Questions on randy's two parts solutions

[maroun.c]

Hi,
Finally found some Pharmaceutical grade Mag Chloride hexahydrate and Calcium Chloride, as well as Epsom salt sold by KG and have few questions before starting to dose.
I am currently struggling with low MG levels (980 up to 1000+ so far and still going up using Tropic Marine Bio mag)
Caclium levels so far are high (Around 500)
Alk Levels are very weird in my tank (14DKH + and not dropping)
Will be checking agains new test kits and having hte water tested ina lab and also will test some water from the LFS to see how their water reads with my JBL test kit.
here are the Ca and MG I got:

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm185/mcaqua150g/Equipment%20and%20material/DSC_4368.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm185/mcaqua150g/Equipment%20and%20material/DSC_4369.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm185/mcaqua150g/Equipment%20and%20material/DSC_4370.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm185/mcaqua150g/Equipment%20and%20material/DSC_4372.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm185/mcaqua150g/Equipment%20and%20material/DSC_4373.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm185/mcaqua150g/Equipment%20and%20material/DSC_4374.jpg

Test kits included in pics for size proportion.
So questions are:
-As both contain chloride, should I increase the proportion of Epsom salt to reastablish an equilibrium between chloride and Sulfates
-How can the assay of MG be 100.3%
-As Caclium chloride is 99.5 % pure does hat mean I have to decerase it's proportions as I remember that the purity in the descrioption of the mix of the 2 part solutions mentioned a purity of 90% and maybe less if I remember correctly?

Would appreciate detailed propotions of the mix to use in case there is some combination of changes due to the chloride increase as well as the highe purity.

Last thing is I would appreciate if yo ucoud shar the price yo upay for MG and Ca as I believe the price was quite costy:
75 USD for 1 KG Mag hexahydrate which looks really small
65 usd for Calcium chloride
15 for Epsom salt
Thanks for any info

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The 100.3% just represents noise in the testing. It is not a concern. That looks like an excellent material to me. It even has its own ammonia analysis! :)

If you boost magnesium by 100 ppm with it, then ammonia will at most rise to 0.01 ppm, which is good.

I'd use it and the Epsom salt to boost magnesium by 50-100 ppm per day using the recipe (ratio) I show here:

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Last thing is I would appreciate if yo ucoud shar the price yo upay for MG and Ca as I believe the price was quite costy

Here's some cheap but suitable magnesium for comparison, and their calcium likely is suitable too:

http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Sub=124&showspecials=124

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

When you use that calcium chloride for the two part, follow my directions for anhydrous calcium chloride, which is to use 20% less volume (we can be very precise if you are weighing it) in my recipes:

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[maroun.c]

Thanks Randy.
Do you think I sohuld trust their testing or should I test myself. Is there also need to test any other thing they did not test for?

[maroun.c]

One extra last question. Once I have the values correct and start my daily dosing of the 2 parts, doe the formula and dosing plan assume that any water change is done with water that has been corrected for CA MG and ALk or do you just do periodical testing and adjust accordingly every 1-2 months?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would rely on the ammonia test result. :)

I would adjust your water change water if it is significantly below your target (like Instant Ocean would be). :)