Magnesium chloride hexahydrate

[mrbluewildcats]

I'm fixing to start dosing using Randy's recipe and wanted to find out if anyone has a good source to buy magnesium chloride hexahydrate. Everything else I have, just waiting on that and a magnesium test kit. Is any magnesium test kit better than the others? I use Hanna for calcium and alkalinity.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I like the mag test by aqua forest.

 

[dwest]

I believe I got both magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate from brs. Agree with aqua forest test kit. I also like salifert. BRS did a video on mag test kits not too long ago.

 

[mrbluewildcats]

Thanks, I'll order aqua forest one.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Im using the magnesium P by Brightwell. It contains magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate. The product comes in dry and you mix it with Distilled water. To create the solution, I used a glass bottle and Ro/DI. The product works well at first but on the fifth day I noticed brown sediment collecting at the bottom of the bottle. I’m looking into BRS magnesium next.

 

[mrbluewildcats]

Will probably order the magnesium chloride from BRS, but using Epsom salt for magnesium sulfate. You can get 50# for $36 and that's the only ingredient.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Will probably order the magnesium chloride from BRS, but using Epsom salt for magnesium sulfate. You can get 50# for $36 and that's the only ingredient.

Interesting. I wonder the shelf life of the two mixed with water. I’m looking for something I could dose daily.

 

[mrbluewildcats]

That I don't know, but Epsom salt is what Randy calls for in his recipe. Just found 8# at Walmart for $5.00. I hate Walmart, but I'm sure there are other places to buy it pretty cheaply. As long as it's 100% magnesium sulfate, it's the same.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

That I don't know, but Epsom salt is what Randy calls for in his recipe. Just found 8# at Walmart for $5.00. I hate Walmart, but I'm sure there are other places to buy it pretty cheaply. As long as it's 100% magnesium sulfate, it's the same.

I’m in! Haha

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting. I wonder the shelf life of the two mixed with water. I’m looking for something I could dose daily.

Shelf life of magnesium chloride and sulfate solid or solutions is forever. Solids may harden up if moisture gets in, but they are still fine.

 

[mrbluewildcats]

Appreciate the reply. My pH leans toward the high side, 8.3-8.4 so I'll be going with recipe #2. I have several corals but they're all small so I was surprised that my calcium dipped so low. I have it back up to 375 with small daily water changes, but I'd like to see what the corals do at 400 ppm. I've got a fairly large cleanup crew so maybe the snails are drawing some out.