Anyine use bulk reef supplys 2 part dosing system?

does anyone use this product? i was thinking of getting it. it says it makes a gal of ca and a gal of alk. my question is, is the gal of solution as concentrated as normal ca/alk products that you can get at ur lfs? it also say on the instructions to add all of the mag solution at once after the ca and alk are finished. why is that?

 

Mag is your Magnesium

There are several people here using their systems. You can find some comments on it in a recent thread "calcium reactor or 2 part dosing" or something close.

I will let others chime in more

 

I use it.

I don't know how the strength compares to other preparations on the market.

It says to add all of the mag after the calc and alk are finished because this matches natural amounts, according to their view.

An important point I think, is to have your magnesium up to NSW levels before you embark on their plan. If you don't, you could very well end up using every bit of their mag solution, and still not having sufficient levels of magnesium in order to achieve the levels of calc and alk you're after. I learned this personally. I struggled to get my calc and alk levels balanced, only to find that this was impossible until I got my magnesium correct. In my case, it took way more magnesium than they include to accomplish this.

I'd recommend you use epsom salts to get your magnesium to 1350-1500 first, then begin to use their products.

Good luck!

 

would i be better off just to get the 2part ca/alk and just use epsom salts for the mg? it would be cheaper that way, or am i better off not to mess with their formula? thanks

 

Unless you were to buy the calc and alk mix a la carte, the mag mix comes with the 2 part formula. Randy Holmes Farley hasn't determined either way if sulfate accumulation is detrimental in reef tanks, but since BRS's mag mix contains half mag sulfate and half mag chloride, I feel better using some of theirs instead of 100% mag sulfate (epsom salts).

 

Same here.

For the Alk solution, it hold as much Alk as a gallon of water can hold. So there isn't any other any stronger. A gallon of water will hold more Ca, but they just put in the same amount to make it a 2 part solution of equal parts. Simplifies things.

Mg is not used up very quickly. You just need to get the level up to where you want it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with dosing 20 oz. of Mg after the Alk and Ca is used up. If it makes you feel better, dose half of it at half way. I do it at the end of the bottle. You will see 20 oz. of Mg is not very much at all. You may need a couple of gallons just to bring your level up high enough. Test your Mg at the end of your Alk/Ca bottle and you will see it has only dropped 25-50 points. Enough for 20 oz to get it back up.