Dear Reef2Reef Chemistry Pros,
I am looking to make some of my own trace elements. I found some threads and bought the respective chemicals online.
There are two things I don't understand:
1. Why can't one buy the pure form of the chemicals as a liquid?
eg Potassium, Iodine, Manganese etc...
2. What happens to the other elements when I mix the following with H2o?
ZnCl2 - Zinc Chloride
KI - Potassium Iodide
MnCl2 - Manganese(II) chloride tetrahydrate
KCl - Potassium Chloride
Where does the Cl + Cl2 go during/after the reaction with H2o? Does that get dosed into the reef? Isn't that dangerous?
Here are the quotes, and directions I am going to use for the elements (compounds? [because they are combined - whats the right term?]) I bought.
If someone could confirm they are correct, that would help a lot!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-potassium.278160/#post-3370334
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/post-your-diy-additives-here.344149/page-3#post-4558264
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-zinc-solution.374652/#post-4620982
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/post-your-diy-additives-here.344149/page-4#post-5145534
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I am looking to make some of my own trace elements. I found some threads and bought the respective chemicals online.
There are two things I don't understand:
1. Why can't one buy the pure form of the chemicals as a liquid?
eg Potassium, Iodine, Manganese etc...
2. What happens to the other elements when I mix the following with H2o?
ZnCl2 - Zinc Chloride
KI - Potassium Iodide
MnCl2 - Manganese(II) chloride tetrahydrate
KCl - Potassium Chloride
Where does the Cl + Cl2 go during/after the reaction with H2o? Does that get dosed into the reef? Isn't that dangerous?
Here are the quotes, and directions I am going to use for the elements (compounds? [because they are combined - whats the right term?]) I bought.
If someone could confirm they are correct, that would help a lot!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-potassium.278160/#post-3370334
Potassium chloride has a solubility of 34.2 g / 100 mL of water @ 20 C, so our solution must be less concentrated than that. Let's choose an arbitrary concentration of approximately half that by dissolving 150 grams of KCl in enough water to make up a total volume of 1000 mL. Since the Molecular Mass of KCl is 74.55, that gives a molarity of 150 / 74.55 = 2.012M in our solution. Since the Atomic Weight of potassium is 39.0983, then each mL of our solution will contain 2.012 * 39.0983 = 78.67 mg of potassium. In order to raise the potassium level of 100 gallons of water by 10 PPM, we need to add 10 * 100 * 3.7854 = 3785.4 mg of potassium. So, it will take 3785.4 / 78.67 = 48.12 mL of our 150g / 1000 mL KCl solution to accomplish this. For your 127 gallons, you would need 48.12 * 127 / 100 = 61.11 mL of our solution. This is assuming your KCL is 100% pure; your MSDS indicates a slightly lower concentration of KCl in the substance you are using. Adjust the numbers above accordingly, if you wish.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/post-your-diy-additives-here.344149/page-3#post-4558264
https://www.convertunits.com/
e.g. potassium iodide = 76.4% iodide. 1l stock with 1gr potassium iodide = 764 ppm iodide. 1ml = +0.76 ppm per liter aquariumwater. if you have 100l tank and want to raise by 0.01 you need 1.31ml. (0.0076 ppm / 0.01 ppm ). good luck!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-zinc-solution.374652/#post-4620982
Zinc chloride is 48.6 zinc by weight.
500 grams thus contains 240 grams of zinc.
If you dissolve that in RO/DI until you get to 1 L of total volume, then each 1 mL will contain 1/1000 of that amount, or 240 mg zinc per mL.
You are going to need a much more dilute solution for dosing.
Do you have a scale to weigh out a portion of the 500 g, or do you want to di it by diluting the solution above again?
Assuming the latter, take 1 mL of the solution (240 mg of zinc) and dissolve it in 1 L total RO/Di water, to give a concentration of 0.24 mg/mL (240 ug/mL).
The total NSW level of zinc is about 6 ug/L in seawater, so if you add 1 mL of this second solution (240 ug) to 40 Liters of seawater, you will add the full NSW level of zinc, 6 ug/L (which may be way more than you'd want to dose, unless the level is zero).
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/post-your-diy-additives-here.344149/page-4#post-5145534
/// what I found so far ///
Manganese(II) chloride tetrahydrate is 28% manganese by weight.
Dissolve 1 gram in 100o mL (grams) fresh water. Manganese = 280 ppm.
Take 1 mL (1 g) of that mix and dissolve in 1000 mL of fresh water. Mn = 0.28 ppm (=280 ug/L).
Add 1 mL of that to 100 mL of fresh water. Mn = 2.8 ug/L
Add 13.5 mL of that to 100 gallons of tank water. Conc boost to tank = 0.1 ug/L Mn
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