Kalk with magnesium stearate dosing?

nanomania · 01/03/2018, 03:23 AM

As commercial kalk (calcium hydroxide) clumps, can we mix magnesium stearate with it? Will it be harmful? Brightwell has a kalk +mag supplement. How to diy it?

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bertoni · 01/03/2018, 02:20 PM

The magnesium will precipitate if it's ionic. I wouldn't add magnesium stearate to a tank, in any case. I don't know what it'd do, but it's basically a soap-like sort of compound, which could be quite toxic. The Brightwell supplement doesn't work to add magnesium unless you dose the precipitates, and it's not clear that they add any magnesium to the product. It's probably present as an impurity.

nereefpat · 01/03/2018, 02:33 PM

Do people have trouble with kalk clumping? The solution forms clumps or the anhydrous powder clumps?

For diy kalk and mg supplement, I would use pickling lime and magnesium chloride (or magnesium sulfate in small amounts), and dose separate solutions of both.

bertoni · 01/03/2018, 02:55 PM

I didn't have problems with Kalk clumping, but I live in an area with moderate humidity. It will convert to calcium carbonate over time, but the process generally seems to be very slow.

nereefpat · 01/03/2018, 03:26 PM

Thanks. That has been my experience too. I store my powder in an air-tight container, and that probably helps.

01/03/2018, 03:23 AM	#1
nanomania Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 1,101	Kalk with magnesium stearate dosing? As commercial kalk (calcium hydroxide) clumps, can we mix magnesium stearate with it? Will it be harmful? Brightwell has a kalk +mag supplement. How to diy it? Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk __________________ TRY BUYING CAPTIVE BRED ANIMALS/FISHES/INVERTS... DONT BUY A DOG, ADOPT THEM..... SAVE NATURE..... JUNGLES AND OCEANS RULE.....

01/03/2018, 02:20 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The magnesium will precipitate if it's ionic. I wouldn't add magnesium stearate to a tank, in any case. I don't know what it'd do, but it's basically a soap-like sort of compound, which could be quite toxic. The Brightwell supplement doesn't work to add magnesium unless you dose the precipitates, and it's not clear that they add any magnesium to the product. It's probably present as an impurity. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/03/2018, 02:33 PM	#3
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Do people have trouble with kalk clumping? The solution forms clumps or the anhydrous powder clumps? For diy kalk and mg supplement, I would use pickling lime and magnesium chloride (or magnesium sulfate in small amounts), and dose separate solutions of both. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

01/03/2018, 02:55 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I didn't have problems with Kalk clumping, but I live in an area with moderate humidity. It will convert to calcium carbonate over time, but the process generally seems to be very slow. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/03/2018, 03:26 PM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Thanks. That has been my experience too. I store my powder in an air-tight container, and that probably helps. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers