Raising magnesium using Randy's mag additive?

[Hal]

I suspect that my magnesium is low. I'm buying a test kit to confirm this. Assuming that it is low, will Randy's magnesium additive (5 cups magnesium chloride plus 3 cups magnesium sulfate in 1 gallon RO water) be a good way to raise my mangesium?

It seems to be the cheapest option.

I'm guessing I start with 2.5 cups of this mixture, test my mag, and repeat. Right?

[five.five-six]

step 1) buy a test kit
step 2) test your water
step 3) use this handy calculator (http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html)

[Hal]

I assume that for adding Magnesium, even though the Reef Chemistry calculator has the product listed as "RAndy's recipes 1 and 2 versions A and B" that it really means the magnesium component of that recipe, which is a stand alone (and which in my mind makes it Randy's 3 part solution)?

[five.five-six]

IDK I just use epsoms salt which is super cheep... sometimes I use driveway heat (magflake) the key component is to TEST first

[Hammsreefbeer]

I made randy's recipe 1 3a.Dripped 1/2 gallon a day and it brought my mag up 90 ppm a day.

[HighlandReefer]

Randy has two recipes for mixing a mag. supplement.

If you are using calcium chloride to supplement your calcium, then you will want to use the 5 cups mag. chloride to 3 cups mag. sulfate ratio.

If you are using kalk or reactors to supplement your calcium & alk., then you will want to use the 10:1 ratio.

You will need a test kit before you supplement mag.

[James Wright]

link to randys recipe I lost it!

[HighlandReefer]

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

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

[Hal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846355#post14846355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer
Randy has two recipes for mixing a mag. supplement.

If you are using calcium chloride to supplement your calcium, then you will want to use the 5 cups mag. chloride to 3 cups mag. sulfate ratio.

If you are using kalk or reactors to supplement your calcium & alk., then you will want to use the 10:1 ratio.

I saw the 5:3 ratio. Where did the 10:1 ratio come from? I didn't see it in Randy's articles.

[five.five-six]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846355#post14846355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HighlandReefer


You will need a test kit before you supplement mag.

this is key

[HighlandReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14848483#post14848483 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hal
I saw the 5:3 ratio. Where did the 10:1 ratio come from? I didn't see it in Randy's articles.

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

From this article:

"3. A certain mixture of magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate has no net effect on seawater's major anions (chloride and sulfate). All that is necessary for such a recipe is to add these two ingredients in such a ratio that they add chloride and sulfate in the ratio naturally present in seawater (which is 7.1 to 1 on a weight basis and 9.6 to 1 on a per ion basis).

To perfect such a recipe, it's imperative to know the amounts of sulfate in Epsom salts (39%), the amount of chloride in magnesium chloride hexahydrate (34.9%), and their bulk densities, because most aquarists will use a volume based measurement (1.05 g/cm3 for Epsom salts and 0.85 g/cm3 for magnesium chloride hexahydrate solids). Taking all these factors into account, the desired volume ratio is 10:1, MAG flake to Epsom salts, as a supplement; for instance, 10 cups MAG flake and 1 cup Epsom salts."

[sjm817]

This from the article will also help:

Using both Epsom salts and MAG flake, dissolve 7¼ cups MAG flake and ¾ cup Epsom salts in one gallon of water