Diy magnesium

[roblox84]

This might be a stupid question but what epsom salts grain size should I use for my diy magnesium solution? I have a choice of coarse, medium, fine and extra fine. Should I just go with the fine stuff since it will dissolve better?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I’ve never noticed grain size on the Epsom salt I purchase at the local drug store. The only thing grain size might change is for those of us who measure out our ingredients with measuring cups. A cup of small grain will be more than a cup of large grain, by weight. For the rough chemistry we are doing, it’s probably insignificant.

More importantly, if you’re only dosing Epsom salt as your magnesium component, your sulfate concentration will rise. You can offset this by doing aggressive water changes, but it’s much easier to simply make a mix of Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate), with some magnesium chloride (MAG Flakes). Mix 3 cups Epsom salt to 5 cups MAG Flakes, made up to one gallon, for the prefect mix of these two compounds. You can check out what Randy Holmes Farley says about this HERE.

 

[roblox84]

I’ve never noticed grain size on the Epsom salt I purchase at the local drug store. The only thing grain size might change is for those of us who measure out our ingredients with measuring cups. A cup of small grain will be more than a cup of large grain, by weight. For the rough chemistry we are doing, it’s probably insignificant.

More importantly, if you’re only dosing Epsom salt as your magnesium component, your sulfate concentration will rise. You can offset this by doing aggressive water changes, but it’s much easier to simply make a mix of Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate), with some magnesium chloride (MAG Flakes). Mix 3 cups Epsom salt to 5 cups MAG Flakes, made up to one gallon, for the prefect mix of these two compounds. You can check out what Randy Holmes Farley says about this HERE.

Randy's formula is exactly what I'd like to make, I just can't find any mag flake yet except the stuff on bulk reef supply.

So if I read your first paragraph correctly you say that the grain size won't affect the mixture? What I was worried about is if I got the salts with smaller grain sizes then what Randy used, it would throw off the ratio.

 

[roblox84]

By the way here are the epsom salts is like to purchase. You can see from the drop down menu where they specify grain sizes.

http://www.saltworks.us/epsom-salts.html?utm_source=amazon&utm_medium=cse#.UWmHTXbD-ax

 

[redfishbluefish]

By the way here are the epsom salts is like to purchase. You can see from the drop down menu where they specify grain sizes.

Ultra Epsom Salt - 5lb. Bag (fine)

Just go to your local pharmacy and for a couple bucks, buy it there.


As far as MAG Flakes, in our area all the stores have switched to there spring/summer stock.....no more ice melt stuff. So your best bet is to buy from BRS....you use so little, even their smallest quantity will last a long time.

 

[roblox84]

Just go to your local pharmacy and for a couple bucks, buy it there.


As far as MAG Flakes, in our area all the stores have switched to there spring/summer stock.....no more ice melt stuff. So your best bet is to buy from BRS....you use so little, even their smallest quantity will last a long time.

Ok I'll check some pharmacies around here and just get the chloride from brs. I know Wal-Mart used to carry Epsom salts but not anymore. It seems they only stock an item for a few weeks then get rid of it.

 

[roblox84]

Will any Epsom salts do or its there some kind of all natural stuff without chemicals?

 

[rlman41299]

i too have tried and mixed a batch of DIY magnesium supplement using epsom salt and mag flakes. i have not used them tho because i noticed that they separate after a few hours after mixing them. now i use an auto doser to dose my magnesium and i am not sure if it is safe to dose the solution if they are separated.

 

[roblox84]

i too have tried and mixed a batch of DIY magnesium supplement using epsom salt and mag flakes. i have not used them tho because i noticed that they separate after a few hours after mixing them. now i use an auto doser to dose my magnesium and i am not sure if it is safe to dose the solution if they are separated.

I think you have to shake it before each use. At least that's what my bottle of magnesium says, although I can't see if it separates because it's a black bottle.

 

[redfishbluefish]

That precipitate is calcium sulfate. You can add it if you wish, or not add it. It doesn’t matter. Calcium is one of the “impurities” in the magnesium sulfate. I’ve found that if you independently dissolve the magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate, and then mix the two together, you get less precipitate. But again, adding the precipitate or not doesn’t matter.

 

[roblox84]

i too have tried and mixed a batch of DIY magnesium supplement using epsom salt and mag flakes. i have not used them tho because i noticed that they separate after a few hours after mixing them. now i use an auto doser to dose my magnesium and i am not sure if it is safe to dose the solution if they are separated.

What kind of magnesium do you dose? Im not sure what I have but it's mag sulfate and chloride in a black bottle but it doesn't last long is why I want to make my own. I think I've had the bottle for less then a month and its about half gone.

 

[rlman41299]

as of right now, i am using BRS DIY magnesium supplement

What kind of magnesium do you dose? Im not sure what I have but it's mag sulfate and chloride in a black bottle but it doesn't last long is why I want to make my own. I think I've had the bottle for less then a month and its about half gone.

 

[roblox84]

as of right now, i am using BRS DIY magnesium supplement

How much do you dose per day? I tested my mag and it was 1440, down from 1600 4 days ago. Just trying to figure out a good dosing schedule.