The water first

Originally Posted by spinycheek

Mag is pretty low. I'd suggest buying some Epsom salt at the pharmacy (about $3 a bag) and using a dosing calculator to determine how much to add. This will eliminate any spontaneous calcium/mag precipitation, also check heaters and such, hot surfaces will attract calcium and alk and coat themselves with it (lime/scale). But you cannot bring your calcium or alkalinity up long term until sufficient magnesium is present to hold it there.

I saw a three part mix that used Epsom salt. Makes me a little nervous though, so the question is outside of the calculator is there anything special I should do to the Epsom salt before adding it. You know mix so much w/ so much RO water that type of thing?

Epsom salts will raise sulfates, which is why RFH's recipe calls for Magnesium Chloride as well. But for a short term adjustment? Works fine.

Make sure you get the plain epsom salts, not the 'scented' salts or 'bath' salts. You know it's pharmaceutical grade / pure when there's a recipe on the bag for using them as a laxative.

Cool beans, I'll try it tomorrow w/ a WC on hand just in case my tank doesn't like it.

Mix the amount needed from the calculator into some RO/DI, then slowly pour into your sump.. as long as you don't pour it directly into your tank, I've never had any problems with it.

I usually do keep some kent tech-m on hand, though, for small adjustments. Just easier to dose, not that it's that much better.

Originally Posted by Ashlar

Mix the amount needed from the calculator into some RO/DI, then slowly pour into your sump.. as long as you don't pour it directly into your tank, I've never had any problems with it.

I usually do keep some kent tech-m on hand, though, for small adjustments. Just easier to dose, not that it's that much better.

Thanks I have a dosser all set up, too slow dose everything into my system.

What do you guys think is a good # for the Mag. Mine is at 1450 right now, I think that's an okay # though I'm thinking I could push it a little higher. Either way it should be high enough to stabilize the ALK right? The ALK is at 7 before dosing and the dose I added should bring it to 8. I think I'm going to try adding another dose tonight to bring it a little higher.

that's as high as I would go unless I was killing something off. Just for a regular reef tank, it's perfect.

Originally Posted by rgrking

that's as high as I would go unless I was killing something off. Just for a regular reef tank, it's perfect.

I was going to try killing off the hair algae by raising it a little higher

just do it slowly. I've heard of people going up to 1600 for that purpose.