You can.

I like to keep mine separate. Gives me more flexibility. Say I need to decrease mg or potassium, because the kh is climbing. Or if I needed to modify the ratio in any way, I can still do it.

Actually I can only find Magnesium Sulphate

Is it possible to subsitude others ones with something else?

Actually I can only find Magnesium Sulphate

Is it possible to subsitude others ones with something else?

You can find the other minerals on www.aquariumonlinestore.com.au.

I wouldn't substitute that formula with anything else. But what were you thinking of substituting?

The calcium sulphate dihydrated is what you want. The dihydrate part just means it has two hydrogen molecules, that will make it dissolve in water easier. Otherwise calcium sulphate is a real pain to dissolve.

You'll find potassium sulphate at AOS too.

Don't use chemicals with carbonates or chlorides or nitrates or phosphates if you don't want to change you water parameters.

ahh thanks

i was trying to ask the local hydroponic shops but they only have Magnesium Sulphate, and those guys suggested maybe i should change with something else hahahha, that is why i asked if there is anything to sub them

Micro-nutrient mix is the same as trace element too right?

Hey killer I just ordered this last night myself too :-) yeh its what he means.

Name Price Quantity Item Total

Potassium Sulphate 1kg $8.00 1 $8.00

Magnesium Sulphate Heptahydrate 1kg $8.00 1 $8.00

Calcium Sulphate Dihydrate (Feed Grade) 1Kg $20.00 1 $20.00

Chelated Micronutrient Mix 50g

thanks

 

hahahah that is killing total price and can last you many years

Another place that has the items u need is Aquagreen. Can get different sizes as well.

Aquagreen doesn't have calcium sulphate dihydrate. The dihydrate part makes it dissolve in water easily.

I believe the Calcium Sulphate used in beer brewing is acceptable? 

I believe the Calcium Sulphate used in beer brewing is acceptable? 

 

Yes, I think that is also Calcium Sulphate dihydrate and it will be food grade.

The rest of the ingredients appear to be available from Bunnings etc. 

I just ordered from aquotix aquarium online store - and thr calcium sulfate potassium sulfate, mg sulfate and the.chelated micronutrients onethe weekend. Paid extra $5 for express post option and they arrived here in adelaide today. Woohoo :-)

Edit - ie overnight! Very happy customer here will be mixing tonight :-)

Edited March 31, 201511 yr by revolutionhope

You'll have enough to last your lifetime of shrimp keeping.

 

You should look at sharing with other Adelaide members.

Had a squiz at the bunnings stuff, all of them have a significant amount of sulphur content, I think sulphur is used as a macro nutrient for planted aquariums, but I can't imagine this sort of volume would be a good idea?

Is that the Richgro Sulphate of Potash?

 

Should be ok. You're using very small amounts.

hm. yes it is, I'll give it a crack. thanks. 

Edited June 9, 201510 yr by Tankeyone

ive enjoyed doing the mixing makes me feel like a chemist! im keen to research a recipe for my guppies now too and will do the same for yabbies/marron whichever i end up doing. i can highly recommend doing this mix. muchos kudos to jayc for putting in the effort and sharing :-)

how do you guys store the extra micronutrient since it only use under 1g?

is it there is some special requirement that need to store them up? like in the fridge?

 

hahahah like iron will rust or oxidation or something?

 

specially the iron sulphate if just getting that?

Edited April 2, 201511 yr by killer007

Haha, a couple of mad scientists in the making.

I store mine in the garden shed. In containers that will keep the contents dry. Treat it like fertilizer.

Btw, the recipe / ingredient mix is the same for shrimp or fish. The difference is how much you add.

Have you guys tested your mix to see what one drop will raise TDS up by?

Edited April 2, 201511 yr by jayc

My mix itself was around 4000ppm. I needed to add a few small syringes to 40 litres to bring it up to 100ppm. I found the mix itself seemed to.seperate pretty rapidly so I shook vigorously before I syringed some out. I hope im not doing anything wrong? Also - the mixed up bottle will keep for some time I imagine? It will last me months and months!

Hahaha not yet for me

I am going to mix some next week

My mix itself was around 4000ppm. I needed to add a few small syringes to 40 litres to bring it up to 100ppm. I found the mix itself seemed to.seperate pretty rapidly so I shook vigorously before I syringed some out. I hope im not doing anything wrong? Also - the mixed up bottle will keep for some time I imagine? It will last me months and months!

Nothing wrong there.

Yes the bottle will last a long time, as long as it has a lid to stop evaporation.

It didn't mean test the mix itself.

Test TDS of 1litre of water. Add 1drop of the mix. Test TDS again. The difference in TDS is how much one drop will raise.

ive been using this mix for a few weeks now and im trying to understand it better. my shrimp health has been improving overall and im sure that changing to RO water with remineralisation has been a big plus!

 

just out of curiousity i checked the molar mass of calcium and of magnesium and found that ca is 40ish and mg is 24ish. i dont have a clue about chemistry but im assuming that the amount of sulphate is equal and willnot affect the total ratio calciulation - (as both contain SO4 attached to a single CA or MG) -

55g CaSO4 x 40g/mol = 2200 and 37g MgSO4 x 24g/mol = 888

2200:888 = 2.48:1 which is less than the 3:1 ratio required?

 

so a few questions come to mind -

 

1) im interested to know the science of how to properly determine the ratio of calcium to magnesium because my calculations dont add up (but again - i pretty much fell asleep throughout all of my year 10 chemistry and never touched the subject again!)

 

2) i also want to know about the thinking behind the potassium that is being added, im slightly concerned because my tank is not heavily planted that i may be accumulating ever-increasing amounts of potassium in my tanks.

 

3) i wanted to check would baking soda be the best way to increase KH or how else would you do this - and why? another expert suggested to me that this is a good idea as sodium is a trace element that will not be harmful and that if i added calcium then it would ruin the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the formula.

 

love n peace

 

will

Will,

 

1) Your ratio calculation looks right. Some fine tuning of the mix is required if the molar mass you your ca is 40ish and mg is 24ish.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Calcium test kit to determine levels of Ca in your tank water. And from that a simple formula can be used to determine Mg levels. The Formula is found in the "GH - Ca:MG Ratio" sticky thread.

 

2) The potassium amounts added are very small. If you have any plants in your tank at all, it will be used up very quickly by the plants, and to a small degree by the shrimps. Unlike Mg, calcium and potassium gets used up in an aquarium. Mg will stay in the tank, and requires water change to reduce it.

 

3) Why do you want to raise KH? And what is your KH now? Baking Soda will raise KH, but I would advise against playing with KH. Anything with carbonates will raise KH, BUT bicarbonates will also raise pH. It will only last as long as the amount you added is exhausted, and also the buffering affects of things like your substrate. The imbalance caused is not worth it, unless you have a good  reason/goal/plan you are trying to achieve.

 

 

Additional info

Adding 3.0g Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to 100 litres of water will raise the alkalinity by 1

Adding 3.6g Potassium Bicarbonate (KHCO3) to 100 litres of water will raise the alkalinity by 1

Adding 3.1g of Calcium Sulphate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) to 100 litres of water will raise the GH by 1

Adding 4.4g of Magnesium Sulphate heptahydrate (MgSO4.7H2O) to 100 litres of water will raise the GH by 1

 

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) (baking soda/bicarbonate of soda) is the usual KH additive of choice. It's cheap and easy to find and use. It will however raise pH though due to the addition of the hydrogen.

Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) is another KH additive. It's cheap. But not so easy to find, it's a specialist food additive for people who don't want sodium in their food. It will however raise pH though due to the addition of the hydrogen. It dissolves much faster than the Potassium or Calcium carbonate powders.

Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) A known food additive. This adds carbonate without raising pH. The potassium is a bonus if you have a planted aquarium.

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) This adds carbonate and calcium so GH and KH will increase. Used by gardeners as 'Lime'.

Edited April 21, 201511 yr by jayc