I'm going to start dosing. What should I keep on hand?

[rolibr24]

We added some LPS to our tanks a month or so ago and I finally got some Hanna testers and tested our tanks. One tank read 6.7 dkh and 564 ca. The other was 6.4 dkh and 518 ca.

I picked up baking soda yesterday for the DKH and am going to place a order on BRS and am confused.

What is the difference between Calcium Hydroxide and Calcium Chloride? What will be the better one to use?

I am going to order a Mg test kit. At the moment I see BRS only has the Red Sea and Aquaforest kits at the moment for Mg. I was leaning towards Red Sea because we are used to using their kits.

That being said. I would like to have Mg on hand too. So what is the difference between Magnesium Chloride and Magnesium Sulfate?

For these tanks I have no plans on adding a doser to these tanks. We will be hand adding everything.

At the moment one tank is
PH- 8.0
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate- 5.0

Second tank
PH- 8.0
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 5.0

 

[Hemmdog]

I like Esv b-ionic 2/3 part.

 

[Rybren]

Calcium Hydroxide is used to make Kalkwasser - a balanced all in one additive.
Calcium Chloride is used to make the calcium portion of a 2-part dosing additive.

Mag Chloride and Mag Sulfate are often mixed together to make a Mag dosing solution.

A word of caution. Many folks have difficulty with the Sea Sea Mag test. I prefer the Salifert.

 

[Uncle99]

I use pre-made Seachem Fusion 1 and 2 (Alk and CA) and MG.
This way the concentration and thus dose is consistent from batch to batch.
I prefer Salifert for MG as well.

 

[Rmckoy]

Calcium Hydroxide is used to make Kalkwasser - a balanced all in one additive.
Calcium Chloride is used to make the calcium portion of a 2-part dosing additive.

Mag Chloride and Mag Sulfate are often mixed together to make a Mag dosing solution.

A word of caution. Many folks have difficulty with the Sea Sea Mag test. I prefer the Salifert.

Magnesium sulphate is Epsom salt ......

 

[rolibr24]

What is the difference between Magnesium Sulfate and Magnesium Chloride?

Same goes with what is the difference between Calcium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What is the difference between Magnesium Sulfate and Magnesium Chloride?

Same goes with what is the difference between Calcium Chloride and Calcium Hydroxide?

These articles should help you distinguish chemicals and their purposes:

The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION

There is no aspect of reef aquarium chemistry more important than calcium and alkalinity. Many of my previous articles have described various aspects of these systems in detail. In reading those articles, aquarists will note one pervasive theme: that maintaining appropriate levels of each are...

www.reef2reef.com

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php