|
01/17/2006, 09:13 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sloan, NY
Posts: 578
|
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 |
01/18/2006, 07:54 AM | #2 |
Reef Chemist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts
Posts: 86,233
|
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.
__________________
Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef |
01/18/2006, 09:21 AM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sloan, NY
Posts: 578
|
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. |
01/18/2006, 09:48 AM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,009
|
The prestone driveway heat also works..I got that at Lowes only a few weeks ago.
__________________
-Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress |
01/18/2006, 10:24 AM | #5 |
Reef Chemist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts
Posts: 86,233
|
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.
__________________
Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef |
01/18/2006, 10:36 AM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sloan, NY
Posts: 578
|
Thanks Randy!
|
01/18/2006, 10:39 AM | #7 |
Reef Chemist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts
Posts: 86,233
|
Happy Reefing.
__________________
Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef |
Thread Tools | |
|
|