Switch salt or dose?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I got magnesium and started dosing. How soon can I see results with it. I usually do my testing in the morning and was wondering if I should see an increase at that time. I want to make sure it doesn’t come up too fast but want to maximize my dosing to safely make my goal.

What did you dose and how much? Magnesium dosing needs huge amounts to detect corrections.

 

[MrGisonni]

I don’t agree.

Parts A and B are ONLY calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate/carbonate. There is zero reason to use any specific brand just because you are using AFR.

There is also mi scenario where Part C is an appropriate additive for making a single ion correction.

That's what the TM instructions say to do FWIW

 

[Propane]

What did you dose and how much? Magnesium dosing needs huge amounts to detect corrections.

4mls of aquavitro ions

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That's what the TM instructions say to do FWIW

Of course they do. They are not going to tell you that you can use any brand. But you can, with no loss of suitability.

That said, I’m also sure they do not say to use Part C to boost a specific ion. They would not make that mistake.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

4mls of aquavitro ions

That will boost magnesium by about 8 ppm, so you will need to do that a bunch of times to reliably detect with most magnesium kits.

Whatever effect you get is detectable as soon as it mixes in.

 

[Propane]

That will boost magnesium by about 8 ppm, so you will need to do that a bunch of times to reliably detect with most magnesium kits.

Whatever effect you get is detectable as soon as it mixes in.

From the research I did it seemed I could dose quite a bit as long as I don’t go over 100 ppm a day. Is that true?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

From the research I did it seemed I could dose quite a bit as long as I don’t go over 100 ppm a day. Is that true?

Depends on the purity, which you don’t know, and there’s never a reason to rush to raise magesium. Id limit it to 25 ppm per day.

I’m also not convinced yours really is 1200 ppm. Test error is super common with magnesium kits. I’d aim for 1300 ppm, arrived at over several days.

 

[Propane]

Depends on the purity, which you don’t know, and there’s never a reason to rush to raise magesium. Id limit it to 25 ppm per day.

I’m also not convinced yours really is 1200 ppm. Test error is super common with magnesium kits. I’d aim for 1300 ppm, arrived at over several days.

I have some loudwolf magnesium chloride hexahydrate on the way. What would be a good mix ratio for that as well as dosing on my 13g.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have some loudwolf magnesium chloride hexahydrate on the way. What would be a good mix ratio for that as well as dosing on my 13g.

There are recipes here:

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

And a calculator for them here:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[MrGisonni]

Of course they do. They are not going to tell you that you can use any brand. But you can, with no loss of suitability.

That said, I’m also sure they do not say to use Part C to boost a specific ion. They would not make that mistake.

Got it.

 

[Propane]

There are recipes here:

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

And a calculator for them here:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Thanks Randy!