Increasing sulfate/sulfur?

[slythy]

Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley

I keep getting low sulfate/sulfur on my ICP, i dont see it as a readily available element to dose.

Can I use a sodium sulfate off of amazon? Is food grade good enough or what level of purity does it need to be? Also how much will it raise my sodium/salinity? Just trying to get elements to get close to sea level

I’m currently at 2200ppm and was going to shoot for 2700ppm. My sodium is at 10700ppm so dont want those to sky rocket.

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How are you supplementing calcium and alk? That’s a common way sulfate is depressed.

 

[MnFish1]

Additionally what's your Mg - Mg Sulfate can help as well. Additionally, I tend not to trust individual ICP measures.

 

[slythy]

How are you supplementing calcium and alk? That’s a common way sulfate is depressed.

I dose 1 gallon of saturated Kalk and then dose your 2 part to mske up the difference. I actually have turned off the Cal dosing as its snuck up a bit (~500) and trying to drop it back down to 450 ish.

Additionally what's your Mg - Mg Sulfate can help as well. Additionally, I tend not to trust individual ICP measures.

Its been fairly consistent over the last 3 icp tests ( the first of each month). Its dropped slightly…

I dose Mag based on Randys no test method.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I dose 1 gallon of saturated Kalk and then dose your 2 part to mske up the difference. I actually have turned off the Cal dosing as its snuck up a bit (~500) and trying to drop it back down to 450 ish.



Its been fairly consistent over the last 3 icp tests ( the first of each month). Its dropped slightly…

I dose Mag based on Randys no test method.

I’d maybe just use mag sulfate for a while for magnesium. Sodium sulfate is fine too, but may not be needed.

 

[slythy]

I’d maybe just use mag sulfate for a while for magnesium. Sodium sulfate is fine too, but may not be needed.

I have so much of the 2 part mag mix that not sure it makes too much sense to buy that. As well as I only dose around 8ml a day.

What would the salinity rise be of boosting 500ppm of sulfate using sodium sulfate?

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have so much of the 2 part mag mix that not sure it makes too much sense to buy that. As well as I only dose around 8ml a day.

What would the salinity rise be of boosting 500ppm of sulfate using sodium sulfate?

Thanks

You will boost sodium by 240 ppm or magnesium by 126 ppm. Salinity goes up by 0.74 or 0.63 ppt. That’s about sg = 1.0260 to 1.0265.

Mag sulfate is likely cheaper than sodium sulfate since you can get it at a drug store as usp Epsom salts.

Since sulfate is not an urgent need, I’d personally go the magnesium route over time.

 

[slythy]

You will boost sodium by 240 ppm or magnesium by 126 ppm. Salinity goes up by 0.74 or 0.63 ppt. That’s about sg = 1.0260 to 1.0265.

Mag sulfate is likely cheaper than sodium sulfate since you can get it at a drug store as usp Epsom salts.

Since sulfate is not an urgent need, I’d personally fog the magnesium route over time.

Copy, say I make a gallon Solution of magnesium sulfate. How much mag/sulf would I need to dissolve in that solution to yield a 700ppm increase to sulfates in my 280g?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Copy, say I make a gallon Solution of magnesium sulfate. How much mag/sulf would I need to dissolve in that solution to yield a 700ppm increase to sulfates in my 280g?

The 500 ppm sulfate was a magnesium boost of 126 ppm mag, so 700 would be 176 ppm mag. Use this calculator to get that mag and it will tell you the amount to get sulfate.

Reef Chemistry Calculator