Mag for Randy´s Recipe

[Rao]

Hi, Randy or any one, i´ve plan to use the two par recipe, but here in Venezuela i only can fiand Magnesium as Magnesium cloride, will it works? wath is the proportion for it´s adition?

Thank´s

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Magnesium chloride alone, if suitably pure, will be Ok but not optimal. Over time the sulfate will be depleted relative to chloride, so I'd be sure to continue some regular water changes.

Craig shows what happens when using calcium chloride here, and the added effect of the magnesium will be small:

Simulating the Effect of Calcium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate Additions on Reef Systems
http://web.archive.org/web/20010606111158/http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1998/dec/bio/default.asp

Additional Simulations: The Combined Effect Of Calcium Chloride
/Sodium Bicarbonate Additions And Water Exchanges
http://web.archive.org/web/20010210223756/http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/feb/bio/default.asp

[Rao]

Hola de nuevo... (i tool you in aother post that i´ll be asking like mad... kepping my word:D )

I´m using c - balance + kalk to kept the calcium and alk, also meking 10% wc with reef cristals every week, i test for mg yerterday and is about 850, i know i can correct this value with mg cloride, but i´m looking for a long term program, of course you recip + kalk is my option because is cheap and i can get baking soda and calcium cloride to make the 2 parts, the problem is the 3rd part cause we don´t have things like mag flakes not the other options you state in the article, so i´m loking for a substitu to make the recipe

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm surprised magnesium is that low with 10% RC water changes each week. Have you used that magnesium test kit on your new salt water?

[Rao]

i was surprised also..... at this mg level the calcium will be mostly precipitade i´m correct? but my corals ar growing.. I don´t test the new watter, i will do it tonigth, and use another test to compare.

Wath about mg cloride to substitute the 3rd part of the recipe?

I also had a mg cloride stored for some time, it waS GAIN AND NOW GOT LIQUID WHY?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the pH and alkalinity are not too high, the calcium may be stable.

Yes, you can boost the tank with magnesium chloride, but I just wanted to be sure you really need it, and don't later find out it is really 1200 ppm now and would be 1600 ppm after boosting it. :(

[buggapimp5.0]

I am sorry, i dont mean to thread hijack, but is there any reason why you are doing weekly water changes? what are your water parameters?

I have untraceable ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate, and have not done a water change in months, is this ok to do?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I recommend water changes for all the things you do not measure, like in this case, the chloride to sulfate ratio.

I discuss benefits of water changes here:

Water Changes in Reef Aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

[Rao]

Is a goo practice to do watter changes even wen you do not have nutrients, provably the 10% weekly i made is abot too much but my sistem is small i do 10 liters weekly not big deal

[buggapimp5.0]

thanks for the info, sorry for the hijack.

[Rao]

you´re wellcome, but i´m the one that is hijacking Randy´s patience :cool:

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:lol:

Both of you are welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)