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Unread 01/17/2006, 09:13 PM   #1
Tava176
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Phosphate concerns in Randy's 2 part system

I just finished reading "How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme" by Randy Holmes-Farley. (if you are reading this Randy...great article. Thanks you)

The article metions the possibility of phosphate additions to the tank with certain suplimentation solutions. Liemwater being the least likely to add Phos.

My question is, what about when using Randy's 2 part system?

I plan to supplinemt my tank using the Dowflake solution and the baking soda solution. Am I better off using limewater in my auto top off? I have a small calcuim loving tank (meaning...not a lot of corals.....yet). It takes 4 days for my tank to go from CA of 420 to CA of 380.

Thanks for the advice!

James


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Unread 01/18/2006, 07:54 AM   #2
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I am not sure of the phosphate levels in all of the ingredients, but I do not think there is significant reason to be concerned with it.


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Unread 01/18/2006, 09:21 AM   #3
Tava176
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I thought so. thanks for answering.

I use a Phosban reactor, so that will help.

Randy,

If I can not find Dowflake in my area, what else do you suggest using in its place?

Thanks.


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Unread 01/18/2006, 09:48 AM   #4
Horace
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The prestone driveway heat also works..I got that at Lowes only a few weeks ago.


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Unread 01/18/2006, 10:24 AM   #5
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Here a section from my upcoming article:

Substitutes for Dowflake Calcium Chloride

If Dowflake calcium chloride or a repackaged version (such as All-Clear) cannot be located, one may be able to substitute Peladow or Dow Mini-Pellets which are dehydrated versions of Dowflake (that is, they have less water in the crystals). In addition to the Peladow brand name, Peladow is also sold as Prestone Driveway Heat and possibly other common brands. Kent Turbo Calcium is also suitable and is an anhydrous calcium chloride. Any FCC (food), USP (pharmaceutical) or BP (pharmaceutical) grades of calcium chloride should be suitable.

Peladow, Dow mini-Pellets, Prestone Driveway Heat, Kent Turbo Calcium and other dehydrated calcium chloride products are more potent than Dowflake. The dehydration makes them both more potent on a weight basis, and more dense, so they are much more potent on a volume basis. The problem is that it is rarely clear how much moisture is in them. Peladow specifies 90% calcium chloride minimum, but it may be higher in some cases. Dow Mini-Pellets at 94% minimum, but actually has a lower bulk density than Peladow. The best guess of an amount to use is based on the hydration levels and bulk density provided by Dow for these products. Using these numbers, I suggest that aquarists use 20% less VOLUME of the dehydrated versions in the recipes than is called for in Dowflake. So a recipe calling for 5 cups of Dowflake would use 4 cups of Peladow, Prestone Driveway Heat, Kent Turbo Calcium, etc.

Choosing other unknown brands of any of the products may be fine, or not. I’ve not tested them for purity.


Where to Buy the Materials

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is best obtained from a grocery store to ensure that it is a food grade material. Arm & Hammer is a fine brand, as is a store brand.

Calcium chloride dihydrate (Dowflake) can often be obtained at stores such as Home Depot as a deicer. All-Clear Calcium chloride for pools is repackaged Dowflake.

The following links lead to companies that are believed to supply Dowflake. Some will ship and some may only do it locally:

http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/sh...owspecials=124
http://www.flordrisupply.com/index2.html
http://www.mainstreetseedandsupply.com/saltproducts.htm
http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/produ...L2&src=21BR001
http://www.meltsnow.com/products-dry...m-chloride.htm
http://www.cal-chlor.com/products.htm
http://www.farrellequipment.com/cata...mentitious.pdf

Peladow is available from some of the suppliers above, and is sold as Prestone Driveway Heat at many home products stores for deicing.


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Unread 01/18/2006, 10:36 AM   #6
Tava176
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Thanks Randy!


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Unread 01/18/2006, 10:39 AM   #7
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Happy Reefing.


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