Chemistry Question

[Tonyscoots84]

I have a question about the magnesium portion of randys 3 part...

instead of using 3 cups of epsom salt and 5 cups of magflake could i just use a total of 8 cups of magflake alone.. i have so much magflake and no epsom salt...

thanks guys

 

[yeahcheetah]

Is one MgCl2 and the other one MgSO4? I think I came across some article saying pure MgCl2 is OK.

 

[meschaefer]

I think you probably need to go back to his original article, or post in his forum on RC. If I remember correctly he says that you could use just Epsom salt but that it might result in an imbalance over time, I do not recall a discussion on only using MagFlake.

That being said, Epsom salt is really easy to get. Walk into any drug store.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

well i guess i have to experiment for myself... i used 8 cups of magflake which i know for sure is a higher ppm then using 3 cups of epsom and 5 cups of mag.. we will see how it works out..

 

[loismustdie]

Tony, after the first week of using randy 2 part (all 3 parts of it), I never had to use the Mg portion (part 3) again. I'm sending some stuff out to Nick. I'll send you my unused part 3 along with the remainder of my Epsom salt if that will help you.
If I was in this situation, I would probably go to the closest drug store and buy a half gallon of Epsom salt for around $2. If I couldn't possibly make this happen, I would go to the LFS and get the smallest bottle of Kent Marine Mg for around $15. If that wasn't possible either, I might try to push the upper limits of the Ca and Alk portions of part 1 and 2 to see if I can lift my Mg, but before that, I would probably take me up on my offer.

I see no need to experiment on a tank that is stocked. Your friends are here to help.

 

[yeahcheetah]

I think you probably need to go back to his original article, or post in his forum on RC. If I remember correctly he says that you could use just Epsom salt but that it might result in an imbalance over time, I do not recall a discussion on only using MagFlake.

That being said, Epsom salt is really easy to get. Walk into any drug store.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

This article says the opposite. I personally used neither. I don't like Epsom since the raise in SO4(2-) may induce some sulfuric bacteria growth. I didn't use MagFlake because it may contain ammonia. I ended up getting a bottle of MgCl2.6H2O from a lab chemical supplier, purity >99.5%, just to make myself comfortable.

 

[meschaefer]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

This article says the opposite....

Actually, it doesn't.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

our tanks should be able to convert the ammonia to nitrate (if there really is ammonia in magflake) if it is established no?

 

[meschaefer]

our tanks should be able to convert the ammonia to nitrate (if there really is ammonia in magflake) if it is established no?

That would depend on how much ammonia there is. RHF insinuates that the amount of ammonia is some brands of magnesium chloride deicer may have levels that could be detrimental to our tanks and that is why he specifically recommends Magflake. There is a further caveat in that the manufacturerf Magflake wont guarantee it can be provided at a "suitable quality going forward"

 

[yeahcheetah]

IIf I remember correctly he says that you could use just Epsom salt but that it might result in an imbalance over time, I do not recall a discussion on only using MagFlake.

Actually, it doesn't.

Well, maybe I should see the article that you've read, just to listen to some different opinions. The one on RK clearly says too much Epsom can throw off the sulfate level whereas MagFlake causes less imbalance because there is already a lot of chloride in sea water. So the author recommended 10:1 ratio of MagFlake to Epsom to maintain the natural proportion of these two anions. With that said, using pure either is not the optimal way of dosing, but at least pure MagFlake causes much less chemical imbalance than Epsom.

Maybe I should correct my words to "This article suggests the opposite". My bad.

 

[meschaefer]

It's not a difference in opinion, both articles are written by Randy Holmes Farley. I stated that using only epson salt could result in an imbalance, i.e. it will "throw off sulfate levels". I guess there could be disagreement over my use of the term "imbalance" in this context,as it applies to sulfates.

The article on his version of two part (three part) does not discuss using only magflake, I had read the article on magnesium supplements but "did not recall" the portion about using only magflake.