Brightwell Magnesion-P

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 18, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
There are very few posters that i trust on this site. Thanks for what you do here.

Thank you and you’re welcome.

Happy Reefing!

Coolcasino · Apr 18, 2022

I cant believe Randy had to come out and defend his opinions on the facts and knowledge that he drops. He has no stake in any company. So the only reason why he would express the dislike of a company is when a company has lied, doesn't know how their product works or the chemicals used in such products don't make any sense. He knows his stuff. He has been around giving his free advise since way before I started 20 sum years ago since the days of RC. Even goes above and beyond to make a very affordable 2/3 part that he makes no money on.

Steve2020 · Apr 18, 2022

Coolcasino said:
I cant believe Randy had to come out and defend his opinions on the facts and knowledge that he drops. He has no stake in any company. So the only reason why he would express the dislike of a company is when a company has lied, doesn't know how their product works or the chemicals used in such products don't make any sense. He knows his stuff. He has been around giving his free advise since way before I started 20 sum years ago since the days of RC. Even goes above and beyond to make a very affordable 2/3 part that he makes no money on.

No where in my remarks was I bashing Randy about any specific products. These are my exact words: I know now the info you are putting out about Brightwell is by no means 100% FACT. You need to tell the WHOLE story before slamming a company.
These are Randy's exact words:
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.

What is not 100% correct is he did not email Jack Kent. He emailed Chris the previous owner. Jack was in the buyout process of the company at the time and Chris's emails were forwarded to Jack. Jack responded to the email and agreed with Randy and a correction to said product was made. If you see where I highlighted Randy's comments he is directing his comments as to blame Jack Kent for the error using words like you and you've instead of Brightwell or previous ownership. This is where I had an issue with his comments. Bashing the wrong person.

Coolcasino · Apr 18, 2022

You were bashing him for what he said about Brightwell's claims. I understand where you have an issue. You have to understand that Jack Kent (and I agree with you on your points about him) Is the face of the company now... and with that comes the responsibilities of all products under that umbrella even if he had not designed it. From what I know and I could be wrong... Randy emailed with Jack... or someone that said was Jack (we know how it is with big companies) and agree to a point that the claims could not be true. So verbiage was changed to make it true. Did he bash? Yes but with evidence. Numbers don't lie. Some products... to Randys knowledge in his field cant work and he just makes us aware so we can make informed decisions of what we dose. I don't see Randy starting a thread to bash Brightwell or any other company (Seachem lol!) for that matter. He does let you know what he thinks of a product or process when it is asked of him, and that is why he chooses to be here. I for one am happy this came out and has been address as this benefits everyone of us. We need products to do what they say they do.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2022

Steve2020 said:
What is not 100% correct is he did not email Jack Kent. He emailed Chris the previous owner. Jack was in the buyout process of the company at the time and Chris's emails were forwarded to Jack. Jack responded to the email and agreed with Randy and a correction to said product was made. If you see where I highlighted Randy's comments he is directing his comments as to blame Jack Kent for the error using words like you and you've instead of Brightwell or previous ownership. This is where I had an issue with his comments. Bashing the wrong person.

WOW, what an utterly freakish reason to go on a tirade. And you are even mistaken about your reason to blast me.

Not a single suggestion that any Brightwell product I mentioned is not as incorrectly labeled or poorly designed as I claimed.

Your whole reason to blast me for not giving 100% of the facts, and your suggesting that folks should call the company instead of believing my thoughts on Brightwell is that you think my first email was to Chris Brightwell, and only subsequent emails went to Jack?

Come on, are you serious?

Not only is that not true (I will prove it below), but even if it were, how could it possibly matter where my first email went if I was actually emailing with Jack exactly as I claimed.

Why are you so defensive of Brightwell that such a trivial point is important to you?

Why not focus on the problems with Brightwell products?

Perhaps there are just too many to pick from.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2022

Here's my entire email exchange with Jack from 2015, 7 years before BRS made the correction to their web site information yesterday. ( I removed some personally identifying info such as my email address and his, phone numbers, addresses, etc.).

You'll note that my first contact was via the customer service portal at Brightwell. NOT with Chris Brightwell, as you incorrectly suggest, and the entire exchange was THREE MONTHS AFTER Jack had purchased the company (Chris had also left Brightwell prior to this exchange according to Jack in the emails). Jack responded to the portal submission exactly 1 hour and 6 minutes after I submitted it, and had already removed the offending claims.

IMO, it seems as if you are guilty of EXACTLY what you suggest I was: not having 100% of the facts. The facts are shown below.

From: Jack Kent
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 9:14 AM
To: Randy Holmes-Farley
Subject: Re: Brightwell Aquatics' Technical Form

Thanks again Randy:

I highly respect you and have read many of your articles which have been had great benefit to the hobby. I wish you the best.

Jack

On Oct 14, 2015, at 8:59 AM, Randy Holmes-Farley wrote:

That’s great. Thanks.

And good luck!

Randy

From: Jack Kent
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 8:16 AM
To: Randy Holmes-Farley
Subject: Re: Brightwell Aquatics' Technical Form

Hello Randy:

Thank you for pointing this out. I have removed the guaranteed analysis, until I can determine the exact percentage. I apologize that this has caused you grief.

I purchased the company in July and Chris is no longer with us.

Regards

Jack Kent
CEO
Brightwell Aquatics

Please visit our new website!

On Oct 14, 2015, at 7:10 AM, Randy Holmes-Farley <[email protected]> wrote:

Business Name:
First Name: Randy
Last Name: Holmes-Farley
Address:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Email Address:
Primary Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Reason for Support: For many years now, you\'ve had serious errors on your Magnesion P wed 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 five 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

Type of Aquarium:
Aquarium Size:
Type of Filtration:
Type of Skimmer:
Type of Lighthing:
Brand of Salt:
Fish Being Kept:
Inverts Being Kept:
Supplements Being Used:
Fish Food Being Used:
Invert Food Being Used:
Medications(last 3 months):
pH:
Alkalinity:
Salinity:
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
Copper:
Other Tests:
Water Change Frequency:
Amount of Water Changed:
Water Type Used:
Contact By: Email
Subscribed:

KStatefan · Apr 19, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
There are very few posters that i trust on this site. Thanks for what you do here.

@Randy Holmes-Farley I know there are a number of members here that agree with this statement.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2022

BRS aside, It should be Brightwell's business to make sure all companies selling the product are not falsely advertising it with inflated potency claims.

BRS was not the only one. Googling two, one was still wrong:

Brightwell Aquatics Magnesion-P - Dry Magnesium Supplement for Reef Aquaria at the best price

Brightwell Aquatics Magnesion-P - Dry Magnesium Supplement for Reef Aquaria * High-purity powdered magnesium blend.* Provides magnesium, which helps regulate the balance between calcium and carbonates in aquarium water, and is a component of aragonite, the mineral secreted by reef-building...

www.aquacave.com