Magnesium Question

[JxMetal]

On your directions it says take the bag of mag flake/epsom salt and mix with 2.5 cups of water. Then use the whole 2.5 cups of water along with the gallon of calcium and gallon of alkalinity.

Since this is a 2 gallon kit, shouldn't I use half the bag of mag/epsom? and then once my gallon of calcium and gallon of alkalinity are gone I use the rest of the epsom/mag with the next batch of calcium and alkalinity?

[atvdave]

Not sure what they told you what to do but here's a link that will tell you everything you need to know about randy's 2 part system

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[Snarkys]

The two gallon kit is one gallon of alkalinity, one gallon of calcium (recipe one ) and the corresponding amount of magnesium.

The whole idea of the kit is to make it as simple as possible . pour the calcium bag into one gallon . The alkalinity into the other gallon and then the mag bag into a smaller container with about 2 1/2 cups of water . When the alk and calcium jugs are empty pour in the mag solution. Doesn't get much easier : )

If you were to make a full gallon of magnesium solution it would take 3 cups of Epsom salts (24oz) and 5 cups(33oz) of mag flake. You would then pour in 2 1/2 cups of that solution in every time you used a full gallon of the ALK and CAL.

There are 16 cups in a gallon so there is 6.4 2 1/2 cup portions in that gallon . what we did is divide the amount of mag flake and Epsom salts by 6.4 and provide that amount in the bag labeled mag flake .

Basically you just mix the mag bag with 2 1/2 cups filtered water and pour it in as you like. one bag for every time you run out of each one gallon jugs of ALK and CAL. Some people just dump the whole thing in when they empty the other two jugs but many people feel more comfortable pouring some in once or twice a week, making some attempt to empty the mag solution at the same rate as the other two jugs.

I found an empty 20 oz water bottle worked really well for holding this solution. I used an empty unflavored mendota springs mineral water bottle because it was clean and clear. Keep in mind that the amount of water isn't that important with the mag portion . just that you use the whole thing while you use the Two jugs of ALK and CAL.

[Snarkys]

Ok I changed the instructions today. I hope i made them clearer than before . let me know if you think there is any way i can make them better, I'd love to : )

http://www.twopartsolution.com/index.php?main_page=page_4

[JxMetal]

Wow, that first post by you made me very confused.

Is the "2 gallon kit" equal to 1 gallon of calcium and 1 gallon of alk?

or

Is the "2 gallon kit" equal to 2 gallons of calcium and 2 gallons of alk?


Your directions say "Take the bag labeled Dow Flake Calcium Chloride (500g) and split it in half (250g or 1 and ¼ cups) and pour into a one gallon jug."

Yet your first post here said "pour the calcium bag into one gallon . The alkalinity into the other gallon"

I hope these are my last 2 questions.

[Snarkys]

I think the problem is you may have skimmed through the directions and missed the fact that there are two recipes : )

one for people with low ph (8.0 and under) and one for people with ideal PH of 8.1-8.3

here is a quote from the instructions, I suggest you read them again to make sure you got everything down.
http://www.twopartsolution.com/index.php?main_page=page_4

First Step: Decide which recipe is right for you.

First figure out if your tank already has the PH level you would like or if you would like to raise it a bit. The ideal PH is 8.1-8.3 Most people seem to use the recipe that raises their PH a bit; we will call this "Recipe 1". For those of you who already have an ideal PH (8.1-8.3) please use "Recipe 2". The only real difference between the two is you will need to bake the baking soda in the oven and add the whole bag from the kit to the one gallon jugs in Recipe 1. Recipe 2 does not require baking the baking soda and you will use half the bag of salts given per gallon, but at twice as much solution to the tank. I explain both recipes in greater deal below.

after you pick a recipe its this simple.

recipe (1)one (makes one gallon of each) pour the whole bag of calcium in a one gallon jug and shake . take the alkalinity bag and bake it in the oven for one hour at 300 then pour it into a one gallon jug with some water.

recipe (2)two: makes two gallons of each but you will dose twice as much fluid to the tank. you use this recipe if you don't want to raise your PH. there is no need for baking the alkalinity portion with this method. split the calcium bag in half and either save half or just make two gallons at once of the calcium solution. Take the alkalinity portion and split it in half . either save half or just make two gallons .

take two and a half cups of water and mix it with the mag portion. if you use recipe one pour it in when you are done with both jugs. If you use recipe two then pour half in when you are done with two jugs and the other half in when you are done with the other two jugs .

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Snarkys]

BTW i highly recommend watching that video http://www.reefvideos.com/

after watching it you can't help but see how easy it all is : )

[JxMetal]

ok, got it. makes sense now. sorry for all the questions

[Snarkys]

Thats what we are here for : )

[JxMetal]

Alright, there's no way you can add that whole bag of magnesium mix AND 2.5 cups of water. :lol: I was only able to get 2 cups of water in there.

[Snarkys]

in a 20 oz container ?

hmm i'm going to have to try it again i swear it was almost perfect when i did it the first time .

[JxMetal]

did you try this yet?

[Snarkys]

we did it again tonight and it works perfect . add the salt first and then the water.

possible you have a 16 oz bottle and not 20oz ?