Cal/Alk Balance

[DonW]

Calcium Chloride for Calcium.... and where to get this again? (alternative source)

Baking Soda for what again? Any special things to do to it before adding to tank?

Or I can just do additives to add a little here and there...?

Ca chloride alternative sources: Dri-z-air, Prestone deicer, peladow........
I like Warner Marine and ESV dry.

Don

 

[MikeS]

Calcium Chloride for Calcium.... and where to get this again? (alternative source)...

Not sure on an alternative source on that one...I use Kent's Turbo Calcium...it's calcium chloride, not too expensive and a little goes a long way...

Baking Soda for what again? Any special things to do to it before adding to tank?...

Baking soda as a bicarbonate...boosts alkalinity without adding borate salts...no special prep...I just add it accordingly to the salt mik or RO/DI water prior to adding to the tank, using this calculator...
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Or I can just do additives to add a little here and there

sure....test your levels, use the calculator above...it will tell you how much you need of a specific ingredient based on levels and water volume...

MikeS

 

[Katchupoy]

what brand of baking soda and where to buy... I just want to make sure I can recreate the effect...

is this also the same one that you heat on oven before use? Or am I mixing with other DIY chemicals out there...

Again thanks.

 

[Boomer]

Arm & Hammer in any grocery store. You do not have heat it but it is the same one. When it is heated it makes washing soda, which is a much more of potent buffer and pH riser. This is usually not needed.

 

[MikeS]

what brand of baking soda and where to buy... I just want to make sure I can recreate the effect...

is this also the same one that you heat on oven before use? Or am I mixing with other DIY chemicals out there...

Again thanks.

I use Arm&Hammer...no need to bake it...you are thinking of washing soda...which is sodium carbonate vs. sodium bicarbonate....

in low pH situations, sodium carbonate is better...in high pH situations, sodium bicarbonate is better.... you can make washing soda out of baking soda by cooking it in the oven, which converts the bicaronate into a carbonte...Boomer would be much better at explaining the exact details of it....

plain old baking soda will be fine, just add it slowly....

MikeS

 

[Haole]

Ca chloride alternative sources: Dri-z-air, Prestone deicer, peladow........
I like Warner Marine and ESV dry.

Huh? Am I reading that right?... Automotive products? :shock:
Hmmm... That’s interesting.

 

[Boomer]

No, it is Snow melt, which is another name for them. The stuff to melt ice on roads and sidewalks. NOT Prestone antifreeze that you put in the car or use as a coolant.

We will wait on the explaining Mike till we get Haloe in order

 

[Haole]

Lol that’s ok Boomer, explain away. :lol:
I just seen the word “Prestone” and automatically thought of car products.
Arm&Hammer baking soda is as far as I will go at using alternative supplements.
Thanks for the clarification though. lol :lol:

 

[Boomer]

OK, good luck then