Remineralizer recommendations

[DanS]

I'm starting to use RODI water for my tanks, with some softer water fish and neocaridina shrimp. So far I have been mixing RODI with my tap to achieve the desired parameters. I want to move away from the variables that come with tap water and just use RO with a remineralizer. So far it seems most are just GH and trace mineral boosters, and the only one I see that boosts KH as well is salty shrimp GH/KH+. The salty shrimp seems expensive and I would probably go through it quickly. Any other alternatives out there for GH/KH remineralizer? Or what are your experiences with remineralizers?

[Jimmy]

Not sure if this helps but I use nilocg GH booster. I have soft water, I just aim for a specific tds and it works for me.

[Minanora]

Welcome to the forum! I use the Salty Shrimp GH/KH for my neocaridina shrimp. I have them in a 5.5G tank, I change about 50% of their water once every month. I have a tote from smart & final that measures to 10L. I use one scoop of SS GH/KH in there. Works great for me. I recently reduced my water change volume to just over 8L and add the same amount of SS. I'm gradually up-ing their hardness and PH to match my local water parameters. I recommend the salty shrimp stuff just because of the ease. I'm more likely to do things if they're easy. Brightwell also makes a liquid GH/KH product but I wasn't able to purchase it when i got the salty shrimp so that's what I got. 😃

[DanS]

Thanks. I'll look at the brightwell. 

On 3/2/2022 at 3:21 PM, Minanora said:

Welcome to the forum! I use the Salty Shrimp GH/KH for my neocaridina shrimp. I have them in a 5.5G tank, I change about 50% of their water once every month. I have a tote from smart & final that measures to 10L. I use one scoop of SS GH/KH in there. Works great for me. I recently reduced my water change volume to just over 8L and add the same amount of SS. I'm gradually up-ing their hardness and PH to match my local water parameters. I recommend the salty shrimp stuff just because of the ease. I'm more likely to do things if they're easy. Brightwell also makes a liquid GH/KH product but I wasn't able to purchase it when i got the salty shrimp so that's what I got. 😃

[ScottieB]

There’s also Seachem Equilibrium, like the brightwell product it’s designed to be added to RO water. 
 

[Mmiller2001]

Just get MgSO4 and CaSO4. You will use those two to build GH. For KH, you can use several different things. If you keep plants, I would use potassium carbonate (K2CO3).

https://greenleafaquariums.com/products/magnesium-sulfate-mgso4-1lb-bag.html 

https://greenleafaquariums.com/products/calcium-sulfate-caso4-1lb-bag.html

CellarScience - AD640LB Potassium Carbonate (lb) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074D9BXRT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_DEK26WEGVH2149NAKHPD

[DanS]

On 3/2/2022 at 11:50 PM, ScottieB said:

There’s also Seachem Equilibrium, like the brightwell product it’s designed to be added to RO water. 
 

Yes but I believe it only raises GH not KH.

On 3/3/2022 at 1:41 AM, Mmiller2001 said:

Just get MgSO4 and CaSO4. You will use those two to build GH. For KH, you can use several different things. If you keep plants, I would use potassium carbonate (K2CO3).

https://greenleafaquariums.com/products/magnesium-sulfate-mgso4-1lb-bag.html 

https://greenleafaquariums.com/products/calcium-sulfate-caso4-1lb-bag.html

CellarScience - AD640LB Potassium Carbonate (lb) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074D9BXRT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_DEK26WEGVH2149NAKHPD

Thanks. That's definitely a good option and makes it easy to control parameters. I'll have to look into the dosing calculations.

[Mmiller2001]

On 3/3/2022 at 6:47 AM, DanS said:

Thanks. That's definitely a good option and makes it easy to control parameters. I'll have to look into the dosing calculations

https://rotalabutterfly.com/nutrient-calculator.php

[ScottieB]

On 3/3/2022 at 7:47 AM, DanS said:

Yes but I believe it only raises GH not KH.

Thanks. That's definitely a good option and makes it easy to control parameters. I'll have to look into the dosing calculations.

You are right, Equilibrium only has K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn - which is GH, I missed your comments in the OP. I suppose baking soda could be something to only raise KH? One Teaspoon of Baking Soda in 50 liters raises KH by 4 dH. (Source: https://users.cs.duke.edu/~narten/faq/chemistry.html)

[DanS]

Thank you for the help everyone. I decided to go with the GH/KH+ from salty shrimp.