Currently using Kent Marine Calcium & Tech M Magnesium

Pet Detective · Mar 25, 2018

Hello Mr. Holmes-Farley [The Great],

I currently dose calcium & magnesium by hand, once during the week and once during my weekly water change 10g per week, 110g total water capacity[tank & sump], this is my routine after years of testing & tweeking, my calcium, magnesium & alkalinity levels all remain stable, typically 50ml of Kent Marine Liquid Calcium & 30-40 ml of Kent Marine Tech M Magnesium.

My question is twofold, 1. Were I to start DIY'ing with Dow Flakes using your formula, would I need to adjust the amount being dosed, or in another words is your formula the same ppm as Kent Marine Liquid Calcium? 2. Mag Flakes, are they still usable?, I read the disclaimer, if not, what magnesium chloride hexahydrate brand would you recommend to mix with the Epsom Salts to make that formula & again would it need to be adjusted dosing wise vs Tech M?

Thank you in advance for your time & genius.

GoVols · Mar 25, 2018

@Pet Detective
I'll let Randy do his thing, but in the meantime...

Welcome to the Reef 2 Reef, family!!!

Pet Detective · Mar 25, 2018

GoVols said:
@Pet Detective
I'll let Randy do his thing, but in the meantime...

Welcome to the Reef 2 Reef, family!!!

LOL, Thanks for the welcome, I'm new here but not to Reefing and or Marine fish.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 25, 2018

What salt mix are you using?

Any situation where calcium or magnesium alone are needed (no alkalinity) must reflect low levels in the salt mix (say, normal IO), and just boosting it might be easier than constantly dosing the tank.

My DIY recipes are more dilute than Kent since they are designed to match an alkalinity part, and the alk parts cannot be made that concentrated due to solubility limits. The Kent product is a little less than 3x as potent (so dose 2.7 times as much if switching to my Recipe #1).

if you can find MAG flake from Dead Sea Works, i'd use it. Otherwise, i'd get it from a place like BRS.

Pet Detective · Mar 25, 2018

I use IO Reef Crystals Randy & I forgot to mention, I use Seachem Reef Builder...[basically baking soda], when adding daily top off water, so this keeps my alkalinity in check.

Thank you so much, you have answered my questions perfectly, as usual.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 25, 2018

Ah, OK, I understand.

I'd suggest switching over to a full DIW two part for dosing convenience, and you likely need less magnesium than you are dosing.

Pet Detective · Mar 25, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Ah, OK, I understand.

I'd suggest switching over to a full DIW two part for dosing convenience, and you likely need less magnesium than you are dosing.

Awesome...you are the man!