So what's people use the most for alk? Soda ash or sodium bicarbonate, also was looking at the AF stuff today .
Reefsupplies use soda ash for the 2 part dosing.

Derek how you like the component strong? Are you pretty much making your own component +1-2-3?
Thanks



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I like it I mix a gallon of reefsuplies soda ash (2cups) calcium (2.5 cups) and aquaforest mineral salt (1 cup) and add 25ml of the component strong mixes to each. I dose magnesium separately by hand.

I worked out my own mix formula of the component strong and mineral salt as the aquaforest uses sodium bicarb which uses more to raise alk then soda ash does.

I'm tempted to buy some BRS bulk chems to see if they are better.

I c...
Yes I heard a lots good things about the BRS bulk chemicals. I'm just on the fence about the component strong, just want to learn more about it... bet is good stuff but still don't know if want to dose all that separately or just use the component strong, I guess is not much difference


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I used to use the BRS chems some years ago. IMO, they are really all the same and don't make any difference in your tank, except BRS has REALLY GOOD marketing. :lol: It's kinda like all these DC pumps we're buying that all look the same - they're all made in the same factory. They just use a different colored plastic, slap a different sticker on it, and tada! New pump. :lol:

When the Canadian dollar was strong, then buying the BRS stuff made a lot more sense. Now the savings aren't really there unless you're buying the 5-gallon pails - even then I'm not sure once you start adding shipping to 5-gallon pails. BRS charges 15% for Canadian duties and taxes to all orders, then you have to add 40% right now for the dollar (thanks to Trump for the soft wood tariffs). Then you pay shipping (in US dollars) on top of that. It really adds up right now, and I'm not sure why people are still shopping in the US other than habit.

The Aquaforest KH Buffer is $47 from Reef Supplies and free shipping over $149 (BRS doesn't do free shipping to Canada). If you want to use "soda ash" (sodium carbonate), then bake it in your oven at 350F for an hour and you have soda ash. Or just buy the Reef Supplies soda ash.

I've been usinf the JL stuff for a couple of years, no complaints here.

I'm currently using the Reef Supplies bulk mix and I will say it mixed without any issues. I also went and picked up some bulk from JL when they had it on sale. I haven't experimented enough but my guess is they will all be close to the same for purity.

Yes make sense, with the low dollar don't really know if is worth to get the stuff from brs, also got a box over the border , but don't know if they ship the 5g pails for free.
I may take a look at the bulk chemicals j&l and reef supplies offer, as is easier to get.


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No politics on the forum please. :lol:

For the record, I use BRS chems and a Libra to dose.

They don't ship anything to Canada for free. :)

I know, was referring to a mail box in the US tho,


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