Randy`s 2 part with Fauna Marin Trace

[RossRusev]

Hi all, can I substitute Fauna Marin`s 2 part with Randy`s 2 part, like for like. My plan is to replace the FM KH part with baking soda and the Ca with calcium chloride dihydrate and keep doing the FM trace elements. Would I be able to follow the same instructions, i.e. dissolve 500gr in 5L, instead of 594 grams in 1 Gallon? The calcium part is a bit concerning. Their instructions say 2 kg per 5L. Do you think they use same calcium chloride dihydrate? How soluble in the calcium chloride dihydrate? Would 2kg of calcium chloride dihydrate fully dissolve in 5L of water? I am not concerned about the ionic ballance as i do a lot of water changes.
And lastly can i add dissolved Sodium Fluoride (97%) to the alkalinity part, i.e. to the baking soda? Would that cause any issues? Thank you.

@Randy Holmes-Farley - your input will be highly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[BryanM]

No idea, sorry.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sorry, missed this.

You can add sodium fluoride to any alk part.

Are you wanting to have exactly the same potency?

Are you planning to bake the baking soda?

 

[RossRusev]

Sorry, missed this.

You can add sodium fluoride to any alk part.

Are you wanting to have exactly the same potency?

Are you planning to bake the baking soda?

Hi, thanks for your replay. I would like to have as close as their potency for both KH and Ca parts. Do you think FM uses bicarbonate or mix? I can use either, I can bake it and make it carbonate if needed, but would like to be as close as possible to their so I don't have to adjust too much the dosage and cause stress. Same for the Ca part. Their instructions say 2 kg per 5L. Do you think they use same calcium chloride dihydrate? How soluble in the calcium chloride dihydrate? Would 2kg of calcium chloride dihydrate fully dissolve in 5L of water? Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hi, thanks for your replay. I would like to have as close as their potency for both KH and Ca parts. Do you think FM uses bicarbonate or mix? I can use either, I can bake it and make it carbonate if needed, but would like to be as close as possible to their so I don't have to adjust too much the dosage and cause stress. Same for the Ca part. Their instructions say 2 kg per 5L. Do you think they use same calcium chloride dihydrate? How soluble in the calcium chloride dihydrate? Would 2kg of calcium chloride dihydrate fully dissolve in 5L of water? Thanks

My understanding is that FM uses sodium bicarbonate, and also that they may have a misunderstanding about the potency of their own product. Their calculator dies not seem correct and there’s a whole thread detailing issues relating to that.

My recommendation is to make my diy as is since it is close to the solubility limit of bicarbonate. If you want it more potent, bake it to make carbonate since that recipe can be about twice as potent.

Why do you want to make the calcium part extra strong? It takes away the benefit of 1:1 dosing.

This is the very long thread about the FM product where the calculator is found to be off.

Bolus dosing

I don't think it is a marketing gimmick, but rather baggage that spilled onto the floor. My take.... They either got it wrong to begin with an never noticed, or the product used to have carbonate in it and they never adjusted the calculator due to oversight or now wanting to make waves with an...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Garf]

Hi, thanks for your replay. I would like to have as close as their potency for both KH and Ca parts. Do you think FM uses bicarbonate or mix? I can use either, I can bake it and make it carbonate if needed, but would like to be as close as possible to their so I don't have to adjust too much the dosage and cause stress. Same for the Ca part. Their instructions say 2 kg per 5L. Do you think they use same calcium chloride dihydrate? How soluble in the calcium chloride dihydrate? Would 2kg of calcium chloride dihydrate fully dissolve in 5L of water? Thanks

If I remember correctly the Fauna calcium chloride mix is about 7 times that of Randys recipe no 2, but you could work that out more accurately. The bicarb part is probably the same as Randy's recipe 2 (assuming the temperature of the dosing solution is below 30 Deg C). Adding traces to the calcium wouldn't be an issue, just divide by 7 (ish). Traces to bicarb should be similar (it's just bicarb). I'd stay away from Faunas alkalinity calculator though, and just use an appropriate one.

Edit - I would add that due to the alkalinity calculator issues, folk have been unwittingly adding twice the amount of bicarb traces. I guess you'll have to ICP after a while and figure out if that's what you should be doing. Fauna have made things very messy.

 

[RossRusev]

My understanding is that FM uses sodium bicarbonate, and also that they may have a misunderstanding about the potency of their own product. Their calculator dies not seem correct and there’s a whole thread detailing issues relating to that.

My recommendation is to make my diy as is since it is close to the solubility limit of bicarbonate. If you want it more potent, bake it to make carbonate since that recipe can be about twice as potent.

Why do you want to make the calcium part extra strong? It takes away the benefit of 1:1 dosing.

This is the very long thread about the FM product where the calculator is found to be off.

Bolus dosing

I don't think it is a marketing gimmick, but rather baggage that spilled onto the floor. My take.... They either got it wrong to begin with an never noticed, or the product used to have carbonate in it and they never adjusted the calculator due to oversight or now wanting to make waves with an...

www.reef2reef.com

@Randy Holmes-Farley .Understood, thanks for your replay. Whats your guess? Do you think FM uses calcium chloride dihydrate or something similar?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley .Understood, thanks for your replay. Whats your guess? Do you think FM uses calcium chloride dihydrate or something similar?

Yes. Using anything else is not better and costs more.