Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Marine Aquarium Co-Op. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 3
Clint's Two part recipe; how to make a complete two part suppliment
Topic Started: Apr 25 2010, 04:19:19 PM (618 Views)
Post #1 Apr 25 2010, 04:19:19 PM Clint
Somebody on WMAS asked me for the recipe I use so I posted it over there. Don't know if anybody over here uses two part but if so here is what I came up with.

I have been using 2 part for a long time and have tried several things. Here is a recipe that is an adaptation of both Bulk Reef Supply recipes, Seachem's Calcium formulas and my own preferences. There is more thinking behind this than I care to type but in short, I wanted a recipe that uses sodium bicarbonate and carbonate ions (baking soda and soda ash respectively) I also wanted my magnesium source to use sulfate and chloride spectator ions (epsom salt and MgCl respectively). I also wanted to aid strontium and any other minor elements as I saw fit all in one recipe. I combined the pH raising and lowering recipes of BRS as a base. I think they are adding a lot more magnesium than I think we need so used Seachem's ion utilization ratio of 100:5:0.1 for Ca Mg and Sr respectively. These ratios are by weight of the ions not by moles (actual number of ions) I also used the estimate of 5 grams per teaspoon for all the calcium and magnesium compounds and 8 grams per teaspoon for SrCl2. Keep in mind the mass ratios are of the ions themselves and not the chloride or sulfate components. I repeat these ratios are calculated using ONLY the primary ions.

The calcium Part (part I)
All of these ingredients are dry (much cheaper). Add 1.5 cups of calcium chloride anhydrous to an one gallon jug 2/3 full of water. It will get surprisingly hot. Shake it up until it is dissolved. Then add 7 and 1/4 teaspoons of magnesium chloride hexahydrate and 4 and 1/4 teaspoons of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (epsom salt) to the mixture. Add to this one half a teaspoon of strontium chloride. Shake the jug until it is dissolved. Top off the jug with water. If you have other trace elements like iodine or the multi ion trace supplements you can add them to the jug. But you will first have to know how fast you will use the jug. I use a gallon in about a month so I but a month's worth of any of the other elements in. If you use a liquid trace supplement just make sure the spectator ion (the part of the chemical name you don't care about) is either chloride or sulfate. 1 -2 ml per gallon of tank water per day is a good place to start. There is about 30 ml in an once and 8 ounces in a cup.
The magnesium amount provided above should provide enough to keep up with utilization as per Seachem. Bulk reef supply uses much more magnesium, if you want to use the same amount that Bulk Reef Supply uses then use 37 teaspoons of MgCl2 and 22 teaspoons of MgSO4 instead of 7.25 and 4.25 as instructed above. There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon and 16 tablespoons in a cup.

Alkalinity part (part II)

This is just Bulk reef supply recipe one and two combined. 9 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and 8 tablespoons of sodium carbonate (soda ash) dissolved in a gallon jug of water and then topped off with water. Add an equal amount of part I and part II to the tank. It is best to add the two parts to the tank at different times. I add mine slowly to an area with turbulent flow.

This recipe is nice becuase after you make it (in really doesn't take very long) everything is being dosed at the same time and you give the tank a little Mg Sr Id Ir or anything else you add every day and it is quick. Of course test your water every once in awhile and if you are out of whack with something then change your recipe accordingly.
breeding stock
[ * * * ]
Midvale (435) 213-6215
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #2 Apr 26 2010, 08:18:01 AM Suzy
Clint, this is so cool! I so want to do this. It is like the 2 part additives I used to buy for a lot of moola, but cheaper, right? Cheaper enough to make it worth the time it takes to make it? Where do you get all the ingredients?

Can I add chelated iron/Fe for my lovely algae?
Member Avatar
Seahorse Whisperer
[ * * * ]
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there"
Too Funny!
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #3 Apr 26 2010, 11:12:19 PM Amie
Thanks for posting this, Clint. I'm always struggling with Magnesium for some reason, my tank just can't get enough of it.. I never dose alkalinity anymore because it's always too high if I do. I like that you are able to throw everything in together, I'm going to try this.
Member Avatar
stormy, stormy nights
[ * * * ]
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html
Tell them Adam sent you.
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #4 Apr 27 2010, 05:41:00 PM Clint
Suzy Iron should be fine but just to make sure what all is in your iron source. Amie if you are struggling with mag use the higher amounts suggested at the end of the paragraph.
breeding stock
[ * * * ]
Midvale (435) 213-6215
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #5 Apr 27 2010, 05:51:01 PM Suzy
Where do we get the ingredients from? I have iron chelate from GregWatson.com, a freshwater site. It says it is 10% iron chelate, I wonder what the other 990% is?
Member Avatar
Seahorse Whisperer
[ * * * ]
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there"
Too Funny!
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #6 Apr 28 2010, 07:27:40 PM Clint
I get the stuff I can't find in regular stores from bulk reef supply.
breeding stock
[ * * * ]
Midvale (435) 213-6215
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #7 May 2 2010, 05:21:07 PM Amie
Clint, your response didn't make sense. You buy it in regular stores? Or at bulk reef supply?
What about the ChemShop?
Member Avatar
stormy, stormy nights
[ * * * ]
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/interns.html
Tell them Adam sent you.
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #8 May 7 2010, 06:36:41 AM sterling18
Hey Clint, how are you? Your tank is too cool. Like I said, TOTM.

The rotifers didn't make it. I'm going to pick up a culture somewhere, you want some?
breeding stock
[ * * * ]
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #9 May 7 2010, 10:31:14 AM Suzy
Are you getting S strain? I need some!

Or if you just want any spp, I have the L strain you are welcome too. Might have a few pods in it....
Member Avatar
Seahorse Whisperer
[ * * * ]
"i was informed of some dolphin related testing going on up there"
Too Funny!
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
Post #10 May 7 2010, 01:47:17 PM sterling18
Suzy
May 7 2010, 10:31:14 AM
Are you getting S strain? I need some!

Or if you just want any spp, I have the L strain you are welcome too. Might have a few pods in it....

Not sure, I'll check. I wasn't looking for a specific strain like the copepods.
breeding stock
[ * * * ]
Quote Post Goto Top Offline Profile
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Tank Maintenance · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 3