Picked up budget MgCl and CaCl at Meijer store!...

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Todd_Sails, Jan 8, 2016.

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  1. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    So, Most of us have read the 'ol Randy Holmes Farley article on dosing, the big 3, and was to come up
    with the solutions/concentrations to make your own solutions- or you can buy pre-make ones.

    But buying premade doesn't work well for me though.
    I've been DIY ing my solutions, using Arm and Hammer; and BRS products.

    I've been using Bulk Baking soda for my Alk dosing the last 4 months via my
    Jason special Jaebo dosing pump- working better than expected!

    I read the other options for DIY dosing solutions from RHF article,
    So today I stumbled on a ~ 97% MgCL- in an Ice melter;
    AND, a high grade CaCl product as well- also an Ice melter.

    I got each one on sale in a nice plastic jug- 9.5 lbs. each! for ~ $7!
    ( MY BRS MgCl- only 6 lbs. was over $21!)

    [​IMG]

    The Meijer product- the MgCl;
    The Preston product is the CaCl - this was on sale for the same price as the Meijer one.

    I do understand that it may contain some toxins- I'm willing to take that chance on how
    good and seemingly pure these products appear to be.

    I'm only dosing small amounts, with a larger water volume- I think I'll be fine
    I did look up the MSDS of the Prestone product- no real suprises here

    Looking online; I realize I could have had a much better deal buying 20-50 lb. bags.
    I'm still happy
     
    kornaco40B likes this.
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  3. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    OK, chnaged the title of the thread/OP

    On my local/regional board- they're all about - oh, it's not worth the risk, yadda, yadda, yadda

    Well, to me it is. Anytime I can make a substantial savings- I do it.
    That's all the really keeps me in this hobby anyways- otherwise, I couldn't afford it
     
    kornaco40B likes this.
  4. kornaco40B

    kornaco40B Spaghetti Worm

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    I'm all for it, Todd. Finding replacement prods for a fraction of the price is win-win! I get that happy feeling finding deals too at Dollar Tree, etc. -- So, wondering if there's a simple way to test the prods before using them?
     
  5. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Oh, I forgot to add the paret about the Epsom Salts in the Mg mixture!!

    Here's the section on it from the RHF article:

    'Dissolve Epsom salts (3 cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate sold by the Dead Sea Works company (5 cups) in enough purified freshwater to make 1 gallon total volume. There will likely be a precipitate that forms even if you fully dissolve both ingredients separately. That precipitate is calcium sulfate (calcium as an impurity in the magnesium chloride and sulfate from the Epsom salts). It is fine and appropriate to dose the precipitate along with the remainder of the fluid by shaking it up before dosing.'

    So along with the other DIY's, I buy Epsom salts- MgSo4 in large bags at walmart-
    it says on the label it is used for human consumption also as a laxative- good enough.
     
    SkyFire likes this.
  6. SkyFire

    SkyFire Clown Trigger

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    Interesting, I love finding a cheaper way of doing things, especially for the reef as it's a pricey, pretty lil profit sinkhole (say that 3 times fast...he he he).