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View Full Version : Found DowFlake in CT, anyone find MAG Flake in CT?


Obi-dad
02/08/2006, 04:10 PM
I found pallets of Dowflake (Calcium chloride for Randy's 2+ part recipe) at a local Home Depot, anyone know of anyplace in CT that has the MAG Flake (magnesium chloride for the 3rd part of the 2 part recipe)?

warren thomas
02/08/2006, 04:13 PM
i just used esdom salt

Obi-dad
02/08/2006, 04:22 PM
Many people use just epsom salts to raise their Mg levels, but according to Randy's article (updated version in this month's ReefKeeping mag) if you are using his 2-part recipe, using both epsom sales and mag chloride keeps the chloride/sufate ions in balance much better.

trstange
02/08/2006, 07:17 PM
I have a small amount I'm not using from the brs group buy.

REEF-DADDY
02/10/2006, 03:39 PM
I have a ton of mag PELLET if you need some.

dfiddy
02/10/2006, 03:42 PM
i saw a big bag of something @ walmart that said it had magnesium chloride in it.. or that that was what it was. I forget the name of it though.. :confused:

Obi-dad
02/10/2006, 03:44 PM
Steve, where did you get the MAG pellet?

dfiddy, which Walmart was that?

dfiddy
02/10/2006, 03:46 PM
Cromwell.. it was in the back of the store by the automotives and snow care stuff.

REEF-DADDY
02/10/2006, 03:49 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6712077#post6712077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Obi-dad
Steve, where did you get the MAG pellet?

dfiddy, which Walmart was that?


HD in Waterbury right before the last storm. I have more than I'll ever use. If you can make it to Waterbury I'll send you home with a few pounds. You only use 2 1/2 cups per gallon of part one and two and I think only 3 cups of the Mag pellets per gallon, so a big bag is way to much.

my2girls
02/10/2006, 07:45 PM
Greg- Industrial Safety (Newington Rd.) in West Hartford has it.

ctreefer
02/17/2006, 08:42 AM
my2girls, are you sure industrial safety has it? I just called them and the customer service person after looking said no.

I'm hoping to run up there at lunchtime today and take a look.

thanks

Obi-dad
02/17/2006, 09:21 AM
I just got a bag from Industrial safety this week, they are on sale for $12, they had a bunch left, almost a whole pallet near where you come in the door.

ctreefer
02/17/2006, 09:45 AM
Awesome, thanks Greg.

my2girls
02/17/2006, 10:45 AM
I work right around the corner. I know they have it.

ctreefer
02/17/2006, 12:00 PM
Yes, thanks again, Just picked up a bag. Set for life. Seems I can always rely on that place to have something I need at a good price.

good one
02/17/2006, 12:13 PM
mind if i ask what this recipe is for?? sorry still learning

ctreefer
02/17/2006, 12:43 PM
The MAG flake in conjunction with Epsom salts and H2O provide the magnesium needed when you're either dosing kalk or using one of Randy's 2 part alternatives to B-Ionic because neither have magnesium in them which is needed to maintain calcium and alkalinity.

good one
02/17/2006, 02:07 PM
how much do you add to say one gallon of Kalk mix? If this is what your doing with it?

SaltwaterDaddy
02/17/2006, 02:21 PM
Lots of questions, hopefully lots of answers:

Do you think Mag flakes would be better than Mag pellets?

So if I have the formula correct it’s 2 1/2 cups per gallon of Dowflakes (part 1 & 2) and 3 cups of the Mag pellets (part 3) per gallon of water? When dosing, is it okay to combine all the parts together or keep them separate? If you keep them separate, dose at the same time or stager them “X” hours apart?

After mixing each of the 1 gallon ( CaCl 2 & MgCl 2 ) solutions, how many ounces (or ml) do you add per gallon of aquarium water? This amount would be to maintaining 400 ppm of Ca and 1350 ppm of Mg in an average (coral) stocked tank. I know everyone’s mileage will vary, but I’m looking for a good starting point?

Does the 3 part additive satisfies all the Ca, Mg and alkalinity requirements? So kalk mix (Pickling Lime) is not required anymore?

Last question: What’s the price of this stuff?

ctreefer
02/17/2006, 02:32 PM
To be honest, I'm just starting the process, so probably not the best to answer questions. I asked Randy a couple days ago about the difference between pellets and flake and he said it shouldn't be any different as long as its the same brand (dead sea works) Pellets bTW is what is carried at industrial safety in W. Hartford.

as to the mixing of the mag solution with the calcium solution, that's a good question.

I'm going to be using this for supplementation while using kalk still since kalk already is a balanced solution and my load isn't too demanding it seams simpler to mix than the 2 part solution.


I'd refer to Randy's instructions for creating the mix:

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

It's pretty clear how to do it.

good luck.

Obi-dad
02/17/2006, 02:43 PM
The article is worth reading - Randy's 2+ part recipe (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php) . There are 2 main parts, the Ca part (calcium chloride), and the alk part (baking soda). These are dosed at the same rate each day, I dose about 30ml or each on my 75g tank per day. There are 2 versions of the 2 parts, one with baked baking soda (higher pH, I use this one) and one without baking the baking soda.

The 3rd part is the magnesium chloride and epson salt mix, and that is only dosed when you finish adding a gallon of each of the other parts (I forget how much, but it is in the article).

I still dose kalk with my top-off water.

Rockym
02/17/2006, 04:47 PM
Auburn, MA Home Depot has a couple pallets of Mag Pellets and a ton of Dow Flake, just bought some this week. I also drip about 1.5 gal kalk/day but have to use the low ph recipe.

mr pink floyd
02/17/2006, 06:49 PM
isnt cvalcium chloride the stuff i put on my driveway to melt it ?

trstange
02/17/2006, 06:55 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6766558#post6766558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr pink floyd
isnt cvalcium chloride the stuff i put on my driveway to melt it ?

yes

Obi-dad
02/17/2006, 07:08 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6766590#post6766590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trstange
yes

Not all driveway de-icer that says calcium chloride has been tested for purity. Randy HF has tested Dowflake (Peladow is another form of this) and determined it is pure enough for reef use. Others may not be pure enough, or may be, but I wouldn't use them since Dowflake is available.

trstange
02/17/2006, 07:42 PM
You can read about it HERE (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=769440)

N-A-S-O
02/17/2006, 08:14 PM
are you using the whats recommended..magnesium chloride hexahydrate made by the Dead Sea Works ?? Or just any mag you can find.. I just picked up a 50lb bag of mag by dead sea myself

drewdegenhardt
03/06/2006, 06:52 PM
Question? Before the season ends I wanted to try and get some dow flake and mag flake. Has anyone seen the mag flake by dead sea in or near middletown area. I know dow flake is in HD

Thanks,

Andrew

drewdegenhardt
03/07/2006, 09:06 AM
Anyone??

Obi-dad
03/07/2006, 09:08 AM
If you don't find it near Middletown you can get it in west hartford from industrial safety and supply. It was on sale for $12.