Epsom salt and salinity

[trent51593]

Originally Posted by Jason McKenzie

I think the main point that is not being heard is all these supplement manufactures are building there products from are the same chemicals commonly available to the average consumer. I've used Magnesium Sulfide and Chloride. On Tangster's advise I added Boraxo to my baking soda with great results.

If you don't feel comfortable doing this don't do it. But it works and is a lot cheaper.

BTW you want to hear stupid. I use RBS and get excellent levels of most parameters so daily dosing just isn't needed. (aside form a CA reactor) But it's very expensive

J

What ratio of borax to baking soda do you use, also whats the ratio of Mag. Sulfide to Mag. Chloride.

[R34dawn]

Originally Posted by trent51593

What ratio of borax to baking soda do you use, also whats the ratio of Mag. Sulfide to Mag. Chloride.

If you don't feel comfortable with the cheaper solution or have some serious doubts maybe is best for u to go with an additive that is got the proper dose already printed on the bottle label, might be not much of a difference in price anyway, not being sure in how, often, when, much, to add. and probably leading to disaster, I am sure there is many reef guru's that can tell you the right mixture ratio.

[amcarrig]

Originally Posted by wildreef

i would love to see them , links ?

Check out the video contest and the Show Off Your Fishtanks Forum

[Bogie]

4 parts Arm & Hammer to 1 part Borax.
And, Wildreef, I'm sure you've read, but doubt you understood what I wrote.

The concentration of Magnesium needed in our tanks 1300-1500 ppm, is much less than the concentration of epsom salt used for a foot bath. The Magnesium concentration (ppm) contributes less than 4% to the overall specific gravity of the water in our tanks.

Here's a quick picture:
A 100 gallon tank requires 50 cups of salt mix to bring the salinity to 33 ppt, with an SG of about 1.024.
This 100 gallon tank may only require 2 cups of epsom salt to bring the magnesium up to 1500 ppm (depending on which salt mix, ect...), and might raise the total SG to 1.025.

[Otty]

Heck I use the money I save on using common earth element to buy top of the line equipment to help maintain my tank. That way I have something to show for the money instead of an empty bottle with some nice printing on it... lol

[wildreef]

Originally Posted by Bogie

4 parts Arm & Hammer to 1 part Borax.
And, Wildreef, I'm sure you've read, but doubt you understood what I wrote.

The concentration of Magnesium needed in our tanks 1300-1500 ppm, is much less than the concentration of epsom salt used for a foot bath. The Magnesium concentration (ppm) contributes less than 4% to the overall specific gravity of the water in our tanks.

1st, what actualy is the purpose of *borax* ?
2nd, What are the "specific" ratio mixtures of borax/arm and hammer/epson salts ?
3rd, Whats the specific use/purpose of arm&hammer/borax ?
Are you guys mixing arm & hammer/borax together and then dosing epson salts on its own ?.
If you are dosing epson salts on a regular basis to bump your magnseium
then the 4% that you speak of will build up over time with *sulfide* not chlorides.
And to my knowledge *sulfide* can be detrimental to a tank used over time.
And if I/you guys used it only every so often to boost Mag. from time to time, then why not forgo the epson salt (mag sulfate) all together and use
mag chloride.

Edited: 4/1 ratio ok. ( specific purpose of this though please explain ? )

[trent51593]

Originally Posted by wildreef

1st, what actualy is the purpose of *borax* ?
2nd, What are the "specific" ratio mixtures of borax/arm and hammer/epson salts ?
3rd, Whats the specific use/purpose of arm&hammer/borax ?
Are you guys mixing arm & hammer/borax together and then dosing epson salts on its own ?.
If you are dosing epson salts on a regular basis to bump your magnseium
then the 4% that you speak of will build up over time with *sulfide* not chlorides.
And to my knowledge *sulfide* can be detrimental to a tank used over time.
And if I/you guys used it only every so often to boost Mag. from time to time, then why not forgo the epson salt (mag sulfate) all together and use
mag chloride.

Edited: 4/1 ratio ok. ( specific purpose of this though please explain ? )

The arm&hammer is for your alk and is dosed just to raise your alk. up if you need to.That does work, I use it to bump my alk up slightly if i need to, it worked for my freshwater also. Im still not sure on what the borax does but im sure it does some good (Tangster and many others use it).

The epsom salt is only dosed when you need to raise your mag. up to proper levels. From what i have read if you do reqular water changes then the sulfides dont have a chance to build up in your system. But i am no expert so maybe someone else will chime in and tell me if im wrong or not lol.

[geekdafied]

Read this about Mg....

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements
for the Reef Aquarium