Fay Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 My magnesium drops to 1100 What is the best way to add with a big tank I looked at Hollywoods but it would cost too much with the size they sell it. Can any body suggest a supply please I would like top quality magnesium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Magnesium chloride. You'll probably need a fair amount (a few kg). I think that APS chemicals in Auck can supply it. They generally only do 25kg bags min. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted February 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Ta for that should I ask for a grade and is that the only magnesium I need Cracker said something about epsom salts once? Also should I be adding it to keep it up to 1300 and how low is to low? Never was a problem in my small tank used the liquid stuff from the LFS weekly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Ta for that should I ask for a grade and is that the only magnesium I need Cracker said something about epsom salts once? Also should I be adding it to keep it up to 1300 and how low is to low? Never was a problem in my small tank used the liquid stuff from the LFS weekly. Look for food grade at least. Magnesium chloride is used a lot in farming, and that grade (to me) is unacceptable. Epsom salts is Magnesium sulfate. Magnesium chloride is preferable to mag sulfate, as chloride is more abundant in salt water than sulfate, an skews the chemistry less. If you want to get technical you could use a balance of sulfate and chloride. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted February 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Yea that's what Cracker does so is it one to what? Not very good at the chemistry stuff :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Around 100:3 Chloride:Magnesium, which is why I say go with Mg chloride, over sulfate. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted February 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Also should I be adding it to keep it up to 1300 and how low is to low? Answer for this one please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Well Mg is the third most abundant element in the ocean at 1300 ppm so yes, it's probably worth keeping levels as close to that as possible. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 That should be 100:15 above not 100:3, forgot about all those oxygens on the sulfate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted February 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 I have to add about 200 grams of mag chloride to my tank at a time! GO through the stuff real quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Straight magnesium chloride is OK, but if you want to get sulphur & chloride ions balanced use 10 parts magnesium chloride to 1 part epsom salts. I got a 25 kg sack of magnesium chloride from a local farm supplier, cost $18.00. Not sure about quality but it says food grade. Anyhow doesn't seem to have adverse effect in the tank. They add it to food for cows getting milked, cos the milking removes more magnesium from them than our typical NZ soil can replenish. Long as magnesium in the tank is above 1250 that's fine, don't go over 1450. What I done now though is add some magnesium chips to the calcium reactor so only have to add the other stuff occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodle Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Be careful of the grade of epsom salts that you use as the cheeper grades contain ammonia. Well so i was told by another local reefer but i am sure someone will bite my head off if i am wrong. I now use Mag Chloride and it seems fine. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Theres only one place that does PURE Mag, thats Medchem in Mt albert. $3-4.00 per kilo in minimum 25 kilo sacks. HUMAN MEDICINAL GRADE. I have been using it for 6 months. My corals love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Straight magnesium chloride is OK, but if you want to get sulphur & chloride ions balanced use 10 parts magnesium chloride to 1 part epsom salts. I got a 25 kg sack of magnesium chloride from a local farm supplier, cost $18.00. Not sure about quality but it says food grade. Anyhow doesn't seem to have adverse effect in the tank. They add it to food for cows getting milked, cos the milking removes more magnesium from them than our typical NZ soil can replenish. Long as magnesium in the tank is above 1250 that's fine, don't go over 1450. What I done now though is add some magnesium chips to the calcium reactor so only have to add the other stuff occasionally. A. I think you mean Sulphate, not sulphur.....???? I dont bother with sulphates, as I do large water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifty Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 what is a good brand of epsom salts, and do u just get it from the supermarket?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Buy it from the chemist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifty Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 ty fay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I am assuming that you add magnesium chloride to your top up water and add it to your sump? How much do you add at a time / 100L? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted March 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html Use the above: I add it in top up water and drip it in slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Thanks this site is excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 See 'water chemistry calculators' section on the 'sticky' post at the top of the saltwater section for others Anyone know if Medchem deliver? I've already sent an email asking them, save me driving out to St Lukes (mind you, I think Im heading out that way tomorrow :-? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Beware of the calcium, (From medchem), if the lid is not sealed properly it turns to liquid! Im dosing the liquid now! Still ok, it just dissolves with the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slappers Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I think that's any calcium chloride, it is very easily dissolved, and if exposed to moist atmosphere will absorb water from it and eventually turn mushy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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