Ca and Mg additives

I personally have used the DIY system for about 6 months that is found here if you search. For Alk I use baking soda, Ca I use Kent's Turbo Calcium, and Mg I use Epsom salt and I bought a bulk supply of Magnesium hexahydrate. This cost pennies on the dollar compared to any other choice.

 

What is needed to make the Kent Liquid Calcium equivalent at home and the Kent Tech M Magnesium? Does the Epsom Salt mixed with RO/DI water equal the Mg and what is needed for Ca?

Also do these give you the same thing as the Kent products? Is there anything in them that is harmful long term, is there anything they lack that needs to be made up with something else? Is there anything extra they are adding that we should be aware of?

Thanks!

 

Arm and Hammer Baking Soda for Alkalinity purchased at Walmart (I believe I payed $1.29 for a 2 lb box). Bulk Reef Supply for Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride. Big bag of Epsom Salts from Walmart for Magnesium Sulfate which I mix with the Magnesium Chloride (1 part Epsom Salt and 10 parts Mag Chloride which closely mimics the ratio of Magnesium in Seawater which is approx 1 to 9.7).

 

I use BRS two part also. For the Amount I use the starter kit will last me a year, so its very cheap for me.

 

I use the BRS 3 part, and I like it as well.

 

Just ordered dosing pumps to simplify my bulk reef supply two part dosing yesterday ... can't wait for the automation.

the BRS is the way to go if you are looking for simple. 1 bag = 1 gallon water = 1 provided jug ... done lol. Its great!

 

I had been using BRS too, and will probably continue, but recently bought a container of Driveway Heat, which accd'g to Randy Holmes Farley, is pure enough calcium chloride to use for calcium solution. I used 400g and enough water to make a gallon. The whole gallon is reported to be 37,000 ppm calcium. The container of Driveway Heat was a little under $10, and I'll be able to make over 10 gallons of solution with it. That's quite a savings over BRS.

Sounds like Reeron read the same article, using a 10:1 ratio of magnesium chloride to epson salts. I'll have to find a source of mag chloride. Mag sulfate, (epsom salts) are readily available.

Next I'll look into Alk. solution. BRS is great, but if I can save even more money, I'm down.

 

BRS here