Recipe #1 Mixture (for low PH)

Kiel'thalin · 11/06/2006, 03:47 PM

I have read the article and I just wan to be clear before I start mixing up my 1 gallon jugs. I have Kents Turbo Calcium and Kents Super-Buffer

For the Calcium Part it seems simple:
400g (1 3/4 Cups) Kents Turbo Calcium mixed into 1 Gallon of water

For The Akalinity Part:
594g (2 1/2 Cups) Kents Super-Buffer mixed into 1 Gallon of Water. Will that work or will I have to use a baking powder?

I think this will last for a very long time (at least 6 months), I am getting tired of measuring out dry dosage (usually 1/2 to 1 tsp) three times a week and mixing. I rather just draw up a syringe with the correct ml dosage to mix with the top-off water. I just want to make sure I do it right. Thanks...

Randy Holmes-Farley · 11/06/2006, 05:08 PM

I have not designed the recipe for either of those products, and cannot be sure exactly how much to add, but I'll estimate for you.

Are you actually going to measure by grams or cups?

By cups, I'd use 0.8 x 2.5 = 2 cups of the Turbo Calcium and I would use baking soda, not the Kent Superbuffer. If you really must use the superbuffer, then I'd guess to use the same amount as the baking soda (2 1/4 cups), and still bake it (350-400 deg F, 1 h).

Do not use baking powder!

Kiel'thalin · 11/07/2006, 07:10 AM

Okay, I didn't know that the product weight differs (i.e. a cup of butter weighs more than a cup of granulated sugar), I was about to screw up there. You can't really know how to convert grams to cups unless you have the the weight/mass of the item. Kinda an estimate. I have the means to measure out the mixtures in grams. What would you suggest the grams be for each mixture. I will just use the buffer since I already have it. Thanks again...

Randy Holmes-Farley · 11/07/2006, 08:12 AM

I give gram recommendations in my article when using Dowflake and Baking soda. Grams are a better way to go than cups if the balance is accurate. Use 20% less Kent Turbo calcium than Dowflake. The Kent buffer is less exact, since I'm not sure what exactly is in it, but use the mass for baking soda as a best guess.

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Kiel'thalin · 11/07/2006, 09:11 AM

The baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate?
The super-buffer contains a mix of the following (as per label):
Carbonate, bicarbonate and borate salts of sodium, magnesium, and potassium.
I don't have enough to mix, so I will just use the baking soda. The Turbo Calcium comes in 400g supply for $10, do I trust the label, or will I have to measure it out on the scale?
One more question, I am going to wal-mart to get my gallon jugs, can I use the distilled or the R/O water that comes in the jugs? I have my own R/O water, but I want to make sure it is the purest form for the mix. Thanks...

Randy Holmes-Farley · 11/07/2006, 09:34 AM

Yes, grocery store baking soda is generally (at least in the US) pure sodium bicarbonate.

do I trust the label, or will I have to measure it out on the scale?

Depends on how important it is to you to have the two parts match to be a balanced additive system, but since we are guessing somewhat on the moisture level in the Turbo calcium, using the container weight is likely OK.

The water from the store is likely OK for this purpose.

11/06/2006, 05:08 PM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I have not designed the recipe for either of those products, and cannot be sure exactly how much to add, but I'll estimate for you. Are you actually going to measure by grams or cups? By cups, I'd use 0.8 x 2.5 = 2 cups of the Turbo Calcium and I would use baking soda, not the Kent Superbuffer. If you really must use the superbuffer, then I'd guess to use the same amount as the baking soda (2 1/4 cups), and still bake it (350-400 deg F, 1 h). Do not use baking powder! __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

11/07/2006, 08:12 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I give gram recommendations in my article when using Dowflake and Baking soda. Grams are a better way to go than cups if the balance is accurate. Use 20% less Kent Turbo calcium than Dowflake. The Kent buffer is less exact, since I'm not sure what exactly is in it, but use the mass for baking soda as a best guess. An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

11/07/2006, 09:34 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Yes, grocery store baking soda is generally (at least in the US) pure sodium bicarbonate. do I trust the label, or will I have to measure it out on the scale? Depends on how important it is to you to have the two parts match to be a balanced additive system, but since we are guessing somewhat on the moisture level in the Turbo calcium, using the container weight is likely OK. The water from the store is likely OK for this purpose. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

11/06/2006, 03:47 PM	#1
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	Recipe #1 Mixture (for low PH) I have read the article and I just wan to be clear before I start mixing up my 1 gallon jugs. I have Kents Turbo Calcium and Kents Super-Buffer For the Calcium Part it seems simple: 400g (1 3/4 Cups) Kents Turbo Calcium mixed into 1 Gallon of water For The Akalinity Part: 594g (2 1/2 Cups) Kents Super-Buffer mixed into 1 Gallon of Water. Will that work or will I have to use a baking powder? I think this will last for a very long time (at least 6 months), I am getting tired of measuring out dry dosage (usually 1/2 to 1 tsp) three times a week and mixing. I rather just draw up a syringe with the correct ml dosage to mix with the top-off water. I just want to make sure I do it right. Thanks...

11/07/2006, 07:10 AM	#3
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	Okay, I didn't know that the product weight differs (i.e. a cup of butter weighs more than a cup of granulated sugar), I was about to screw up there. You can't really know how to convert grams to cups unless you have the the weight/mass of the item. Kinda an estimate. I have the means to measure out the mixtures in grams. What would you suggest the grams be for each mixture. I will just use the buffer since I already have it. Thanks again...

11/07/2006, 09:11 AM	#5
Kiel'thalin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albany, Georgia Posts: 575	The baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate? The super-buffer contains a mix of the following (as per label): Carbonate, bicarbonate and borate salts of sodium, magnesium, and potassium. I don't have enough to mix, so I will just use the baking soda. The Turbo Calcium comes in 400g supply for $10, do I trust the label, or will I have to measure it out on the scale? One more question, I am going to wal-mart to get my gallon jugs, can I use the distilled or the R/O water that comes in the jugs? I have my own R/O water, but I want to make sure it is the purest form for the mix. Thanks...