alk and calcium replacement question

[t gallo]

instead of using b ionic's part 1 for alk and part 2 for calcium, couldent i just get a gallon container and fill it with ro water then add some baking soda and use that for part one, then get another container with ro water then add kalkwaser and vinager wich would be part 2 . its getting to expensive to keep up with the b ionic solution's at 30.00 dollars a bottle.my system , mostly sps is consuming about 60 ml a day of each componet wich leaves my tank readings at dkh 10.2 and ca 350, ph 8.25 and8.35 at peak, total gallons is about 225. 8O

 

[randy holmes-farley]

No.

If you want to make a poor imitation of B-ionic, you can put baking soda or washing soda in one, and calcium chloride in the other (not limewater, as it supplies both calcium and alkalinity).

The reason that I say a poor immitation is that you will have the isuses around accumulation of sodium and chloride that Craig discusses in these articles:

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm ... efault.asp


http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm ... efault.asp

My most recent submission to Advanced Aquarist is a summary of all of the balanced calcum and alkalinity addition schemes, including costs and other pros and cons. So if you want to reduce costs, check it out. For a tank like yours, limewater and/or a CaCO3/CO2 reactor will be the least expensive.

 

[t gallo]

thanks randy for your time, i am always reading your article's on water chemistry but unfortently i was never a good science student and i find myself reading your articles over and over to fully understand the complexity of alk calcium limewater mg borate etc etc there is a lot to learn but well worth it. :idea:

 

[randy holmes-farley]

You're welcome!