2 part solutions help

snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I need a little information on two part calcium and alkalinity supplements. Over the years I've only done water changes and used kalkwasser for calcium and alkalinity supplementation. However, I would really like to learn how to use some of these two part solutions that a lot of people are using these days.
I know that baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, and when mixed and dosed properly will bring your alkalinity up. What is a cheap and easy solution to bring up just calcium without disturbing alkalinity levels?
Calcium hydroxide is basically kalkwasser / limewater / Mrs. Wages pickling lime... Which brings up calcium and alkalinity levels at the same time. BUT what if I wanted to add just calcium to my reef tank? What kind of calcium would I use? I'm having a really hard time finding answers. I need some help.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Contents:
Part A: Deionized water containing the following ions: calcium, chloride, magnesium, strontium, bromide, lithium, rubidium, nickel, chromium, zinc, copper, cesium, iron, manganese, cobalt.
Part B: Deionized water containing the following ions: sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, carbonate, borate, fluoride, iodide, molybdate, selenate, vanadate, and tungstate.
Part A is a calcium supplement and Part B is an alkalinity supplement. If I'm not mistaken, Calcium Chloride is the main ingredient to increase calcium levels in an aquarium, correct? If it is, then where is the cheapest source of calcium chloride for home use?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I found a supplier for Calcium Cloride that sells it food grade as "Pickle Crisp" It's used to "crisp up pickles" when you can them. I'm trying to find out if it's the same thing as canning salt. It will be a little while longer. lol
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Ok, so I just found out that canning salt is not the same as "pickle crisp" I doubt that I can find it in my local grocery store.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I'm going to post a link to some pickle crisp. I highly doubt that anyone is going to consider this a competitor site at all... hah! They sell a pound of food grade pickle crisp calcium cloride for $4.40, albeit a special order. It's better then calcium road salt. lol.
I bet that if you did some research and got a couple of tightly capped squirt bottle containers that you could easily create your own two part liquid solution with some pickle crisp and baking soda... Anyone elses thoughts? Am I just being the cheap ahole? lol
The reason for all of this is because I am trying to find an easy, simple once a week calcium and alkalinity additive for someone's tank. Dripping kalkwasser is out of the question and weekly 25% water changes are going to get really, really expensive. Please?! I need thoughts... opinions, suggestions?
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Sounds like you've got some "C Balance" product. Used it for many years and like it alot, buy it by the gallon units, and they last me couple years.
Short answer from my exp - the part A will raise dKH and CA more than the part B, which will raise dKH alone. Both products contain LOTS of trace elements and overdosing C Balance will give ya funny coral growths, shorten shrimp&crab lifespans-by increasing molts too much (high iodine). I'm not aware of a product that'd just raise CA without disturbing dKH, and even adding calcium chloride (CaCl2) alone would probably alter dKH too, while raising free Ca levels - and raising pH only slightly.
As far as a source of straight CaCl2 - "morton calcium chloride ice melt salt" is probably pure enough, surely cheep enough, and can be ground up in an electric blade style coffee grinder into a fine powder....if you wanted to experiment with the process.
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/388318/2-part-solutions-help#post_3423946
I bet that if you did some research and got a couple of tightly capped squirt bottle containers that you could easily create your own two part liquid solution with some pickle crisp and baking soda... Anyone elses thoughts? Am I just being the cheap ahole? lol
Okay - now I see what you're after.....CaCl2 for raising calcium levels alone and sodium bicarbonate for dKH. I would think it'd work for some time, though eventually some trace elements might get low - making a "balanced" water parameter more difficult.
And food grade would be better than ice melt stuff - which could have other crap in it...but u know this - was just sourcing some. An interesting test though!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
You know what, I think I'm going to go with the Morton Ice Melt Salt instead of the Pickle Crisp.
I'm pretty sure that I will be able to find out a formula that will raise calcium and alkalinity in a home made two part solution.... I think the formulas are right on the dry bottles of alkalinity and calcium products. I guess I'll start with a formula there. I really would like to put it in liquid form before I add it to a persons aquarium.
Now here's another question, and maybe one that someone else can answer? How can you raise magnesium easily without disturbing everything else? Bang Guy uses,/used magnesium cloride/epsom salt ... anyone else have other suggestions?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
holy bat crapman, I just did a search for DIY two part calcium and alkalinity supplementation and I got results! Why didn't I just search that in the first place, hiuh? Jeez, I always have to make everything so darn complicated when I try to learn new stuff. heh.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
So, for those of you who are interested in my nano tank thread, I'm going to try this solution out on my own tank and then see where it goes.
I believe that using baking soda and calcium cloride in a good balanced 2 part solution while maintaining adequate magnesium levels is going to be the way to go. I'm not going to be using Epsom Salt to raise magnesium levels in my tank, because of my concern for excessive sulfates. However, I will use Kent Tech M, until I see otherwise fit.
Thanks for everyones help. HAHAHA
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I read the article above and it said that you could pick up a bag of "Dowflake" calcium cloride from your local Home Depot, 50lbs for $12. That would last the average aquarist about 8 to 10 years depending on the size of the tank and calcium demands. Dowflake has been used in aquariums before for adding calcium, and they have done it safely. So,... I'm going to try it. lol.
Just imagine paying $12 for ten years worth of calcium for your tank. hah, what a thought, eh? Well, I guess I'll have to find out. :D
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Oh, and this is technically a 3 part system. You can't just keep adding calcium and alkalinity to a tank without also balancing out magnesium. Over the course of 1 year in a 50g tank without any water changes, your salinity will increase 29% with this home made 3 part solution. So, you do have to keep your salinity in check and measure it often, and they still suggested the occasional water change for trace elements.
 
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