2-part dosing Randy's mix
- Thread starter amonchak
- Start date
I believe people use Prestone Driveway Heat which now may be hard to come by. It's a de-icer. I'm finishing off my bag of DOW CaCl, which I don't believe they produce anymore but I'm not sure. I bought it at a chemical company in south Denver, can't remember the name of it though but you can probably find it in the yellow pages if you want to give them a call.
It might be hard to find in summer but even Walgreens sells Prestone driveway melt. Go have a look in their household section, you might find some there still.
I buy my CaCl from Buckeye Field Supply. Lot cheaper shipping than Bulk Reef Supply and their 5 gallon bucket of CaCl is $15 cheaper than BRS.
I buy my CaCl from Buckeye Field Supply. Lot cheaper shipping than Bulk Reef Supply and their 5 gallon bucket of CaCl is $15 cheaper than BRS.
Pickling lime and kalkwasser are the same, both are calcium hydroxide.
Randy's two part(really three part) is Calcium Chloride, Soda Ash(baked baking soda), and Magnesium Sulfate(epsom salt) and Magnesium Chloride. Buckeye field supply, bulk reef supply, rocky mountain reagents, or the science company(aka Colorado Scientific) are the places I would source these if I was using them. I know people use driveway deicers and such, but I have read horror stories. They are not scientific chemicals, have no purity guarantee and most of the manufacturers have posted warnings not to use them for aquariums. RHF Reefkeeping article attached.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Randy's two part(really three part) is Calcium Chloride, Soda Ash(baked baking soda), and Magnesium Sulfate(epsom salt) and Magnesium Chloride. Buckeye field supply, bulk reef supply, rocky mountain reagents, or the science company(aka Colorado Scientific) are the places I would source these if I was using them. I know people use driveway deicers and such, but I have read horror stories. They are not scientific chemicals, have no purity guarantee and most of the manufacturers have posted warnings not to use them for aquariums. RHF Reefkeeping article attached.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
Actually the translation is "Lime Water"
http://translate.google.com/#en|de|Lime Water
http://www.simplifiedreefkeeping.com/faq/17.htm
Paragraph 3:
"Kalkwasser is a German word. Literally, it means “lime water.” Kalkwasser is a trade name for calcium hydroxide. The terms “Kalkwasser,” “limewater,” and “calcium hydroxide” all mean the same thing in this hobby."
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php
This article includes both Mrs. Wages and Kalkwasser. Either way it is Calcium Hydroxide.
http://store.mrswagesstore.com/mrswagpiclim.html
Right above nutritional facts:
"Food grade calcium hydroxide with no additives or preservatives."
So, unless you are dosing it dry(not recommended due to pH swings) Mrs. Wages is in fact "Lime Water" aka "Kalkwasser".
http://translate.google.com/#en|de|Lime Water
http://www.simplifiedreefkeeping.com/faq/17.htm
Paragraph 3:
"Kalkwasser is a German word. Literally, it means “lime water.” Kalkwasser is a trade name for calcium hydroxide. The terms “Kalkwasser,” “limewater,” and “calcium hydroxide” all mean the same thing in this hobby."
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php
This article includes both Mrs. Wages and Kalkwasser. Either way it is Calcium Hydroxide.
http://store.mrswagesstore.com/mrswagpiclim.html
Right above nutritional facts:
"Food grade calcium hydroxide with no additives or preservatives."
So, unless you are dosing it dry(not recommended due to pH swings) Mrs. Wages is in fact "Lime Water" aka "Kalkwasser".
Kalkwasser has both CA and ALK. It also raises pH. I would recommend using with a mixer or stirrer, dosing pump and pH controller. I run mine at 8.4 pH. I do drip my frag system with a kent drip container.
Two Part as I mentioned is Calcium Chloride and Soda Ash(Sodium Carbonate). These have to be Dripped separately into the aquarium. This is better controlled with Dosing Pumps and Timers Either way start slow and adjust small. You can add a third set up for the Magnesium Chloride/Sulfate Mix if you want to get all three parts.
I do not trust "Dripping" much so I usually recommend getting the pumps and such.
Two Part as I mentioned is Calcium Chloride and Soda Ash(Sodium Carbonate). These have to be Dripped separately into the aquarium. This is better controlled with Dosing Pumps and Timers Either way start slow and adjust small. You can add a third set up for the Magnesium Chloride/Sulfate Mix if you want to get all three parts.
I do not trust "Dripping" much so I usually recommend getting the pumps and such.
Excel Snow & Ice Melt $19 for a 50LB bucket at Sams club. Randys' recipe #1 use 2 cups per gallon.
link:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/search...now+&+ice+melt&fromHome=yes&_requestid=167438
link:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/search...now+&+ice+melt&fromHome=yes&_requestid=167438