Mg,Alk & Cal
Printed From: Utah Reefs
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Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Posts that don't fit in any of the other categories.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28298
Printed Date: January 02 2026 at 5:31pm
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Topic: Mg,Alk & Cal
Posted By: Rioreefer
Subject: Mg,Alk & Cal
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 3:26pm
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Who adds Mg, Alk & Cal. to their tanks and what (products) do you use to do this. DIY or store bought.Anything you would not use or have used and had bad reactions to them. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Replies:
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 5:07pm
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I use B-Ionic.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 5:21pm
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Kents kalkwasser for alk and Ca, Kents Magnesium, and coralvite. All seem to be helping out the tank immensely. I did try to use Kent's AB for Ca but I didn't have as much success as I am having with Kalk. Kalk is just way easier then dosing with buffers and what not and cheaper then a Ca reactor. I just fine tuned my DPM (drops per minute) till I add as much Ca as the tank needs. I've been running it for over a month with no problems.
If you interested in building a doser, here you go- http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27986 - DIY doser Sculpin |
Posted By: tileman
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 6:32pm
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I dose B-Ionic in my 65g and w/c's
In my 225 I run a big calcium reactor filled with a deltec product called Rowalith C+
I add Magnesium Cloride to my filter sock every week (about 3/4 cup) and all of my top off water is ran thru a kalk reactor filled with about 1 cup of calcium hydroxide. ------------- 335G Reef TOTM. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012 http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month & |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 7:06pm
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I use DIY soultions of Prestone "Driveway Heat" for Calcium and a mix of Mg Cl and Epsom salts (MgSO4) for magnesium
I tried the DIY "alk" solution (baking soda / washing soda) but found that Kent Supperbuffer dkH powder works better for me. For whatever reason, the biggest "drain" on my setup right now is not Ca (or Mg) but rather carbonate alk... if I don't add some buffer almost daily my dkH goes from 11 -12 down to 7 - 9... the Ca I can go a week between doses and the Mg is a once a month dose if that. I also do an 18g WC (about 7% of total water volume) every 2 weeks.
In the future I may go to either kalk or a Ca reactor but right now (even with a fair amount of LPS and some SPS and 3 clams) I have been able to keep the Ca level in my 225 stable at over 440 ppm with just the dosing... ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 10:02pm
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http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 10:32pm
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Cool, thanks for all the info..
On the Mg Cl and Epsom salts (MgSO4) for magnesium what is the Mg Cl? Why not just Epsom, I have test with Safert and dosed day after day now for a week and my Mg has gone from 1140 to 1140 and I have used a med size bottle of tech M. So I am thinking of using Epsom to get me up then buff with Tech M in a ehiem liq doser. My Alk I use Baking Soda and for Cal I use Turbo Cal in a ehiem auto feeder over the sump to match what I use up. Dose this sound like a good Idea or is there better. My Alk is always about 12dkh and my cal is around 475-500 ppm Thanks ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: September 24 2008 at 10:45pm
Mg Cl is Magnesium Chloride... You shouldn't use Epsom salts only long-term as it can lead to an imbalance of sulfides in your water... however, if you just use it as a "one-time dose" to get your Mg level up to snuff and then use a "complete" supplement like Tech M you should be OK.
------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Rioreefer wrote:Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 9:45am
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I think that is what I will do.
One more question is I used the reef calculator on RC and for me to go from 1140 to 1400 I need something like 51 oz thats alot 16oz is 1lb
Am I wrong in theses calculations? ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 9:47am
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whait it was about 34 oz ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 11:27am
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Need some thoughts on this. Im not a real big fan of the Driveway salt EXC... So everthing I have been doing has been from a Pharm in pharm grade due to I work at a clinic with a Pharm so I just order in what I need or can get. I am thinking I want to do my Mg with Epson salt and Magnisiam choride hexaaydrate. If I order in mass I get better deal so I am thinking I will get 5 lb of epson and 5lb of Mg cl. that the epson costs about 2bucks and the Mg ch costs about 45-50 buck. But should last a while doing it. Any good or bad thoughts on this idea. The only question I am pondering is the MgCl from what the Phamisist said is that it is pure and uncut he belives it my be stronger that (mag flake). Could this be or is it just cleaner?
Thanks Rich ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 1:32pm
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That seems like a lot of MgCl to me. It doesn't take that much to boost levels. You could sell some to other hobbyists here.
I'd mix it up, use it and test the tank to see how concentrated it is.
In my experience, artificially boosting Alk, Ca and Mg to extreme levels is going to cause problems sooner or later. I've seen too many tanks have problems because the hobbyist was messing too much with the chemistry trying to keep the levels where they wanted them.
It's best to keep in mind the accepted ranges and then allow the aquarium to balance itself as you add chemicals in moderate amounts to keep the levels from dropping below range.
This info is from the back of the WMAS business card:
Temp 75-80
salinity 1.022 - 1.026
Alk 8-14 dKH (2.8 - 5.0 meq/L)
Ca 350-450 ppm
Mg 1250 - 1350 ppm
pH 8.0 - 8.3
Ammonia ~0
Nitrite ~0
Nitrate < 15 ppm
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 2:29pm
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Epsom salts only long-term as it can lead to an imbalance of sulfides in your water Correct, but sulfates not sulfides. the MgCl from what the Phamisist said is that it is pure and uncut he belives it my be stronger that (mag flake) It will be "stronger" if it's MgCl2 anhydrous. If it's MgCl2 hexahydrate then it'll be the same "strength" as mag-flake. Mix it up 9 parts MgCl2 hexahydrate to 1 part epsom salt. That will give you a natural seawater ratio of sulfate/chloride. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 2:41pm
Im only trying to get to 1400 give or take, With dosing Tech M all week I have not even come up at all. When I use the Reef calc. http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html - http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html it tells me arond 35oz that seems like alot 16oz=1lb for epsom and about the same for MgCl I would like to get it up to par and maintain with Tech M. I just figured I could buy a bunch vacume bag it for Emergency needs. Do you not dose or just dose lightly. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 2:50pm
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Mag supplements, including your suggested homemade one, are only ~10% Mg in the dry form. Tech M is only ~7% Mg. It takes more additive then you might think to raise your levels. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 2:55pm
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I plan on mixing some up and dosing slow.
Jon do you dose the same thing. If so for how long now and Is it worth the extra $ I pay for Pham grade or have you had no Neg effect with what you use. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 2:58pm
Now as mark stated or am I jusr reading thinking too much (this hobby makes me do that)  That seems like a lot of MgCl to me. It doesn't take that much to boost levels
So is the calculator off, I have about 100-110gal total ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 3:03pm
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I wish I would of never got "all" the tests kits as a gift. My tank hase been up about 2 years I did Cal ans Alk and trace now this!!ha ha ha whats next stroium and iodine ha ha ha ha
Thanks again for all the help ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 3:55pm
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Jon do you dose the same thing. If so for how long now and Is it worth
the extra $ I pay for Pham grade or have you had no Neg effect with
what you use. Yes and no. When I had my big aquarium I added Mg about twice a year... the first few years it was just epsom salt. Then I started using a mix of MgCl2 (tech grade) and epsom salt. The calculator is ok. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: September 25 2008 at 4:53pm
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Cool thanks
Rich ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 26 2008 at 8:39pm
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Well maybe there's something that's making me uneasy here. I'm not sure... Maybe it's that I don't understand the need to raise levels higher than chemically feasible or safe. I don't know but it just makes me uneasy. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: September 26 2008 at 9:07pm
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Mark -
Are you able to keep your Alk at 10 dkH, Ca level at 400 ppm and your Mg level at 1300 ppm without ever dosing?
Or do you just run your systems at (numerically) lower values for these? ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 27 2008 at 10:48am
I definitely do dose Kalkwasser and then homemade Alk and Ca as needed, but I try to be less "controlling". It's hard to explain. Rather than picking a level that I want everything to be at and trying to force it there, I shoot for an Alk ~10 and then watch how the Ca reacts, dosing again when it starts heading down towards 375. With >2" of Oolitic sand, there is really good buffering so Alk and Ca are less fickle. I rarely (almost never) bother testing Mg. The need for Mg will show up as reduced growth of Coralline Algae and stony corals. I just throw in some Mg every six months or so. Utah Oolitic sand has high levels of Mg so with a DSB it's replensihing Mg as we go along. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: idahreefer
Date Posted: October 01 2008 at 12:57pm
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I use a ca reactor for my 300, but it still does not keep up because of all the sps, for extra dosing I use sea chem reef builder & sea chem calcium, I never dose mag because it's always 1300 plus
------------- martin |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: October 01 2008 at 5:26pm
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Hmmmm, Ive been dosing every other day and mine is 1200-1300 and thats it... Still going to dose Mg Cl but havent yet am a bit scared to do so. Still reading on effects and so on. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: October 01 2008 at 5:48pm
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we were able to keep our levels there with JUST water changes until we got an insane amount of sps growing in our tanks. that is when we added a calcium reactor. ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: October 08 2008 at 9:42am
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OK, So I am a little confused, after all the dosing of epson I tested and have been 1200 I then got RX MgCl I used 10 teaspoons with ro and the next am I am up to 1350ish This is no where near the amount the reef calc said to add, Any Ideas or thoughts. This Mg Cl I use/used is for RX use for compounding meds. Could it be that RX is that much stonger, at the pham we have to track it as a dangous substance? I just want ideas..... And also will Mg drop much this is the first time I have played with Mg. Or will it stay up pretty good on its own with a light dose from time to time. If that is the case I got way to much. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 08 2008 at 4:52pm
Now you can sell the excess to others here. The speed of depletion is totally dependent on the amount of stony coral, Coralline algae, snails, calciferous feather dusters, urchins, etc. living in the tank. Please post a pic of the tank. btw I've been noticing your signature line for some time. Are you certain that you are completely alone as you talk to yourself?  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: October 08 2008 at 5:22pm
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From time to time the Wife is in the Room..
I like you sence of hummor, Ive kind of been waiting for the jump... LOL My wife posted a few pics on her Blog, I know the names and descptions are wrong but its fun to see her get into it and try to understand and listen to what she wants LOL http://rogerspack.blogspot.com/ - http://rogerspack.blogspot.com/ Let me know what you think if you dont mind ideas for chang exc.. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 09 2008 at 6:27pm
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Hey you old Supreme Being you.
Your creation looks nice.
Lot's of Coralline and stony corals so it will deplete the Mg at a good rate
Only comment from what I can see is to open up some of the sand.
How old is the tank and how long has it been since a storm came through to stir everything up? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: soundsurfer
Date Posted: October 09 2008 at 10:41pm
| Be careful with heavy dosing at any point. I would dose two to three days apart from any Mg, Carbonate, or calcium. By dosing heavy and/or in close time with each other, they will just preciptate into you substrate(sand bed) and become useless. So its almost as if you didn't even dose. Also high rates of precipitation can make your sand beds become compacted and solid and high levels of anaerobic bacteria can build up and be detrimental. I am not to familiar with trace elements on corals, but I saw that b-ionic's calcium dose says "other ionic elements which contain copper, molybdium, and a ton of others. Because of that I have just been using Seachem Calcium. It also has a way higher concentration of Calcium then the b-ionic so I use way less. Also it keeps up your Magnesium and Strontium levels as well. So you don't need to dose those as often. I figure I get all the trace elements I need just by doing weekly water changes. Just my two pesos, take it for what its worth. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: October 10 2008 at 11:20am
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Cool Thanks Surfer I will keep that in mind.
------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: October 10 2008 at 11:40am
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Surfer
As far as dosing I dont dose together always a day apart ALK is in top off so its minimal daily. As for H20 changes Im BAD I do them like 3 months prob.
My Ranges as of last night
po4-0
no3-0
no4-0
amo-0
cal-460
mg-1400
alk-12
Spg 1.024
Temp 78.4 I do pull at least a Gal of chato out a week out and feed like a pig too. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: IdahoReef
Date Posted: October 10 2008 at 6:20pm
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I tested my water yesterday with an AP test kit for KH. It took 9 drops to change the color from blue to yellow. I then used Kent Osmo Prep at the recommended dose of 1 teaspoon per gallon or slightly less. I just tested my water and it only took EIGHT drops.  ------------- Beginner Steven Build Thread http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 - http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 11 2008 at 10:16am
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Time to add baking soda.
If you aren't familiar with this go here:
http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: IdahoReef
Date Posted: October 11 2008 at 9:06pm
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Thank you Mark. Not sure where to get Peladow Ice Melt and have hear they have changed it as well. Where does one get the CaC12 you mention or are the Ca formulations I have ( aforementioned Osmo Prep and Superbuffer dKH) sufficient?
------------- Beginner Steven Build Thread http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 - http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: October 12 2008 at 8:01pm
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Hey Mark any other ideas for me I always love input from other, and I know your always looking for the newest best ways of doing something.
Idaho, Baking soda works great if alk is all you need to get up. That is what I use, I mix it with my top off. And for Cal Im a big fan of turbo Cal just becuse I dont trust (Ice melt). Even though it is proven. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: IdahoReef
Date Posted: October 13 2008 at 2:09pm
I already have the stuff mentioned and that is why Iwas asking if they would work or are effective enough for the current need. Baking soda is cheap, so I may give that a try. ------------- Beginner Steven Build Thread http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 - http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 |