A couple questions regarding switching products (ESV bionic to BRS)

[konatown]

I have been using ESV bionic 2 part to dose for my large 15” monti colony. It’s really the only big sps I have, and I have some small sps and lps colonies. I dose b-ionic 15ml AM and 15 ml PM by hand. No magnesium supplement.

First… The BRS website calculator shows to dose more ml of their calcium chloride/soda ash home mix kit compared to ESV bionic to achieve specified target. It wasn’t quite double, but almost double the amount. I’ll be dosing and testing daily, but is that what you’ve found?

Secondly, I rarely test magnesium, never dose it, but mine is exactly 1350 today (Red Sea test)
BRS comes with magnesium, I won’t be dosing that yet as I’m at a good level. I never have dosed mag and I didn’t think mag was in ESV 2 part. If I use BRS 2 part, will me mag start dropping? Or is mag staying maintained by water changes maybe? I really haven’t been water changing much.

Thanks so much!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The ESV has already been adding the magnesium that is in a separate part in my diy (which BRS uses). I’d add the part 3 unless magnesium is already too high since it does other things (balancing chloride and sulfate).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, ESV is more concentrated, by design. It is often hard in a diy to fully dissolve the alk parts.

 

[konatown]

Thanks randy! Since I am switching products I just wanted to double check that I was correct. ill start with like 150% dose amd test thr results daily amd see how it does. And also ill check my mag levels after a bit and dose accordingly.

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks randy! Since I am switching products I just wanted to double check that I was correct. ill start with like 150% dose amd test thr results daily amd see how it does. And also ill check my mag levels after a bit and dose accordingly.

Thanks for the quick reply!

This calculator has both products on it and you can see it takes 44.2 mL of my DIY #1 (which BRS uses as their soda ash product) to match 30 mL of ESV B-ionic

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Gadbery]

This calculator has both products on it and you can see it takes 44.2 mL of my DIY #1 (which BRS uses as their soda ash product) to match 30 mL of ESV B-ionic

Reef Chemistry Calculator

hey was starting your Recipe #1
instead of your suggest calcium chloride can i buy the BRS calcium Chloride pack? I didn't think it would be much of a difference (just easier to get ahold of). Im also floating using the mag product at your dosing strategy/recipe. Having issues finding the mag chloride also.
basically
bicarbonate for alk
BRS calcium chloride
BRS Mag mix
but following the dosing recipe/strategy that goes with your recipe. EVS calcium chloride i can only find in 800g containers which cost the same as BRS 7pound container/bag

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

hey was starting your Recipe #1
instead of your suggest calcium chloride can i buy the BRS calcium Chloride pack? I didn't think it would be much of a difference (just easier to get ahold of). Im also floating using the mag product at your dosing strategy/recipe. Having issues finding the mag chloride also.
basically
bicarbonate for alk
BRS calcium chloride
BRS Mag mix
but following the dosing recipe/strategy that goes with your recipe. EVS calcium chloride i can only find in 800g containers which cost the same as BRS 7pound container/bag

Yes, BRS calcium chloride and the magnesium mix is specifically sold to make my recipe.

 

[konatown]

This calculator has both products on it and you can see it takes 44.2 mL of my DIY #1 (which BRS uses as their soda ash product) to match 30 mL of ESV B-ionic

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Randy, or anyone else who can confirm please..

I’ve been using the BRS product and everything is going smooth.

I have been dosing the two part for about 2 weeks. I have not added magnesium. I just tested and I’m at 1250. I plan to just raise it to 1300 and check again in a few days. The BRS calculator says to add 7.5 oz (222ml) to my 55 gal volume, to raise the mag 50.

I just want to confirm this sounds accurate before pouring 7.5 oz into the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy, or anyone else who can confirm please..

I’ve been using the BRS product and everything is going smooth.

I have been dosing the two part for about 2 weeks. I have not added magnesium. I just tested and I’m at 1250. I plan to just raise it to 1300 and check again in a few days. The BRS calculator says to add 7.5 oz (222ml) to my 55 gal volume, to raise the mag 50.

I just want to confirm this sounds accurate before pouring 7.5 oz into the tank.

BRS uses my recipe, and my recommendation is to add the third part at the recommended dose (610 mL per gallon of alk part used) regardless of the test result for magnesium (unless it is already too high) becayse it will keep magneisum stable and does more than just add magnesium.

Assuming you are using my magnesium recipe (as BRS uses), then you can use this calculator for dosing:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

From it, a 50 ppm rise to magnesium in 55 gallons needs 222 mL of Randy's Recipes, as you suggest.

 

[konatown]

my recommendation is to add the third part at the recommended dose (610 mL per gallon of alk part used) regardless of the test result for magnesium

Gotcha, thanks. This is the info I needed. I could find anywhere where it recommends when to do the magnesium supplement, if you weren’t dosing it daily. I know I’ve read it somewhere before, but couldn’t find it today.

I use 16 oz bottles to dose the 2 part, and have mostly emptied two bottles, and on my third time refilling today. So I’ve used around the 610 ml, maybe a little over. I will dose that magnesium supplement now. Thanks for getting back so quickly