2 part solution

randallcentral · #1 09/21/2007, 05:54 AM

I was wondering if the 2 part formula, dow flake and baking soda. Would it be just as effective as the The Total Package from http://www.twopartsolution.com/index...3a86aaf9fe8b34
or B ionic 2 part solution?

lesages · #2 09/21/2007, 06:16 AM

It is. Although the twopartsolution package also includes magnesium.

randallcentral · #3 09/21/2007, 01:41 PM

I think it said that Mag flake isnt good any more.. How do I get magnesium into the formula?

papagimp · #4 09/21/2007, 01:46 PM

epsom salts for magnesium. Randy holmes has a artilce either here or with advancedaquarist online magazine that goes into the actual details, but magnesium supplements are basically just epsom salt.

and yes the two part is just as effective. If the measurments are off, you may have to add more or less than recommended dosages, but that's a minor issue when considering the money you'd save by making it yourself.

randallcentral · #5 09/21/2007, 02:59 PM

thank you kindly!

SaltyDr · #6 09/21/2007, 03:48 PM

Careful with using just epsom salts over time because the sulfate will raise too high.

arts007 · #7 09/21/2007, 04:00 PM

Does using epsom salts for magnesium upset the ionic balance?

bertoni · #8 09/21/2007, 04:02 PM

Yes, dosing epsom salts will spike the sulfate. That's why the package includes magnesium chloride. I'd recommend getting some magnesium chloride. There are a number of vendors, though.

randallcentral · #9 09/21/2007, 05:09 PM

what do people use then? Mag flake?

mikeandjenn99 · #10 09/21/2007, 05:20 PM

Here's Randy's article on his improved two-part recipe:
2 Part Recipe

randallcentral · #11 09/21/2007, 08:44 PM

so mag flake works?

kau_cinta_ku · #12 09/21/2007, 08:54 PM

yes

randallcentral · #13 09/22/2007, 05:09 AM

I see they have something called Dowflake Xtra, apparently it is more pure.which do people use? Regular Dow flake or Dowflake Xtra?

crumbletop · #14 09/22/2007, 08:56 AM

A lot of people use Randy's 2-part recipe (which is actually 3-part as others have stated). That means baking soda, regular dow flake, epsom salts, and mag flake. So yes, that is what many people use including myself

There are other options, but if you read the article, some of the options have more water in them than others and therefore require different amounts to achieve the same concentration in solution. The easiest way to do it, IMO, is to stick with the stuff in Randy's recipe. 2-part Solutions looks like they have some good quality stuff. If you buy from them, make sure you get the right recipe for mixing things up from them. The components may be similar enough to Randy's recipe to make the measurements the same, but I'd check that with them before mixing.

Another caution about 2-part. Start off SLOWLY and only dose based on a measured value in the tank. This isn't something that you should add blindly to the tank. For that you need good kits for alk, ca, and mg. You can calculate a dose using this calculator:

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

Here is the link to Randy's Improved 2-Part Recipe. The main improvement is the more balanced Mg portion that uses epsom salts + magnesium chloride (mag flake):
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php