Two part ingredient check

alindell · Jul 15, 2016

I bought Prestone driveway heat, baking soda and then I am looking at safe step extreme 8300 and epsoak epsome salts. I just want to make sure these things are still safe to use and are good add in the same concentrations as two part recipe one. The main concern is with the safe guard extreme 8300 and I am sure the epsoak, baking soda and prestone are still safe to use and at the right quantities as recipe one right? Has anyone heard of using safe step, results, issues, ideas. A description states that the safeguard is 100% magnesium chloride hexahydrate and I think I have read somewhere that people were using it years ago and that the purity was good and this product was ok to use? Just looking for some advice and opinions to give me some an ideas. Also if the safeguard is safe to use; would I still follow recipe one or change the amount of ingredient used?Also does anyone use or know about using the epsoak brand of epsome salts, Is it good to use for two part?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 15, 2016

I do not know if Safe Step is suitable or not. The Epsom salt is. Baking soda is. I do not know if Prestone has changed suppliers in the past few years or not. Places like BRS and Dr Foster and Smith now also sell the ingredients.

alindell · Jul 15, 2016

im going to try it out and test for ammonia and the concentrations of each and see what happens. I think im gonna send in a sample to triton of my salt water storage that be used for water changes that will have safe step, baking soda, prestone heat and epsom salts to see what the results are and I'll post them to see if there is anything abnormal.

redfishbluefish · Jul 15, 2016

I've been using Prestone since 2008....still have that original 50 lb bag...but also don't know if they've changed. It is an anhydrous form, so you only need 2 cups to one gallon of RO/DI water. Also use Arm and Hammer Baking Soda....but I bake the 2 1/4 cups at 350 degrees for one hour. I was concern the 300 was not enough heat to convert all at the thickness I had the baking soda.

Can't help you with the MAG part.....still have the 50 lb bag of MAG Flakes I purchased in 2008....and it will outlast my lifetime.

JimWelsh · Jul 15, 2016

I have used Safe Step Extreme 8300 for my MgCl2 in the past, and would NOT recommend it. My bag's contents were a dingy greyish color, and had a grey precipitate. I strongly suspect it is where my extremely high lithium came from.

alindell · Jul 15, 2016

Any ideas anyone on mag substitutes and usage. Also any information on whether prestone heat is still good helpful

alindell · Jul 15, 2016

JimWelsh said:
I have used Safe Step Extreme 8300 for my MgCl2 in the past, and would NOT recommend it. My bag's contents were a dingy greyish color, and had a grey precipitate. I strongly suspect it is where my extremely high lithium came from.

What do u use now?

JimWelsh · Jul 15, 2016

You don't want to know. It's too expensive. But it's really pure.

redfishbluefish · Jul 15, 2016

If in doubt, BRS! They sell all the ingredients for DIY stuff.

alindell · Jul 15, 2016

It is expensive though if thats my only choice then ill get epsom salts and then the mag chloride from brs. How woud I go about mixing and dosing? Would it be the same?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 16, 2016

alindell said:
It is expensive though if thats my only choice then ill get epsom salts and then the mag chloride from brs. How woud I go about mixing and dosing? Would it be the same?

Using what? BRS mag chloride would be the same by weight and close by volume.

alindell · Jul 16, 2016

mixing the epsom salts and chloride together. So I would just mix the same amounts as recipe one states using epsom salts and the Brs Mag chloride and it should be close enough.

redfishbluefish · Jul 16, 2016

To answer your question, YES, use 3 cups Epsom salt (Magnesium Sulfate) and 5 cups BRS Magnesium Chloride (it is the hexahydrate) to a total on one gallon with RO/DI water, and you'll be all set.

alindell · Jul 16, 2016

Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 16, 2016

alindell said:
mixing the epsom salts and chloride together. So I would just mix the same amounts as recipe one states using epsom salts and the Brs Mag chloride and it should be close enough.

Yes.

alindell · Jul 16, 2016

Also does anybody know about the current status of use for Prestone heat calcium chloride in reef aquaria.

Bunnee911 · Jul 16, 2016

http://www.fyvestar.com/images/Heat_MSDS_2009.pdf

alindell · Jul 16, 2016

im not necessarily sure what all of it means to what randy first tested and the consistency to the original batch and if it still safe to use, but from what I see it has a percentage 90% plus of calcium chloride which looks fine and the rest is a small percentages which calcium bromide at less than 1%. Randy do you think this is good to use at first glance without being able to test it out?