Brightwell Magnesion-P

Pauliex77x · Apr 16, 2022

ive been using brightwell powder for my magnesium dosing and its not working.

the tank is about 20g total water volume. I mix about 8 tablespoons in 16 oz of water and i split that between the two dosing containers for both of my tanks. ive been dosing about 20ml a day for the last 10 days and my salifert kit is actually telling me ive LOST about 30ppm magnesium.

Does anyone mix this differently? or is there an easier suppliment for magnesium to use that isnt the DIY route?

blaxsun · Apr 16, 2022

First, did you mix the magnesium per the recommended amount? Second, you mention two tanks - so which one is having issues?

Pauliex77x · Apr 16, 2022

Yes. It says to mix 4 tablespoons in 8oz of water. Doubled it for both containers. It's actually both tanks that I couldn't raise. The other tank needed a water change after a chemiclean treatment so magnesium was raised that way.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2022

The Salifert result is testing error. You did not lose 30 ppm magnesium in less than a month.

I'm not a fan of Brightwell products for many reasons, but it will raise magnesium if dosed in an appropriate amount.

What size if your tank and what are the actual magneisum values you are measuring?

doubleshot00 · Apr 17, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I'm not a fan of Brightwell products for many reasons, but it will raise magnesium if dosed in an appropriate amount.

Interested in knowing why?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
Interested in knowing why?

lol

Glad you asked. I think the marine scientist that designed their chemical products should have been replaced by a chemical scientist long ago (though I think he is gone now). I'd sure flunk him out of a chemistry class.

1. Brightwell is either chemically ignorant or intentionally misleads customers about the nature and efficacy of some of its products. There are several that fit this description, but Boost pH+ is the poster child for utterly incorrect claims:

Brightwell Aquatics - Boost pH+

www.brightwellaquatics.com

"Boost pH+ High Range pH Increaser, raises pH only without increasing alkalinity or calcium (in tanks already having a proper dKH)"

"Warning: Contains caustic sodium and potassium hydroxides"

Are you kidding me? What utter crapola. I'd think it is just ignorance that makes them think that hydroxide does not add alkalinity, but then they sell a different product that contains hydroxide where they claim it does raise alkalinity.

Kalk+2 is also a highly misleading product for other reasons, but it demonstrates that somewhere at Brightwell, someone knows that hydroxide adds alkalinity:

Brightwell Aquatics - Kalk+2

www.brightwellaquatics.com

"Ingredients Calcium hydroxide, Strontium hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide"

"Provides temporary alkalinity and helps maintain pH within the desired range when used
as directed."

2. Brightwell products do not carry any sort of purity claims.

3. Brightwell products are very expensive for supplements with no purity claim, even if they could do what they claim.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
Interested in knowing why?

Since this thread is about Magnesion P, I actually had to email the new Brightwell owner (Jack Kent) who took over the company a while back about the "Guaranteed Analysis" for this magnesium product.

It's hard to believe, but my email to Jack describes the problem where their 'Guaranteed Analysis" could not possibly be correct (they have since fixed it).

For many years now, you've had serious errors on your Magnesion P web site description, including the Guaranteed Analysis being way off. It simply cannot be 43% magnesium or have the magnesium boost per gram added that you claim based on the ingredients you add.

You use anhydrous magnesium chloride (25.5% magnesium) and anhydrous magnesium sulfate (20.2% magnesium). There is just no combination of these ingredients that can have more than 25.5% magnesium.

Especially since this is your guaranteed analysis, it would behoove you to fix this before people start asking for refunds. It will also save me the trouble of continually explaining to people online why you have such strange claims.

Thank you
Randy

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2022

Oh wow,

Seems Brightwell fixed it long ago, but they never told folks like BRS who STILL propagate this ignorance:

Magnesion-P Dry Magnesium - Reef Additive

Brightwell’s MagnesION-P is part of a complete system for maintaining the major elements. The concentrated powder form is perfect for those who want to mix their own solutions at home for dosing by hand or with a dosing pump, and when coupled with Alkalin8.3-P and CalcION-P, it is convenient and...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Guaranteed Analysis
Magnesium (min) 43% (430,000 ppm)

Ingredients
Magnesium sulfate (anhydrous), Magnesium chloride (anhydrous)

doubleshot00 · Apr 17, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
lol

Glad you asked. I think the marine scientist that designed their chemical products should have been replaced by a chemical scientist long ago (though I think he is gone now). I'd sure flunk him out of a chemistry class.

1. Brightwell is either chemically ignorant or intentionally misleads customers about the nature and efficacy of some of its products. There are several that fit this description, but Boost pH+ is the poster child for utterly incorrect claims:

Brightwell Aquatics - Boost pH+

www.brightwellaquatics.com

"Boost pH+ High Range pH Increaser, raises pH only without increasing alkalinity or calcium (in tanks already having a proper dKH)"

"Warning: Contains caustic sodium and potassium hydroxides"

Are you kidding me? What utter crapola. I'd think it is just ignorance that makes them think that hydroxide does not add alkalinity, but then they sell a different product that contains hydroxide where they claim it does raise alkalinity.

Kalk+2 is also a highly misleading product for other reasons, but it demonstrates that somewhere at Brightwell, someone knows that hydroxide adds alkalinity:

Brightwell Aquatics - Kalk+2

www.brightwellaquatics.com

"Ingredients Calcium hydroxide, Strontium hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide"

"Provides temporary alkalinity and helps maintain pH within the desired range when used
as directed."

2. Brightwell products do not carry any sort of purity claims.

3. Brightwell products are very expensive for supplements with no purity claim, even if they could do what they claim.

Wow interesting.

Who do you believe is selling the best chemical products now.

I currently use nothing in my tank but have use MB7 in my wifes tank a few times (13.5gal)

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2022

Final comment on the Magnesion P, if you get it from BRS, DO NOT BELEIVE their incorrect dosing instructions. They still have the wrong info from years ago.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
Wow interesting.

Who do you believe is selling the best chemical products now.

I currently use nothing in my tank but have use MB7 in my wifes tank a few times (13.5gal)

That's hard to say since almost no independent analysis has been done on any additives currently sold.

So it comes down to trust. Do the folks in charge seem to understand what they are doing?

Not many companies have earned this trust with me. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them, I just do not know. I'm also not certain that the ones I do trust are getting all things right, but the odds a higher.

I generally trust ESV and Salifert and Tropic Marin to understand the chemistry involved with their products.

doubleshot00 · Apr 17, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
That's hard to say since almost no independent analysis has been done on any additives currently sold.

So it comes down to trust. Do the folks in charge seem to understand what they are doing?

Not many companies have earned this trust with me. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them, I just do not know. I'm also not certain that the ones I do trust are getting all things right, but the odds a higher.

I generally trust ESV and Salifert and Tropic Marin to understand the chemistry involved with their products.

There are very few posters that i trust on this site. Thanks for what you do here.

Pauliex77x · Apr 17, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The Salifert result is testing error. You did not lose 30 ppm magnesium in less than a month.

I'm not a fan of Brightwell products for many reasons, but it will raise magnesium if dosed in an appropriate amount.

What size if your tank and what are the actual magneisum values you are measuring?

Thank you for the reply, Randy. The tank is a 20L aqueon that i drilled with a 10g aqueon DIY sump. total system volume is around 20g. i dont fully understand the second part of your question about what magnesium values im measuring.

from what ive read and what you're saying im guessing that the brightwell isnt the best option for magnesium. the test kit ive been using has an expiration date of 5/23. i have a newer salifert kit downstairs on the other tank ill try that one later tonight and see if its any different. ive always had ok results with salifert before i got my hanna checkers so i thought it was a good kit to keep using since hanna doesnt have a Mg test.

what product would you recommend for magnesium dosing?

Pauliex77x · Apr 17, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
That's hard to say since almost no independent analysis has been done on any additives currently sold.

So it comes down to trust. Do the folks in charge seem to understand what they are doing?

Not many companies have earned this trust with me. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them, I just do not know. I'm also not certain that the ones I do trust are getting all things right, but the odds a higher.

I generally trust ESV and Salifert and Tropic Marin to understand the chemistry involved with their products.

NVM just read the last part of this. im almost out of the Brightwell powder anyway. guess i get to do some homework on these brands next

NowGlazeIT · Apr 17, 2022

Pauliex77x said:
Thank you for the reply, Randy. The tank is a 20L aqueon that i drilled with a 10g aqueon DIY sump. total system volume is around 20g. i dont fully understand the second part of your question about what magnesium values im measuring.

from what ive read and what you're saying im guessing that the brightwell isnt the best option for magnesium. the test kit ive been using has an expiration date of 5/23. i have a newer salifert kit downstairs on the other tank ill try that one later tonight and see if its any different. ive always had ok results with salifert before i got my hanna checkers so i thought it was a good kit to keep using since hanna doesnt have a Mg test.

what product would you recommend for magnesium dosing?

I use esv mag. It takes a lot to raise magnesium. I refer to the reef calculator to know how much I need to reach my desired concentration.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Coolcasino · Apr 17, 2022

According to the reef calculator Brightwell's Mag is the 3rd highest product that you can use the least amount to raise mag... Continuum is the first followed by Magnesium Chloride. All others you need massive amounts if you want to bump your mag up 100ppm I've used Brightwell's Mag (pretty much the only Brightwell product I've used) and using the calculator it does raise the mag accordantly to what I needed it to. Like Randy stated... Mag does not drop that fast. Check your test and maybe use a diffrent test.

Pauliex77x · Apr 17, 2022

so its off the topic of the Brightwell suppliment. i just tested with both the salifert kits i have. the older one has a reading of 1110. the newer kit has a reading of 1200.

The interesting thing is that after a 25% water change only 4 days ago my second tank has the same reading of 1200 with the new kit...

im almost positive im using the test kit the proper way. following instructions exactly. i dont get it.

Coolcasino · Apr 17, 2022

Are you adding the water... then the 5 drops... then the scoop... and the mix? Are you making sure there's no air in the syringe? Starting with the bottom of the black stopper at 10 and when the sample turns from pink to a grey blue color then you turn the syringe around and read the measurement with the top of the rubber stopper? What is the number you end with?

Coolcasino · Apr 17, 2022

If you have 20gal and your Mag is 1200 and you want to bump it up at least to 1350 you need to dose 46.8 grams. I'm sure you know how hot this mix gets... He can hear the sizzle when your adding it to water.

Pauliex77x · Apr 17, 2022

yes. no air in syringe. bottom of the stopper at the 1.0 line and the liquid is at the 8.5 line (saw that it has to be there in a video somewhere) i shake the vial after every drop. when the vial changes color the stopper is at the 2.0 line