Dosing Magnesium in ATO

[foredababy]

I started dosing magnesium in my ATO. Only Ro in my reservoir. Just wondering if anyone sees any potential problems with this?

[Bpb]

I dose my bolus amounts of anything in my ATO. Not all at once. But if I need to increase something I do it through my ato so it is gradual. I run a calcium reactor. So I keep that going tuned and stable. But I use 2 part for adjustments upward. I just put 1300 mL of magnesium in my ATO this morning actually to bring it from 1220 to 1450 over the next few days


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[foredababy]

Originally Posted by Bpb

I dose my bolus amounts of anything in my ATO. Not all at once. But if I need to increase something I do it through my ato so it is gradual. I run a calcium reactor. So I keep that going tuned and stable. But I use 2 part for adjustments upward. I just put 1300 mL of magnesium in my ATO this morning actually to bring it from 1220 to 1450 over the next few days


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I'm glad to hear this 👍

[gprdypoo04]

I am very hesitant to use it in my AT0. My preference is a doser.

[bertoni]

As long as the evaporation rate matches the supplementation need, it'll be fine. My tanks ran with a reasonably constant evaporation rate, so that approach would have been fine for me, if I'd needed it. I use limewater instead, since my tanks were going through a lot of calcium and alkalinity.

[Bpb]

I'll echo I am only talking about bolus dosing. Not daily maintenance. I would never dream of using an auto topoff to dose 2 part as daily upkeep


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[foredababy]

I was strictly speaking of mag. I feel like we strive for slow change and a steady state. I was bolusing my mag but since I only have RO water in my ato I thought it would be a smooth way to deliver it. I test weekly so I am dialed in. My evaporation is steady as well. I was just curious if other people did this and if there was a potential problem with it. While we are on the subject of magnesium, can anyone explain why you would use magnesium sulfate or magnesium chloride or both?

[foredababy]

Originally Posted by gprdypoo04

I am very hesitant to use it in my AT0. My preference is a doser.

Can you explain why?

[Bpb]

I think some people are misinterpreting the question as asking if you do a regular maintenance dose through an ato. Like as in do you ALWAYS have it in your ato to keep up with it constantly. Versus a single isolated adjustment upward.


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[foredababy]

Originally Posted by Bpb

I think some people are misinterpreting the question as asking if you do a regular maintenance dose through an ato. Like as in do you ALWAYS have it in your ato to keep up with it constantly. Versus a single isolated adjustment upward.


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Either really. I've been putting small amounts in every time to keep at constant as possible.

[nereefpat]

Originally Posted by foredababy

While we are on the subject of magnesium, can anyone explain why you would use magnesium sulfate or magnesium chloride or both?

There is more Cl- in natural seawater than SO4. If you used large amounts of Epsom salts (or even small amounts over a long period of time), you would have a buildup of sulfate.

Therefore, mag chloride seems to be the more widely used additive. Even better yet would be a combination of mostly MgCl and a little MgSO4.

[Bpb]

I've actually never had to maintain magnesium. I've had to bolus dose it up a couple hundred ppm maybe once a year. That's such a tiny amount that using a dedicated doser is an unnecessary expense for such a non issue.


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[foredababy]

Originally Posted by Bpb

I've actually never had to maintain magnesium. I've had to bolus dose it up a couple hundred ppm maybe once a year. That's such a tiny amount that using a dedicated doser is an unnecessary expense for such a non issue.


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Thanks for your input. I was dropping into 1000- 1100's after 4 weeks of not dosing magnesium. I like to keep it 1300-1400. I guess my testing could be off. I use Red Sea test kit for Mg2+

[outssider]

according to Randy, If you are dosing alk and calcium (not using a calcium reactor) the ideal dosing ratio of mag sulfate to mag chloride is 3/5.