Miami Reef
10K Club Member
DIY alkalinity and calcium additives commonly contain sodium and chloride, respectively. Two-part solutions will increase salinity, as sodium and chloride form to make salt.
When salinity is brought back down, other ions, such as Potassium, Fluoride, Bromide, Bore, Sulfate, Magnesium, etc., will depress. The extent becomes more pronounced over time.
A DIY 3-part mix of Magnesium Sulfate and Chloride can help protect Magnesium and Sulfate from becoming suppressed. Still, it does not help preserve many of the other ions found in seawater.
Balling Part C, by Tropic Marin, is a Sodium chloride-free salt that supplies all other ions found in natural seawater. Using this in addition to a Two-Part will not increase major, minor, or trace elements. It prevents them from becoming depressed during the dilution process.
Here is a full rundown of using a complete 3-part system, with magnesium and Balling Part C, so you’ll never have to worry about testing magnesium again or skewing your seawater toward table salt.
Adding Balling Part C is the most optimal solution to a DIY 2-part system but can come with a slight additional cost.
Notice: These DIYs are simple to use. They are all 1:1:1 dosing to maintain alkalinity. For example, if you require 50mL of the alkalinity solution per day, use 50mL of each calcium and Balling Part C solution as well.
——————————————————————
Recipe #2: It contains Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda) for alkalinity. (It has a very slight pH-decreasing effect when added to seawater.)
Alkalinity:
Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda):
Fill a 1-gallon container 3/4 full of RO/DI or distilled water and add 1 cup and 2 tablespoons (302 grams) of Sodium Bicarbonate. Arm and Hammer Baking Soda (Food-Grade from a grocery store is a good source.
Calcium:
Calcium Chloride dihydrate:
Dissolve 250 grams of Calcium Chloride in RO/DI to make a gallon solution.
"If you use an anhydrous or monohydrate calcium chloride (such as Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat or Peladow Calcium Chloride), then you should use about 20% (1/5) less solid calcium chloride by volume to make the recipe." Source
Balling Part C:
Dissolve 91 grams or four scoops in RO/DI to make a gallon solution.
Magnesium Part (When using recipe #2:
Dissolve Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (¾ cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate (7¼ cups) in enough purified fresh water to make 1 gallon of total volume.
Fill a 1-gallon container half full of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) of BRS Magnesium Sulfate.
Magnesium dosing once you have made the solution (For Recipe #2):
For the magnesium part, add 101mL of the magnesium solution after finishing a gallon of the other three parts. You can also add 2.7% of the magnesium solution to the dose of the other parts (Alkalinity, Calcium, and Balling Part C parts)
Recipe #2 is 50% less concentrated than Recipe #1!
——————————————————————
Recipe #1: It contains Sodium carbonate (Soda Ash) or Sodium hydroxide (Lye) for the alkalinity part. These additives significantly boost pH, with Sodium Hydroxide having double the boost of Sodium carbonate.
Important Note: The alkalinity, calcium, and balling part C in Recipe #1 have doubled the potency of Recipe #2 because Baking Soda has a low solubility in water. The magnesium solution is the same, but we doubled what we would have added in Recipe #2.
Alkalinity (Pick one):
"Spread baking soda (594 grams or about two ¼ cups) on a baking tray and heat in an ordinary oven at 300°F for one hour to drive off water and carbon dioxide. Overheating is not a problem, either with higher temperatures or longer times. Dissolve the residual solid in enough water to make 1 gallon total." Source
For the most significant boost in pH (matching the same pH boost as kalkwasser/Limewater per unit of alkalinity-dosed).
The recipe is 283 grams per gallon. This solution is very caustic, will get extremely hot while dissolving, and requires PPE. Read this thread for instructions on mixing and using Sodium Hydroxide: Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost
Important note: If using Balling Part C, follow the directions in this article for magnesium. The magnesium suggestion in the linked Sodium Hydroxide thread is not meant for use with Balling Part C.
Calcium Part:
Dissolve 500 grams (about 2 ½ cups) of calcium chloride dihydrate. Bulk Reef Supply carries it.
"If you use an anhydrous or monohydrate calcium chloride (such as Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat or Peladow Calcium Chloride), then you should use about 20% (1/5) less solid calcium chloride by volume to make the recipe." Source
Balling Part C:
Dissolve 182g or eight scoops with enough RO/DI or purified water to make a total volume of one gallon. The Balling Part C recipe for "Recipe 1" is two times more concentrated than Tropic Marin's instructions to match the potency of the Alkalinity and Calcium concentrations.
Magnesium:
DIY Magnesium Version:
Dissolve Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (¾ cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate (7¼ cups) in enough purified fresh water to make one gallon of total volume.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulk Reef Supply uses magnesium sulfate anhydrous (a dry form). It is more concentrated than Epsom salt on a dry basis. If using BRS-sourced-ingredients, use this recipe for the magnesium part:
BRS Magnesium Version:
Fill a 1-gallon container half full of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) of BRS Magnesium Sulfate.
For the magnesium part in Recipe #1, add 203mL of the magnesium solution after finishing a gallon of the other three parts to account for the magnesium consumption. No Magnesium testing is necessary! You can also add 5.4% of the magnesium solution as the alk, ca, and balling parts dose.
Thank you, @Randy Holmes-Farley, for the recipes and chemistry knowledge.
Additional Sources:
Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
Further explanation of Balling Part C and Magnesium by Randy Holmes-Farley
When salinity is brought back down, other ions, such as Potassium, Fluoride, Bromide, Bore, Sulfate, Magnesium, etc., will depress. The extent becomes more pronounced over time.
A DIY 3-part mix of Magnesium Sulfate and Chloride can help protect Magnesium and Sulfate from becoming suppressed. Still, it does not help preserve many of the other ions found in seawater.
Balling Part C, by Tropic Marin, is a Sodium chloride-free salt that supplies all other ions found in natural seawater. Using this in addition to a Two-Part will not increase major, minor, or trace elements. It prevents them from becoming depressed during the dilution process.
Here is a full rundown of using a complete 3-part system, with magnesium and Balling Part C, so you’ll never have to worry about testing magnesium again or skewing your seawater toward table salt.
Adding Balling Part C is the most optimal solution to a DIY 2-part system but can come with a slight additional cost.
Notice: These DIYs are simple to use. They are all 1:1:1 dosing to maintain alkalinity. For example, if you require 50mL of the alkalinity solution per day, use 50mL of each calcium and Balling Part C solution as well.
——————————————————————
Recipe #2: It contains Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda) for alkalinity. (It has a very slight pH-decreasing effect when added to seawater.)
Alkalinity:
Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda):
Fill a 1-gallon container 3/4 full of RO/DI or distilled water and add 1 cup and 2 tablespoons (302 grams) of Sodium Bicarbonate. Arm and Hammer Baking Soda (Food-Grade from a grocery store is a good source.
Calcium:
Calcium Chloride dihydrate:
Dissolve 250 grams of Calcium Chloride in RO/DI to make a gallon solution.
"If you use an anhydrous or monohydrate calcium chloride (such as Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat or Peladow Calcium Chloride), then you should use about 20% (1/5) less solid calcium chloride by volume to make the recipe." Source
Balling Part C:
Dissolve 91 grams or four scoops in RO/DI to make a gallon solution.
Magnesium Part (When using recipe #2:
- Epsom Salt Magnesium Version:
Dissolve Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (¾ cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate (7¼ cups) in enough purified fresh water to make 1 gallon of total volume.
- BRS Magnesium Version:
Fill a 1-gallon container half full of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) of BRS Magnesium Sulfate.
Magnesium dosing once you have made the solution (For Recipe #2):
For the magnesium part, add 101mL of the magnesium solution after finishing a gallon of the other three parts. You can also add 2.7% of the magnesium solution to the dose of the other parts (Alkalinity, Calcium, and Balling Part C parts)
Recipe #2 is 50% less concentrated than Recipe #1!
——————————————————————
Recipe #1: It contains Sodium carbonate (Soda Ash) or Sodium hydroxide (Lye) for the alkalinity part. These additives significantly boost pH, with Sodium Hydroxide having double the boost of Sodium carbonate.
Important Note: The alkalinity, calcium, and balling part C in Recipe #1 have doubled the potency of Recipe #2 because Baking Soda has a low solubility in water. The magnesium solution is the same, but we doubled what we would have added in Recipe #2.
Alkalinity (Pick one):
- Sodium carbonate (Soda Ash)
"Spread baking soda (594 grams or about two ¼ cups) on a baking tray and heat in an ordinary oven at 300°F for one hour to drive off water and carbon dioxide. Overheating is not a problem, either with higher temperatures or longer times. Dissolve the residual solid in enough water to make 1 gallon total." Source
- Sodium hydroxide (Lye):
For the most significant boost in pH (matching the same pH boost as kalkwasser/Limewater per unit of alkalinity-dosed).
The recipe is 283 grams per gallon. This solution is very caustic, will get extremely hot while dissolving, and requires PPE. Read this thread for instructions on mixing and using Sodium Hydroxide: Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost
Important note: If using Balling Part C, follow the directions in this article for magnesium. The magnesium suggestion in the linked Sodium Hydroxide thread is not meant for use with Balling Part C.
Calcium Part:
Dissolve 500 grams (about 2 ½ cups) of calcium chloride dihydrate. Bulk Reef Supply carries it.
"If you use an anhydrous or monohydrate calcium chloride (such as Dow Mini-Pellets, Kent's Turbo Calcium, Prestone Driveway Heat or Peladow Calcium Chloride), then you should use about 20% (1/5) less solid calcium chloride by volume to make the recipe." Source
Balling Part C:
Dissolve 182g or eight scoops with enough RO/DI or purified water to make a total volume of one gallon. The Balling Part C recipe for "Recipe 1" is two times more concentrated than Tropic Marin's instructions to match the potency of the Alkalinity and Calcium concentrations.
Magnesium:
DIY Magnesium Version:
Dissolve Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (¾ cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate (7¼ cups) in enough purified fresh water to make one gallon of total volume.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulk Reef Supply uses magnesium sulfate anhydrous (a dry form). It is more concentrated than Epsom salt on a dry basis. If using BRS-sourced-ingredients, use this recipe for the magnesium part:
BRS Magnesium Version:
Fill a 1-gallon container half full of RO/DI or distilled water and then add 7-1/4 cups (1,285 grams) of BRS Magnesium Chloride and 1/2 cup (124 grams) of BRS Magnesium Sulfate.
For the magnesium part in Recipe #1, add 203mL of the magnesium solution after finishing a gallon of the other three parts to account for the magnesium consumption. No Magnesium testing is necessary! You can also add 5.4% of the magnesium solution as the alk, ca, and balling parts dose.
Thank you, @Randy Holmes-Farley, for the recipes and chemistry knowledge.
Additional Sources:
Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
Further explanation of Balling Part C and Magnesium by Randy Holmes-Farley
