using epson salt for mag increase

[hottielover14]

i've heard other people in the forums talking about that they use epson salt to increase the mag levels. How do u use it and does it work. how much do u have to use. does it increase it quickly. Does it harm the reef. Can u overdose on it and OD on mag. what would happen.

[amcarrig]

I use E. Salts for mag and find that it works quite well. The amount that you use will depend on your magnesium levels. It does not harm the reef and it works quick. If you don't have a sump, you will want to dissolve the salts in r.o. water before adding it to your tank. You can pretty much o.d. on any supplements so don't add unless you test. I hardly ever have to add mag to my 90 gallon reef but I don't have any macro algaes in my system to take it out of the water.

[GraviT]

After reading this:
http://ozreef.org/content/view/24/29/

I'm thinking about just buying a suppliment. Sounds like a pain in the arse!

[amcarrig]

I can't read all that I'm going to tell you what I do but I don't expect anyone to follow my regimine because everybody's tank/water is different.

If, and that's a big IF, my mag is low, I add a small Solo cup (the kind that you get dipping sauces and the like in) of epsom salts. I let the tank sit for 24 hours then I test the mag again. If it needs more, I add another Solo cup

[GraviT]

Hrmm, I may give your method a try. The dosing I'm doing now is only bringing the mag up at 5 mg/l intervals, and it will take weeks to get it right at this rate! The balancing act is driving me crazy right now, dose mag and the alk/ph went down. Dose alk and the mag went back down...maybe I can take the salt lick from my gerbil's cage and dunk it in the tank along with a gallon of milk! J/k

[JohnO]

The dosing rate is simply: to increase the magnesium concentration by 100 ppm, add 1 gram of Epsom Salt per litre of water.

John :-)

[GraviT]

Is it safe to be that aggressive? I've read not to exceed 25 ppm a day.

[GraviT]

Ack! Just measured this out and thats a whole heck of a lot of epsom!! That is over 8oz (246 grams) per dose, and I need about 3 of them.

[JohnO]

I'd aim at raising by 50ppm per day max.

OK, I am a dismal failure at most thing mathematical but here goes :-)

As a base let's work on the 50ppm

one gallon (g)= 3.785 litres *
one oz (o) = 28.41 grams

So for example for 50 gallons of water you would add about 3.4 grams to raise the Mag by 50ppm

Please check my calculations and if right the
following reckoner might help.

Gal * * Oz
10 * * *0.67
20 * * *1.33
30 * * *2.00
40 * * *2.66
50 * * *3.33
60 * * *4.00
70 * * *4.66


John

[GraviT]

Ok, I estimate that between the tank and oversized sump, I should have about 65 gallons. I'll give it a try!

Thanks