What Mg do you use?

[sealife4life]

Hey guys, I’ll be dosing Mg with a doser and was wondering what you use with your doser. Which product you use? I have an extra spot in my container for it. I have 26 mangroves in sump as refugium started from pods growing for almost a year now.

 

[LuisPerez711]

I moved over to Randy's 2/3 part solution and I'm currently using the Mg solution outlined there

Second New DIY Two Part Recipe with Higher pH Boost

In a previous thread, I posted a true two part DIY recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-diy-two-part-recipes-with-higher-ph-boost.344500/ But some folks may want to just swap the new ingredient into my 2/3 part recipe (as used by BRS, for example). Here's the original recipe link...

www.reef2reef.com

Previously I was mixing my own Mg solution using Brightwell's Magnesion-P.

I will be switching over to the Tropic Marin Part C of their balling method which has Mg as well as trace elements.

 

[sealife4life]

I’m using ATI pro 2 part recipe. Can I use that with my setup? I think the tropic Marin c won’t work well. I was looking for straight Mg to dose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m using ATI pro 2 part recipe. Can I use that with my setup? I think the tropic Marin c won’t work well. I was looking for straight Mg to dose.

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

 

[sealife4life]

So I’m thinking of number 3 to use. My question is the mixture I make will it be ok to use with doser or does it need to mix continuously. I see that I need to mix epson salt and mag flake separately and then together. Also how much to dose because I clicked the link in the article and page was not found.

 

[blasterman]

I use food grade magnesium chloride. Same brand as my calcium chloride to stay consistent. Ive never had a problem with magnesium sulfate ( Epsom salts) but there are potential quality issues. If its designed to soak your feet it might not be the best quality to throw in your tank.

Since calcium and magnesium are consumed at a quasi fixed ratio Ive been just adding mag to my calcium to save time. So far my mag has stayed locked at 1200, but it will take a few months to tell if the ratio needs tweaking.

 

[sealife4life]

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

So I re read it again and again lol so let’s see if i understand also tagging along with my other thread of ATI dosing... my calculations from switching from F1&2 to ATI would be 300ml each monthly, so basically 10ml each a day. Now I’m choosing your recipe 1 being I’d like the help in ph boost so I don’t have to add buffer. So would the recipe 1 Mg 3a or b work better for my system?

 

[DrZoidburg]

Store bought epsom salt, and pet friendly ice melt. Just have to dissolve the ice melt and let the hydroxide binder settle for the most part.

 

[sealife4life]

Store bought epsom salt, and pet friendly ice melt. Just have to dissolve the ice melt and let the hydroxide binder settle for the most part.

Is there a specific brand to get or any pet friendly I’ve melt will work?

 

[DrZoidburg]

Is there a specific brand to get or any pet friendly I’ve melt will work?

I use road runner its 99% MgCl2

 

[DrZoidburg]

I use road runner its 99% MgCl2

Also some math involved to get the mix right.

 

[sealife4life]

How large of a system do you have? I’m at 120g wv and I have lots of mangroves in sump which need Mg also.

 

[DrZoidburg]

How large of a system do you have? I’m at 120g wv and I have lots of mangroves in sump which need Mg also.

run multiple tanks on that mix 270g, 20,75, 75, brine shrimp. I only say math involved cause if you go brs mix or other mix you want to know if what your buying is anhydrous, or various hydrates can skew the amount you need to mix.

 

[sealife4life]

I see where math comes into play. Any change in ph while using it?

 

[DrZoidburg]

A little on the alkaline side. They use mg hydroxide and calcium hydroxide as binder. Thats why you want to let it settle. Also can do a hot filtration to get it out. Hydroxides are not very soluble at higher temps. Would be negligible in a dosing scenario. Ph of mix about 8 of perfect mix, would be more neutral. Doesn't affect ph of tank really.

 

[sealife4life]

Where do you keep your Mg levels? My alk is a stable high at 12. So not a good option for dosing then. Maybe the 3b recipe then would be better. Epson salt diluted with RODI. How do you add it to your systems?

so question for @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[sealife4life]

@Randy Holmes-Farley
Can I use your recipe 1 Mg3b recipe with ATI dosing? If so, is there a calculator for that?

 

[DrZoidburg]

Use your test kits to get # you need. Example 50ppm (1ppm=1 mg/L) in 100L (26 gallons) Must do math in liters. 50mg/L (you need) *100L (tank size)= 5000mg divided by the % magnesium in mix MgCl2 for simplicity is 25.53% magnesium. 5000 / .2553=19,584.80 mg divide by 1000 to get grams needed = 19.585 grams needed of magnesium chloride. In the case of mixing magnesium sulfate and chloride. The percent composition changes to 11.35% Mag at 2 to 6 ratio. (Similar to BRS) Any other variables like hydrates change % also. Recipe I use % composition was based on store bought hydrates. Anyway mixing about 10-20% more of store bought equals brs anhydrous mix. Keeps tanks at 1380-1400 also is compatible with their dosing calculators. Actually have to find the paper I wrote all this down on in the past to get exact amounts to make a gallon mix.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Esv for me. Not the cheapest or most hands on but it’s convenient.

 

[blasterman]

I still don't get it all this voodoo over magnesium.

I have a 20L that's wall to wall SPS and consumes 1 to 2 TSP of dry calcium chloride per day.

Before incorporating mag in my calcium I would test it once a month, then use the online reef calculator to top off mag to bring it to around 1200. Takes a few minutes at most and two brain cells. Ive also never seen SPS really care much about mag as long as its not so low as to cause precipitation.