Turbo Calcium

[Beverly]

Steve,

I'm pretty sure epsom salts are Mg sulphate (or sulfate, can never remember which), not Mg chloride.

reeferaddict,

With the amount of epsom salts needed to maintain Mg over long periods of time, sulphate (or sulfate) in the tank will go out of whack much more quickly than chloride would if using Ca chloride.

I certainly agree with both of you that dripping kalk to help maintain alk and Ca, then use a Ca additive to top up levels when it is required. Mg, on the other hand, is not a component in kalk to any significant degree, and would have to be added in much larger doses than Ca ever would.

Using a Ca reactor with the right media would probably solve a lot of chemistry problems, but I'm never going to have one, and many others are likely in the same boat as I'm in. As a result, I drip kalk nightly and adjust alk, Ca and Mg every week or two, though I should be more consistent and do it weeklly.

FWIW, here's the DIY additives article....

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

[blaster]

beverly,do you use randy's recipe and does it work good for you?

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by blaster

beverly,do you use randy's recipe and does it work good for you?

For the most part, no, I don't use Randy's recipes. Already spend lots of time working with the chemistry of my tanks.
I do use baking soda and "baked" baking soda for alk, though. But don't know where to find most of the products he talks about, and don't want to spend the time finding out.

I pretty much use Kent's additives, but after the Kent salt fiasco, I'm not sure if I want to continue using their products at all. Am kind of looking around for alternative brands of additives. Any input would be great.

[RonPeter]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Am kind of looking around for alternative brands of additives. Any input would be great.

What about Seachem products? I have never used them, always Kent.

[Beverly]

Ron,

Have asked this question on RC's chemistry forum and Randy replied with the following threads and articles....

"The new Seachem salt mix is seemingly a big improvement over the old Seachem mix, which had greatly elevated borate:

The Composition Of Several Synthetic Seawater Mixes
http://web.archive.org/web/200012150.../1/default.asp

Boron in a Reef Tank
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2002/chem.htm

The new Seachem mix is lower, but still has higher than NSW borate (apparently).

I've battled the Seachem folks here in this forum on their borate alkalinity kit, which I do not recommend:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=756622

The Seachem Borate Alkalinity Test Kit
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...e2003/chem.htm

Finally, Phosguard releases aluminum:

Aluminum and aluminum-based phosphate binders
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...y2003/chem.htm

and a follow up discussion with Seachem about it and some new data:

New Aluminum Release Data for Phosguard
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=219105"

Have read a few of the articles and threads, but not all of them yet. Was thinking about Seachem products as an alternative to Kent's, but now I'm not so sure.

Folks on RC's thread about Kent's low alk have been talking up a storm about Tropic Marin salt, but don't know what other products they produce. If you haven't already read it, here's RC's continuing thread on the low alk Kent salt issue for further info....

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1