Two part diy question

[Mmsetta]

I am considering utilizing Randy's two part (with magnesium) system. Couple of questions:

1. Where can I buy the Dead Sea product for the magnesium portion

2. If my mag is very low, how would you suggest getting it up to par so that I can then use the two part system to maintain?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure where you can currently buy that exact brand, but both BRS and Dr Foster and Smith sell bulk magnesium chloride.

How low is your magnesium?

 

[Mmsetta]

1110-1140

 

[Mmsetta]

Here is my setup:
75g
70lbs live rock
20g sump

Transferred from smaller tank in March 2015. Moved over 2 Rbta's, ocileris clown, two small pociliopora, one small monti. Added another pociliopora and a leather. Added a fox face rabbit. Have a flame angel qt'd will be adding soon.

Do about 8g water change every three weeks. Use Red Sea reef salt

Nitrate- 0
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Ph - between 7.7 and 7.9
Calcium - 320
Mag - 1110-1140
Alk - 7.7

Any thought on getting my numbers right? Two part b-ionic is going to bankrupt me!

Any feedback using Randy's Diy? Any long term negatives? And anybody use the technique without the MAG flakes for magnesium?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What is the salinity? Maybe it is just low.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As to using it, I'd say that significantly more than 10% of online reefers use it in one form or another. For example, BRS uses my recipe for their product.

 

[Mmsetta]

Salinity is at 1.024

 

[Mmsetta]

Btw randy, just met up with a great shop owner in perrysburg oh. I think she said she knows you. I won't mention the shop name here since not sure if that's against forum rules

 

[Mmsetta]

So, should I work on getting my magnesium right before I attempt to straighten out my calcium? From what I understand low mag is a hinderence to raising calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salinity is at 1.024

Natural seawater at sg = 1.024 will have magnesium at about 1164 ppm. So it seems low just because the salinity is a bit low.

If you raised the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) you'll be at about 11340 ppm. it is fine to raise it further, or raise magnesium without boosting salinity, but salinity is an easy fix.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Btw randy, just met up with a great shop owner in perrysburg oh. I think she said she knows you. I won't mention the shop name here since not sure if that's against forum rules

Glad you have a good shop owner. Not sure who you mean, but that's OK.

 

[Mmsetta]

Thanks! So, I'll try raising salinity and then check mag again. To be continued!

 

[beaslbob]

I got the north American salt company (I think that was the brand) magnesium from a local industrial chemical supplier. They did not charge shipping and a 50 pound bag was $25 or so years ago. Before I got it I requested an assay from the manufacturer and to this low information reefer it seemed to be fine.

For magnesium supplements on the diy two part to me the ammonia is a non issue even though the assay was clear of ammonia. After all we are adding small amount of the magnesium mixture which also may have been in storage for several weeks/months. So the ammonia may have already been reduced and even if present, a tank with corraline algae and most definitely a tank with macro algae or an algae turf scrubber, all that will happen is the ammonia will feed the algae. So at most you would get a small temporary nitrate bump.

I also found calcium chloride at the same suppler for again $20 for a 50 pound bag. I also found calcium chloride at local redimix companies where it is used to speed hardening of concrete in cold weather. One place just gave me a 25 pound bag of cal-chlor which is anhydrous of 92-96% vrs the ~70% of the di hydrate stuff like dow flake. the asked me what it was for and must have felt sorry for this aquarium nut and as I stated just gave me a bag. LOL

Actually, I have pounds and pounds of the stuff left over as I have not restarted my tanks after moving to a new house 4 years ago.

I also gave the stuff away at local club meetings. LOL

FWIW I and another reefer found our magnesium was very very low. Like 700-800 ppm or so. Our initial adjustments required literally pounds of the stuff to get magnesium up to 1300-1400. No ill effects in either of our tanks.

Of course that is just my observations which are worth at most.

.02

 

[Mmsetta]

Thanks for the feedback. My friend is a brewer and he is getting me a bs of food grade calcium. I share what brand when I get it. Thanks to the personal message on mag- I will call that number to get some! Let the acro's begin!