magnesium

I use the same stuff. It works great in increasing my Calcium. However, it doesn't seem to raise my Magnesium like you may think.. I use Seachems Magnesium to raise it. A lot of people use Epsom salts and bulk reef supply, but I've been using Seachem's stuff with good results, so I've stayed with them. I don't know much about those other types of supplements. Seachem's stuff is pretty expensive, but I don't mind spending extra money for a little piece of mind..

BTW, I use the Red Sea Magnesium test kit. It's only around fourteen bucks, it's easy to use, and as far as I know, the results are pretty accurate.

 

In the words of a trusted LFS friend; "How can 2 elements stay in perfect proportion in 1 bottle?"

 

Right. I don't know if that quote is exactly true or not... but it makes sense to me so I like separate elements. (part of me also thinks, what would make them turn into a different proportion in a bottle?)

If I need to dose for Mg, I don't want to also be dosing my Ca which may not need any dosing...

 

I too agree with Peredhil, I dont like those "all-in-one-package" deals. I dont always have the need to dose Mag, but Alk and Cal are comsumed very quickly in my tank. I like the freedom of dosing a specific element when needed. luna

 

Not to be the Devil's Advocate, but--just ask a bottle of water. The proportion of hydrogen and oxygen haven't changed since time immemorial.

Regarding the calc and alk supplements, though, when using liquids, as soon as they are mixed, it's instant precipitation, and the mixture is opaque with waterborne calcium chloride.

 

Have they changed their formula? I buy the two part solution from those guys, which comes with powder to make calc, alk, and mag. solutions. The mag solution ingredient bag states it's a 50/50 mix of magnesium chloride, and magnesium sulfate (epsom salts).

I've searched, but haven't been able to find a reliable source of pure mag chloride.

Also, Av8, do you know how to use the calibration fluid bottle they (Salifert) include in the test kit? I know how to use the test easily enough, but I've never been able to figure out the "test bottle" portion of it.

 

Sorry sparky, apples and oranges comparison. O2 and Hydrogen are molecules Calc and Mag are elements, two entirely different things.

 

Agreed. It's my father in me.

My reply was to the question, "How can 2 elements stay in perfect proportion in 1 bottle?" More humor than anything else, Jed.

 

not really disagreeing with your point Jed... but that's not exactly right either.

To just say Calcium and Magnesium are elements is true enough... but your wording implies that the Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride and Magnesium Sulfate we put in our tanks are not molecules... and they are.

so I wouldn't say they're entirely different things...

 

Not sure about the test kit.. but ...
The magnesium I was talking about is the magnesium chloride only:
High Purity Magnesium Chloride Flakes Bulk Reef Supply