Calcium and Alk mixed solutions

Paul J · Apr 13, 2020

I have been using the formula described by Randy, that has combination mixtures of Calcium Chloride Dehydrate mixed with Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate and Carbonate (baked Sodium bicarbonate) mixed with Sodium Sulphate.
My Mag tests are reading 1500 I need to know if i reduce the mixture of Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate and Sodium Sulphate by 1% will it be OK, without unbalancing the rest of the formulas that i am using?
Would there be a better option i.e just reduce the Sodium Sulphate by 1% or go with the reduction of both Mag and Sodium Sulphate
The 1% is just a base line starting point.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2020

I wouldn't just assume the magnesium is that high.

Was the kit previously reading lower? What does it read on new salt water?

What mag kit?

Paul J · Apr 13, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I wouldn't just assume the magnesium is that high.

Was the kit previously reading lower? What does it read on new salt water?

What mag kit?

The tests have not been reading low for several months.
The only time readings have been lower is when I have adjusted down the amount dosed.
The tests have been completed with a Salifert test kit
New water tested with a reading of 1440, this is fritz salt

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2020

OK, so the likely biggest source is the salt water, not primarily the additive.

If you want to stop dosing the magnesium and let it decline for a while, that is OK. The sulfate change will be even slower to develop and water changes will help offset it.

Paul J · Apr 13, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
OK, so the likely biggest source is the salt water, not primarily the additive.

If you want to stop dosing the magnesium and let it decline for a while, that is OK. The sulfate change will be even slower to develop and water changes will help offset it.

If I stop dosing magnesium I won’t be dosing calcium as these two are mixed together. Then the sodium sulphate in the Alk mixture would possibly become problem, as the magnesium would take some time to reduce?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2020

Paul J said:
If I stop dosing magnesium I won’t be dosing calcium as these two are mixed together. Then the sodium sulphate in the Alk mixture would possibly become problem, as the magnesium would take some time to reduce?

The sodium sulfate is no concern. It has no bearing on magnesium.

You could switch to a normal mag level salt, make a new dosing solution, or just accept the higher magnesium. All are reasonable plans.

Paul J · Apr 14, 2020

If the sodium sulphate has no bearing on magnesium, why in your triton results you mention that sulphate (Epsom salt) you sometimes use to add to your magnesium
Just to clarify without going around in circles.
Would the idea I have in, lowering the amount of magnesium and Sodium sulphate in the solution give me a lower reading of magnesium in my tank without causing an unbalance? Or is it just the magnesium I need to lower?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 14, 2020

In my recipe, magnesium sulfate adds the sulfate and the magnesium. What I meant was that the sulfate has no substantial effect on magnesium once in the water. If you don’t add it, both will decline.