Stupid dosing pump questions

[mark]

^ get the the same idea from Aqua-Digitals write ups on the Balling Method, the salts stay in solution. Also as Ephraim says, get your dry chemicals in bulk to make your own DIY solutions.

[fishytime]

Not trying to be ignorant or start something but, sodium bicarbonate is sodium bicarbonate....whether I buy it in a bottle or in a bag, it will still settle out and need to be mixed....correct me if I am wrong. I dont get why something I make myself from the same chemicals would behave any differently from something that is pre-made.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by fishytime

Not trying to be ignorant or start something but, sodium bicarbonate is sodium bicarbonate....whether I buy it in a bottle or in a bag, it will still settle out and need to be mixed....correct me if I am wrong. I dont get why something I make myself from the same chemicals would behave any differently from something that is pre-made.

While premade solutions may be the same chemicals I doubt that they are in the same concentrations. The amount of solution made by a two part recipe is quite large for a given amount of chemical (solute), thus making it not viable for companies to package and ship this amount of liquid. The companies will increase the amount of chemical in the solution to make it more economical, ie prepaired solutions are concentrated.

In the same way that the salt you add to your tank stays dissolved because it is a low amount of chemical per a large amout of solution.

[24storm]

Hey Doug

I agree Bicarbonate will settle out unless you keep it warm. I use Randys 2 part and make 2 gallons at a time i put a small 25 watt heater in my mixxing container and just keep it warm and it does not settle out. Before i added the heater i would have to stir it up to keep it from settling. I use a profilux doser and have for the past year. I love the fact that its so easy to adjust. And that it never needs to be upgraded when you get a bigger system just dose more. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions.

Keith

Originally Posted by fishytime

Not trying to be ignorant or start something but, sodium bicarbonate is sodium bicarbonate....whether I buy it in a bottle or in a bag, it will still settle out and need to be mixed....correct me if I am wrong. I dont get why something I make myself from the same chemicals would behave any differently from something that is pre-made.

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by 24storm

Hey Doug

I agree Bicarbonate will settle out unless you keep it warm. I use Randys 2 part and make 2 gallons at a time i put a small 25 watt heater in my mixxing container and just keep it warm and it does not settle out. Before i added the heater i would have to stir it up to keep it from settling. I use a profilux doser and have for the past year. I love the fact that its so easy to adjust. And that it never needs to be upgraded when you get a bigger system just dose more. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions.

Keith

I think you just sold me on a dosing pump... (plus what you said in the PM helped me out too)

[24storm]

You will be very happy with it Josh. Its an awesome investment.

You can also spread your dosing out with it. I dose about 300 ml of 2 part each day but its done 8 times in 24 hours so there are no spikes.

Like i said before if you have any questions just let me know.

Keith

Originally Posted by JDigital

I think you just sold me on a dosing pump... (plus what you said in the PM helped me out too)

[Jason McK]

I use Randy's 2 part as well. I would guess that the majority of people running dosing pumps do not use commercial prepared CA or ALK products

J

[Reefer Rob]

Once it's mixed it stays in solution, unless you try to mix it too strong, then it won't all dissolve. Don't worry, and keep it simple!

[Canuckgod420]

what is this Randys 2 part?

[xtreme]

Originally Posted by Canuckgod420

what is this Randys 2 part?

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

Works well and saves lots of money. Check out the ChemMaster aka littlesilvermax who is a vendor sponsor on here if you are looking for calcium or magnesium.