Randy 2 part or two part dosing ?

Yes, I don't know however if there is any difference in impurities between harmacy grade and or pool grade. I don't think it would be a problem.

Unless you get a huge bio/coral load, it doesn't sound like you would need to dose IMO.

I'd actually start with Pickling Lime in most cases though, raises your Ca and Alk.
Be careful and research dosing it first however.

Good luck.

 

First things first I have to order a cal, alk , and mag test kit. Maybe with a 20 gallon and weekly WC I may not have to dose.

 

With regular WC, you may not need to dose. if your numbers drop too much, you may find you are dosing your WC water.

epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. also need magnesium chloride. it's only an issue long term.

There can be huge differences - it's OK if your pool chemicals have some heavy metals, etc in it. I doubt it's huge enough difference to make an impact short term, but long term, heavy metals will build up and become a problem as they leach into your rocks...

 

Exactly right,test kits are costly for good quality but are totally necessary,especially with a smaller water volume.

 

The recipe I saw said it's not necessary to use magnesium chloride. That you can use all Epsom salt. Is that not correct ?

 

I use pickling lime from Walmart.

Hardness Plus (cal) and soda ash from Leslie pool supply for dosing. Much much cheaper than brs....

 

Is the pickling lime for magnesium ? I found some calcium hardness at my local pool supply shop. Is the soda ash for alkalinity ?

 

Pickling lime is kalkwasser.

Yes soda ash is for alk.

 

I'm a noob at this dosing. What does kalkwasser do.

 

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/