Adding Magnesium with a 2 part bulk Calc & Alk

ashr · May 16, 2017

Hey all

Just wanted some info on adding bulk Mag to my tank. I have read over Randys recipe 1# and want to make sure I am doing this right.

I have been using the Two Little Fishes A&B to dose my Calc and Alk over the last few years and I am making a switch to bulk Chems.

So Far I have mixed my Calc – Calcium Chloride (1 cup to 2.3L water ) and Alk – Sodium Carbonate (1 cup to 2.3L water ) As my PH is Low 7.6-7.9

Now I want to mix my Mag to add as a 3rd part of my dosing. I bought both Mag Chloride and Mag Sulfate and want to do the 5:3 ratio that I have read about.

My main question is is 5 cups of Mg Chloride and 3 cups of Mag Sulfate to 1 gallon of water? I am still learning all these bulk chemicals and it is a little hard to follow sometimes.

Any help on these would be great.

Thank you

Current:
Alk 7-8
Calc 430
PH 7.6-7.9
85g mixed reef tank

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 16, 2017

The detailed recipe and instructions are here:

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

You basically add 1 mL of the magnesium part for each 6.2 ml of the alk (or calcium) part (610 mL for each gallon of the other parts). It can be added a lot less often since the rate of drop of magnesium is quite low, so you can save up a week or two's worth of additions and add all at once.

ashr · May 16, 2017

So I would dose 1ml of my 5:3 for every 6.2ALk I add to the tank? So I only add about 4ml Alk per day right now to stay around 7-8 but that will change once my frags start to grow.
Ok I will give that a go

thank you.. these things are a bit hard to get my head around at first.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 16, 2017

How did you arrive at the concentrations you are using?

ashr · May 16, 2017

Could you also go into detail a bit more about this?

"This solution is added much less frequently than the other two parts. Each time you finish adding a gallon of both parts of Recipe #1, add 610 mL (2 ½ cups) of this stock solution. You can add it all at once or over time as you choose, depending on the aquarium's size and set up."

Does this mean each time I run through all 2.5L of my Alk and Calc I would then add 610ml of the Mag mix to my tank over a slow amount of time, in addition to my 1ml per week of the mag?

ashr · May 16, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How did you arrive at the concentrations you are using?

A reefing friend uses the 1cup of Calcium Chloride & 1cup Sodium Carbonate for his mixes and everything seems to work fine. He has a successful frag business so I took his advice of mixing those two.

As it's not a full gallon container, I thought this would make sense but I could be wrong.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 16, 2017

ashr said:
Could you also go into detail a bit more about this?

"This solution is added much less frequently than the other two parts. Each time you finish adding a gallon of both parts of Recipe #1, add 610 mL (2 ½ cups) of this stock solution. You can add it all at once or over time as you choose, depending on the aquarium's size and set up."

Does this mean each time I run through all 2.5L of my Alk and Calc I would then add 610ml of the Mag mix to my tank over a slow amount of time, in addition to my 1ml per week of the mag?

My recipe makes 1 gallon. The 610 mL is per gallon. I wouldn't add any other magnesium unless you determine a need.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 16, 2017

ashr said:
A reefing friend uses the 1cup of Calcium Chloride & 1cup Sodium Carbonate for his mixes and everything seems to work fine. He has a successful frag business so I took his advice of mixing those two.

As it's not a full gallon container, I thought this would make sense but I could be wrong.

I don't know where he got that recipe. I'd stick to mine, assuming you are using calcium chloride dihydrate.

ashr · May 16, 2017

Thanks Randy! I'll try and follow your instructions. It's a bit overwhelming but I think I can get a handle on it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 16, 2017

Did you get the ingredients from BRS?

ashr · May 16, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Did you get the ingredients from BRS?

I got them from a local shop up here in Canada, Vancouver called J&L
http://www.jlaquatics.com/dry-goods/aquarium-supplies/additives-media/bulk-chemicals.html

ashr · May 16, 2017

The calc and Alk seem easy enough. I guess I was just unsure about mixing the two types of mag to make sure it's done right

Just need to read it over a few times.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 16, 2017

ashr said:
The calc and Alk seem easy enough. I guess I was just unsure about mixing the two types of mag to make sure it's done right Just need to read it over a few times.

The mixing of the two types isn't hard, and the exact ratio isn't critical. Rough measurement is fine.