New Salifert Test results

[dragoneggs]

Thanks Ed... I also used Instant Ocean and was wondering about being low on Ca. Sorry Returnofsid, I didn't mean to be derailing the thread but the chart was making me nervous.

 

[returnofsid]

LOL Dragoneggs, the chart was a lil' confusing to me until I read the entire page and some attached links that helped me understand how to actually read the chart.

 

[scytale]

Hu! my advice was 100% accurate.
Go to the sponser page. The very last link is a new sponser that is selling diy two part products.

Don

"100% accurate", Wait a minute... Isn't "selling diy" products an oxymoron!?! (No offense, Don! )

But isn't the point of a DIY product that you can "do-it-YOURSELF"!

I visited the link, and I'm all for making things easier and cheapier (and so I like thier idea, in principle...) but $8.95 for shipping!:shock: --that's just as expensive as the raw materials!

(Again, I like thier idea: buy in bulk, re-package, and then sell in quantities people can actually use....)
But I'm pretty sure that returnofsid wouldn't have much trouble finding baking soda and some good de-icer in Spokane....

 

[DonW]

"100% accurate", Wait a minute... Isn't "selling diy" products an oxymoron!?! (No offense, Don! )

But isn't the point of a DIY product that you can "do-it-YOURSELF"!

I visited the link, and I'm all for making things easier and cheapier (and so I like thier idea, in principle...) but $8.95 for shipping!:shock: --that's just as expensive as the raw materials!

(Again, I like thier idea: buy in bulk, re-package, and then sell in quantities people can actually use....)
But I'm pretty sure that returnofsid wouldn't have much trouble finding baking soda and some good de-icer in Spokane....

My post was in respose to you telling him to "ignore" my advice on bumping up ca with ca chloride.

Most of the products sold by those guys cant be had at locally so you have to ship it anyways. Or people resort to un safe products.
I think you suggested prestone drive way deicer. This can be had anywhere but the metals content is not safe for reef keeping. Just looking at the msds sheet does not give you the information needed to make a informed decision on wether or not the product is safe for our use. Im sure Randy has stated this time and time again and people keep using chemicals that are not safe.
A product that is safe that can be had locally is dri-z-air which is a higher grade of peladow.

To the best of my knowlege Dri z air and dow flake are the only ones that have been lab tested to be safe.
Pestone has been lab tested to be unsafe. The metals test results were posted here a few years ago. Ill see if I can find the hard copy.

Don

 

[CarlaW]

Yeah, I wondered if I needed to also purchase a Mag test...figured I probably should. So for now, I'll concentrate on bumping up my Ca and trying to get it in the 420-450 range...then I'll check back with everyone on my balances. I know that once I get SPS and a clam or 2 in the tank (Clam will be awhile down the road), I'll definately need to be dosing Kalk, or Randy's 2 part recipe. But I wanna make sure I'm balanced first so I don't totally screw everything up. Right now, I'm okay with where my Alk and pH are. I'll get a Mg test soon and see where I'm at there as well.

If I am not mistaken, taking a look at the Chem Plot chart, NSW levels are at 2.6 meq/l and 410 Ca. I don't think that you have to go much past that. JMHO

 

[Scooterman]

I don't understand how 8 bucks for shipping can be considered high, also the practice of bumping up your ca with a product like turbo ca it is well within reason as far as price & won't throw everything out of balance in the new salt water mix, MG is also good to check & bump up the same way.

 

[LakeEd]

To the best of my knowlege Dri z air and dow flake are the only ones that have been lab tested to be safe.
Pestone has been lab tested to be unsafe. The metals test results were posted here a few years ago. Ill see if I can find the hard copy.

Don

Don,

Look as I could, I have found nothing that stated that the "Prestone Driveway Heat" was an inappropriate product until just now and your post??? I would be very interested in any links to that you can dig up for us... especially since that is the only product in Randy's listings that I was able to find "locally" here in Washington, and I'm currently using it.

Thanks guy!

 

[scytale]

Since you've already found out how to save some $$$ by using that pickling lime instead of kalk powder, but forget what Don just said "you need to just bump it up with ca chloride"....

Hu! my advice was 100% accurate.

Don

Yes, yes it was.
Sorry Don, I was trying to agree with you--not contradict--I meant to type "but DON'T forget what Don just said..use CaCl"
(That's why I went on to detail where to find CaCl locally.)

If you find the article about Prestone/Driveway Heat CACl testing poorly, I'd be interested to read it!
(I was under the impression, based on the MSDS info I found listed on the labels of DrivewayHeat and Dri-Z-air--that they were the same chemical composition.)

 

[CarlaW]

Since you've already found out how to save some $$$ by using that pickling lime instead of kalk powder, but forget what Don just said "you need to just bump it up with ca chloride"....

Yes, yes it was.
Sorry Don, I was trying to agree with you--not contradict--I meant to type "but DON'T forget what Don just said..use CaCl"
(That's why I went on to detail where to find CaCl locally.)

If you find the article about Prestone/Driveway Heat CACl testing poorly, I'd be interested to read it!
(I was under the impression, based on the MSDS info I found listed on the labels of DrivewayHeat and Dri-Z-air--that they were the same chemical composition.)

There's a typo for the ages!!!!!

 

[DonW]

Since you've already found out how to save some $$$ by using that pickling lime instead of kalk powder, but forget what Don just said "you need to just bump it up with ca chloride"....

Yes, yes it was.
Sorry Don, I was trying to agree with you--not contradict--I meant to type "but DON'T forget what Don just said..use CaCl"
(That's why I went on to detail where to find CaCl locally.)

If you find the article about Prestone/Driveway Heat CACl testing poorly, I'd be interested to read it!
(I was under the impression, based on the MSDS info I found listed on the labels of DrivewayHeat and Dri-Z-air--that they were the same chemical composition.)

:lol: :lol:Typo. Msds means nothing when it come to this hobby. The full analysis is the only thing that will tell you what exactly is in something. The msds (material safety data sheet) is to help medical, fire and ...... to protect the user and treat a user in event of a accident. Thats it nothing more.

Don.

 

[returnofsid]

LOL Typo for the ages or away to cover up a lil' rudeness. Don, don't worry, I value your INFORMED opinion VERY much. From reading a lot of your posts and responses, it's quite obvious that you know your stuff. So, which route would you suggest? I know not to go with de-icer unless I know for sure it's reef safe. I'm familiar with Dri-Z-air...I think. Isn't that the stuff sold for RV use as a de-humidifier? I'm also more than willing to purchase store bought supplements. However, I would like to eventually get more into the DIY products, such as Randy's 2 part recipe...or something similar. For now, would I be best off just going to a LFS and buying Turbo Ca or something similar, or should I go to a Home Depot and find something to use as a DIY? Any suggestions you can offer would be appreciated!!

 

[DonW]

LOL Typo for the ages or away to cover up a lil' rudeness. Don, don't worry, I value your INFORMED opinion VERY much. From reading a lot of your posts and responses, it's quite obvious that you know your stuff. So, which route would you suggest? I know not to go with de-icer unless I know for sure it's reef safe. I'm familiar with Dri-Z-air...I think. Isn't that the stuff sold for RV use as a de-humidifier? I'm also more than willing to purchase store bought supplements. However, I would like to eventually get more into the DIY products, such as Randy's 2 part recipe...or something similar. For now, would I be best off just going to a LFS and buying Turbo Ca or something similar, or should I go to a Home Depot and find something to use as a DIY? Any suggestions you can offer would be appreciated!!

Honestly its up to you. It really doesnt matter. Either way youll get the job done. Its more about the money than anything else. I think if you spend a little time playing with the diy stuff youll learn alot along the way.

Don

 

[returnofsid]

That's the thing, I know nothing about the DIY stuff. I know Kalk...but that's about it as far as the chemistry goes. I am getting ready to build a DIY sump/refugium and a DIY HOB Closed Loop system. I'm looking forward to that!! Nothing to extravagant but it'll be fun and functional.

 

[DonW]

That's the thing, I know nothing about the DIY stuff. I know Kalk...but that's about it as far as the chemistry goes. I am getting ready to build a DIY sump/refugium and a DIY HOB Closed Loop system. I'm looking forward to that!! Nothing to extravagant but it'll be fun and functional.

Well here is a easy way to stay in good shape. Just pick a alk #, I like 12 but 10 is safer for beginners. Once you pick a alk stick with it.

So with a alk of 10 your balanced ca is around 430 with mg at 1290.
Go here http://reef.diesyst.com/ and book mark this site.
Go to the grocery store and buy a box of baking soda.
Go to HD and get a couple bags of Dri z air. They are small so get two.

Now go home and test your tank. Both ca and alk.
Use the calculator to mix up single doses of ca and alk suppliments. Pick baking soda for alk and pick peladow for ca.
This will tell you exactly how much to add. Mix them individually in rodi water. Dose all the ca. then wait a few hours and slowly add the alk. Now you will be balanced as far as ca and alk goes. Test and dose every few days for a few weeks until you get the hang of it.Then go order a Mg kit and get back to this thread after youve got the mg measurement.

Hope this helps
Don

 

[returnofsid]

Okay, so how are you figuring out what is balanced? For instance, with my Alk of 9.3....what Ca balances it and how are you coming to this conclusion? So I want to shoot for an Alk of 10 and a Ca of 430. I understand that you're coming up with an Alk of 10 because it's a safe medium target to shoot for....but how are you figuring that Ca of 430 is the balance point? LOL...Maybe I need to learn to use that darn chart.

 

[DonW]

Okay, so how are you figuring out what is balanced? For instance, with my Alk of 9.3....what Ca balances it and how are you coming to this conclusion? So I want to shoot for an Alk of 10 and a Ca of 430. I understand that you're coming up with an Alk of 10 because it's a safe medium target to shoot for....but how are you figuring that Ca of 430 is the balance point? LOL...Maybe I need to learn to use that darn chart.

Go to the link I just posted.
Put in your volume
Put in a alk of say 9.0 (random)
Put in a desired lk of 9.3 (where your at now)
Select baking soda
Select submit alk

Now just look at the window that just poped up. :lol:

Don

 

[returnofsid]

Ahhh got it!! I see what I'd done wrong. I'd done all that before but forgot to change it to Dkh instead of meg/l. lol. Thanks!! I'm off to buy baking soda and DryZair. Now do I want to raise my alk and Ca as it recommends or do I want to just raise my Ca for now? I understand that I can put in my present levels of both and my desired levels of both and it'll recommend what to do.

 

[DonW]

Ahhh got it!! I see what I'd done wrong. I'd done all that before but forgot to change it to Dkh instead of meg/l. lol. Thanks!! I'm off to buy baking soda and DryZair. Now do I want to raise my alk and Ca as it recommends or do I want to just raise my Ca for now? I understand that I can put in my present levels of both and my desired levels of both and it'll recommend what to do.

Pick a alk# and just stick with it.

Don

 

[returnofsid]

Well, just got home from Walmart where I picked up the DriZair for 1.20 a bag...lol. Got 5 bags. Also picked up Baking Soda because I'm almost out. Now on to the calculator and to work I go!! Thanks so much Don!!

 

[returnofsid]

Hmmm another question that I can't seem to find the answer to on the calculator. How do I dose these products? Do I dissolve them into RO/DI water? If so, how much water and how much product? I understand that I shouldn't dose all at once but do it over a period of several days. Just wondering how much water to how much product.