2 Part From Bulk Reef Supply

[Jbottcher]

Hey all, im wondering about this 2 part starter kit i bought from bulkreefsupply.com

it comes with a packet or Ca, Alk, and Mg. mix it with RO water in a easy to use pump jug pretty simple idea. and fairly cheap

I undertstand Ca is important and Alkalinity is important. but they also include Magnesium, which i dont have a test kit for. so I havent added any yet. i really dont know what my Mg level is. My calcium is right about 490ppm, and Alk between 150-200 slowly increasing as i add my daily dose.

Im wondering what Mg does for the things in my tank, what levels i should try and maintain, and if your adding Mg with a 2 part or what...

any input in appreciated.

ttyl

[hansmatt]

you do need the Ca, but should test for it. It's especially important for some of the skeletons. I believe that 1200 is ball park. I think that two part says to add a certain volume of the MG for every volume of two part...so if you go through 1liter per month of 2 part, add 200 ml of mg (these numbers are not correct...only used as an example)...see their web for specific directions.

[schneijt]

I think Matt meant to put "Mg" instead of "Ca" right at the beginning. But yes, Mg is important in your tank and should be tested for. I use the 2-part dosing from BRS, and it works well. You get one gallon of Ca and Alk solution, and then roughly 20oz of Mg solution. They tell you that every time you go through a gallon of the 2-part, add the 20oz of Mg. Alternately, they tell you that you can dose the 20oz over the course of the gallon of 2-part, which is what I do. I just kind of eyeball it.

-Joe

[hansmatt]

thanks joe...I knew the relative amounts...but don't want to get it 200% wrong!
m

[Jbottcher]

thanks.

[DwightKeenan]

I have always mixed my own two part using baking soda, prestone driveway heat and epson salts. I am a beleiver that if done right and dosed everything night it makes a huge diff for the tank.

Dose fora few days and then test, it takes a little while to tweak the dosing to get it right.

[Jrmass]

Interesting... You are the first person I've ever heard of using that combo... I heard of the Epson Salt and the Baking Soda... Never the driveway salt lol...

Mind sharing your mixing ratio?

[hansmatt]

yeah, it's the "heat" brand I belive...I think Brian P sent his wife up to the twin cities once for half a pallet...bunch...suprised he survived that one

[Afish4u]

red sea makes a test kit for the mag. I use to follow this alot. I run the 2-part c balance. This has all mentioned above. But I sometimes do add a little extra mg. I have a huge bottle of it and adding more didn't seem to hurt anything..... this is when I was ontop of everything.

[DwightKeenan]

Here is the site with the instructions and everything. I would say before taking my tank down a month ago, I have been using it for two years.

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

[Jrmass]

Much appreciated Dwight. So, when is your surgery actually taking place? Or have you already had it done?

Jason

[DwightKeenan]

Surgery is at 8:00 this mrorning.

[psulion3]

Good luck with the surgery

[pogodzib]

Originally Posted by hansmatt

yeah, it's the "heat" brand I belive...I think Brian P sent his wife up to the twin cities once for half a pallet...bunch...suprised he survived that one

Yes, I had my wife pick up a bag of Magflake up in the Twin Cities once. I also use the homemade two part solution provided in the link earlier, using Dowflake, Magflake, Baking Soda, and Epson salt. I also test for Ca, Mg, and Alk so I don't need to guess how much Mg to add.