Dumb Q: Dosing Ca and Mg together

[Futuretotm]

I have only recently had demand for Ca and Mg increase in my tank.

1) Is it possible to dose both solutions through one pump head? (BRS powder packs)

2) Will a higher level of Mg keep lps ie torches happy?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would dose seperately and/or manually.

 

[MaxTremors]

I would also dose separately. The only all-in-one supplement I would consider is All For Reef, I read a lot of great things about it, and am considering giving it a go (is probably only good for smaller tanks that aren’t SPS dominant). But even then, there’s value in being able to tweak individual parameters instead of just dosing a ‘balanced’ additive.

 

[BostonReefer300]

I'm not sure exactly what's in the BRS powder packs, but you typically want to dose Ca, Mg, and Alk separately to avoid precipitates.

 

[Uncle99]

You should have a demand for Alk as well.
The min head requirement should be two, if you dosing 2-part as we need these consistent and stable.
MG can maintained in a weekly manual dose.
If you want only 1 head, TM All for Reef would be a choice.
Maybe Kalk on dose for Alk and CA, Mg still manual.

No dumb question….ever……

 

[BostonReefer300]

I'm not sure exactly what's in the BRS powder packs, but you typically want to dose Ca, Mg, and Alk separately to avoid precipitates.

If the Mg is just Magnesium Chloride and if the Ca is just Calcium Chloride, then you can mix them together and dose together---but again, I don't know what's in the BRS packs. Also, just because you can do it, doesn't mean it's ideal to do so since most find it easiest to dose those separately due to varying consumption rates.

 

[Hypnotoad]

Seachem's reef Fusion part 1 has Calcium, mag, and a handful of other potentially useful elements.

I've always had good luck and stable Ca/Mag with it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure exactly what's in the BRS powder packs, but you typically want to dose Ca, Mg, and Alk separately to avoid precipitates.

I am. It is my recipe.

The magnesium supplement is magnesium chloride and sulfate.

The sulfate will precipitate when mixed with calcium, so that is why there are three solutions.

One can combine calcium and magnesium with other, more complicated recipes (e.g., other ways to add sulfate, such as in the alk part), but not with these materials.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Seachem's reef Fusion part 1 has Calcium, mag, and a handful of other potentially useful elements.

I've always had good luck and stable Ca/Mag with it.

Yes, true two parts are designed differently than the DIY recipes.

 

[BostonReefer300]

OP, I don't know who this Randy Holmes-Farley guy thinks he is, but you better ask for a second opinion!