BRS 2 Part Mag

joeyhatch11 · Feb 1, 2015

Not a problem. I'll just keep adding mag until my levels rise then I guess. Not sure what else to do at this point. I was more concerned with me possibly doing something wrong and harming the tank. That's why I started the post and was looking for feed back. Thank you Randy for all your help/insight thus far. I'll update if there are any changes.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 1, 2015

You're welcome and good luck.

joeyhatch11 · Feb 12, 2015

Just an update. Another 7g WC and a few more doses of 100ml with mag and I've reached 1320. It took an awful lot to get there but I like it better than 1240-1260. kH is still a steady 8.6-9 with calcium at 440-450.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 12, 2015

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing.

Trey · Feb 12, 2015

underwood said:
I had a similar situation w/ old Mg mix and a similar issue getting my Mg levels up in the tank.

Part of my issue was my IO salt mix was diluting my Mg levels every time I did a water change. (I had not been paying close attention to the freshly mixed water's Mg levels.)

That being said, I could swear that BRS changed their recipe from back in the day to now. I manually mixed up a fresh batch last week from separate containers of Mg Sulfate and Mg Chloride, following their instructions, and it felt like I was using 4 times the mix compared to what I used to get in the pre-packaged packets. I have also noticed a difference in the "thickness" of the mix when pouring it into the tank.

In any case, my Mg levels have coincidentally leveled out.

That is because the pre-portioned pouches that BRS sells are for 20oz of solution...

joeyhatch11 · Feb 13, 2015

Not according to the mixing directions for it. It says to dissolve in 1 gallon of rodi water.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 13, 2015

1 gallon should have 8 cups total unless they switched to anhydrous salts, which would use about half as much.

joeyhatch11 · Feb 13, 2015

It was a single kit that comes with alk, calcium and mag. Each in a single package with 1 sheet of instructions for mixing a batch of each part. Each part in the instructions tells you to add the package to one gallon of rodi. I believe i added a link in the thread to the mag that I'm using.

Trey · Feb 14, 2015

The mag says 20 oz. I get the same kits all the time.

Trey · Feb 14, 2015

BRS 2 Part Calcium & Alkalinity Kit (Pre-portioned) - Bulk Reef Supply

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 14, 2015

The 20 oz of magnesium ix is designed to be consumed along with the 1 gallon each of calcium and alkalinity. That is why it is a smaller volume.

In my recipe, I have folks make up a gallon at a time using 64 ounces of solids in a gallon total volume, but that solution lasts longer than the calcium and alk parts.

But dissolving that mag mix in a gallon is fine, as long as you use it all during the course of using a gallon of each of the other parts.

Trey · Feb 15, 2015

Right, I understand that. I am simply answering joeys question as to why the proportioned mix looks like less salt than the bulk. It is simply because it is only for 20oz...

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 15, 2015

:thumb:

Happy Reefing.

dangros · Jun 21, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
They are fine. Nothing bad can happen to them, except moisture gets in.

Thanks Randy! I was gonna ask the same question. After mixing my 2 part solution over 6 months ago, I left it in a container and ******** on the shelf. It's not perfectly airtight but there is a lid. A lot of the solution seems to have crystallized at the bottom. I'm assuming it's ok to just shake shake shake and use? I measured 1270 mg today so want to boost by about a 100. My coraline doesnt seem to get any sort of purple color so I'm assuming something is lacking in spite of my other params being ok.