago (called a base bath for cleaning glassware, sodium hydroxide in ethanol), and over time my jeans developed many holes in the front. lol

 

[BirdGuy21]

Don't get the hydroxide solution or solids on your skin, or especially not in your eyes. If you splash it on your clothes, rinse them off because it can degrade some fabrics. I used a much stronger high pH solution at work years ago (called a base bath for cleaning glassware, sodium hydroxide in ethanol), and over time my jeans developed many holes in the front. lol

Haha dually noted! Thanks for the help, going to order the sodium hydroxide today for my next batch of Alk mix.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there a ratio I should be aiming for with magnesium? I only have to dose it once a month, maybe, based on Tridenf test results. I dose around 130ml Alk and calcium a day.

Besides common sense, is there any other safety concerns I should consider with sodium hydroxide?

The ratio of delivery of the magnesium part to the other parts is 610 mL per gallon of alk or calcium, or 1 mL of the magnesium part for each 6.2 ml of the alk or calcium part.

I discuss the design of the recipe here. This hydroxide recipe is a modification of Recipe #1 (with the only difference using sodium hydroxide instead of baked baking soda)

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[BoneDoc]

I think so. If you do not see any solid precipitate when adding it then it is good to go.

Thanks Randy. You’re awesome !!

 

[mudbugmike]

What is the purpose of dosing this version (hydroxide + brs calc + tropic mirin part c) over the "complete" 2 part? Are there advantages/disadvantages to one over the other? I am just getting to the point where my tank is draining alk pretty consistently so I am looking to start auto-dosing a bit to maintain.

 

[BoneDoc]

It’s what Randy said, you have double the pH boosting effect with this solution vs Soda Ash variety.

 

[mudbugmike]

It’s what Randy said, you have double the pH boosting effect with this solution vs Soda Ash variety.

No, I mean this hydroxide recipe vs the other 2 part recipe that contains sodium sulfate rather than using balling part c I presume

 

[Miami Reef]

No, I mean this hydroxide recipe vs the other 2 part recipe that contains sodium sulfate rather than using balling part c I presume

It's a chemist's chess game where all the needed ingredients can fit in a true two part.

The sulfate is supplied by the magnesium part in this 2/3 part recipe (via magnesium sulfate). Magnesium sulfate (despite being cheap and readily available at a drug store) cannot be put into either half of a true two part. Magnesium hydroxide precipitates from the alk part and calcium sulfate precipitates from the calcium part.

In the other one (the true two part), only magnesium chloride is used for magnesium and it is put into the calcium part. You cannot use magnesium sulfate since sulfate cannot be put into the calcium part. Hence the need for sodium sulfate to provide the needed sulfate.

 

[mudbugmike]

I am not certain I am understanding why you would dose 3 parts when you can dose the 2 part with the recipe he provided. Is it because of the precipitation listed there?

 

[Miami Reef]

I am not certain I am understanding why you would dose 3 parts when you can dose the 2 part with the recipe he provided. Is it because of the precipitation listed there?

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/

But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example).

To me, it seems like the true 2 part recipe is most ideal if a 2 part is all you will do.

This recipe is good for the folks who want to dose balling part C. I can’t see why this recipe (which is not a true 2 part) would be better than the first one if you only plan on dosing Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium since the 1st recipe has it all in 2 bottles while this recipe needs 3 separate solutions to supply the same things (different ingredients=different precipitation reactions)

Balling method supplies the trace elements and keeps much more balanced seawater levels long term. It’s the most desirable but also the most expensive of the bunch (I personally use this method).

 

[mudbugmike]

To me, it seems like the true 2 part recipe is most ideal if a 2 part is all you will do.

This recipe is good for those who want to dose balling part C. I can’t see why this recipe (which is not a true 2 part) would be better than the first one if you only plan on dosing 2 parts, since the 1st recipe contains Chloride, Sodium and Sulfate, and magnesium in 2 bottles while this recipe needs 3 separate solutions to supply those.

Balling method supplies the trace elements and keeps much more balanced seawater levels long term. It’s the most desirable but also the most expensive of the bunch (I personally use this method).

I am not certain what you mean by "all you will do"? The balling method being the sodium cal/bicarb/hydroxide + calc + part c? That's what I had intended to run with as well. I've seen RHF speak highly about it in many, many threads. I just wanted to gain more insight on one vs the other.

 

[Miami Reef]

I am not certain what you mean by "all you will do"?

I’m trying to say that you can maintain calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, and sodium in 2 bottles by using the first recipe.

Or you can have 3 bottles to maintain it if you use this one.

The BRS 2 part system (which Randy invented) uses sodium in the alkalinity part and chloride in the calcium. This is just a high ph alternative to that for the people that only maintain calcium and alkalinity and don’t really care about certain elements depleting with the salinity rise.

 

[mudbugmike]

I’m trying to say that you can maintain calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, and sodium in 2 bottles by using the first recipe.

Or you can have 3 bottles to maintain it if you use this one.

The BRS 2 part system (which Randy invented) uses sodium in the alkalinity part and chloride in the calcium. This is just a high ph alternative to that for the people that only maintain calcium and alkalinity and don’t really care about certain elements depleting with the salinity rise.

Appreciate the info!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What is the purpose of dosing this version (hydroxide + brs calc + tropic mirin part c) over the "complete" 2 part? Are there advantages/disadvantages to one over the other? I am just getting to the point where my tank is draining alk pretty consistently so I am looking to start auto-dosing a bit to maintain.

Which complete two part?

 

[mudbugmike]

Which complete two part?

Sorry, complete was probably the wrong word. I meant "true" 2 part.

New DIY Two Part Recipes with Higher pH Boost

Here's a first crack at what may end up being multiple possible recipes for a DIY two part that either has a higher pH or can be made more concentrated than traditional two part recipes. This one has about twice the pH raising effect compared to a carbonate based two part, per unit of...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BirdGuy21]

Will the BRS mixing jugs be able to hold this solution? They are labeled as HDPE 2 plastic. Also the Neptune DDR?