New 2-Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

[xerxes300]

This new DIY 2-part recipe replaces Sodium Carbonate with Sodium Hydroxide(lye, caustic soda) - no more CO2 scrubbers, or low pH

click below for full details:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/

[Frogger]

You can pick up a very pure grade of sodium hydroxide at a great price from Voyageur Soap and Candle in Surrey.

Be careful with this stuff as it is very caustic, not sure if I want to run it through my doser.

I have used this sodium hydroxide mixed with kalkwasser to spot treat undesirables in my reef tank.

[xerxes300]

did u need some 2L bottles, for this purpose? they are HDPE bottles used for pure Hydrochloric Acid.

i also have Food Grade Sodium Hydoxide, and Pharma Grade Sodium Sulfate

text: 604 779 1085
dt vanvouver

[BCOrchidGuy]

Not a chemistry kind of guy here so I hope you don't mind my question but could you mix the two? Would there be any reason to do so or not to?

[Frogger]

Not a chemistry kind of guy here so I hope you don't mind my question but could you mix the two? Would there be any reason to do so or not to?

Not sure what you mean. If you mixed the Sodium Hydroxide with the Calcium chloride you would get instant Calcium Carbonate (insoluble). If you mixed Sodium Hydroxide with Sodium Carbonate it would work however if you are not a chemistry kind of guy you will never be able to balance the 2 part with the Calcium Chloride portion.

If you are not a chemistry kind of guy best stick to exactly recipes recommended no substitutions.

[xerxes300]

the reaction of the two solutions would be as follows:

CaCl2(aq)+2NaOH(aq)⟶2NaCl(aq)+Ca(OH)2(s)

the resulting precipitate will be Ca(OH)2(s) aka:
kalkwasser/pickling lime/hydrated lime/slaked lime/construction lime/etc...

NaOH(s) is 600x more soluble than Ca(OH)2(s), so your resulting solution defeats the entire purpose of much higher pH raising effect of a “new and improved 2-Part recipe”

aswell, this recipe eliminates the need for a 3rd solution(Magnesium), since using Na2SO4(s) keeps this recipe from skewing the chloride to sulfate ion ratio balance in the aquarium.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/

there are further iterations of the above recipe, however it would require you to purchase analytical grade minor and trace elements to cover the “no water changes” method of reef keeping