I am using Reborn media with neomag at about 10/1 ratio. I am planning on running my effluent at a constant rate of about 50ml/min and varying my ph dependent on consumption. At a higher load, decrease ph so that more is dissolved and dosed to the tank. Will magnesium also be dosed accordingly or does the ph need to be decreased lower to dissolve the neomag over the reborn calcium media?
Calcium Reactor with NeoMag ph dependent?
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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It too will dissolve more as the pH is lowered. Whether it is the "right" amount or not isn't clear since it depends both on how much of each media you use and the ratio of calcium to magnesium demand in the tank (which varies, coralline consumes relatively more mag than most corals).
Just to make sure I am thinking about this correctly. Neomag will not melt until ph 6.5. Reborn media melts at ph 6.9. Due to having very little consumption right now I will need to maintain a higher ph probably around 6.9. At this ph none or very little mag will be broken down and introduced into the tank. I will most likely need to supplement mag at this time im guessing until my consumption gets high enough that I need to lower my ph down to 6.5, at which point i may not need to supplement mag at all or not as much. Does this sound correct?
Randy Holmes-Farley
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You are overthinking it and trying to determine something that you will be unable to "calculate".
The "it does not dissolve until the pH reaches a specifc level" is oversimplification in the extreme. Dissolution of carbonate minerals does not work that way, at least not the way you are stating it. Aragonite will begin to dissolve way up in the 7's and does so faster and faster as the pH drops. Same for dolomite (the magnesium component).
Stick to the 10% unless you experimentally verify that over many weeks of use, that more or less would be better.
I agree. I run reborn and neo mag. 22 lbs of reborn to 2 lbs neo mag. My reactor is set at 6.7 ph . I noticed at first my mag was pretty high. Up around 1500. Maybe mag dust or something. After a few weeks it settled down and now runs about 1450. Same with Cal 1450.
