2 part doseing

[Palmer]

I use Randy's two part as well. Have used it for 3 years with baking soda right out of the box and for calcium I use dow flake which is dirt cheap something like $25 for a 40 Ib bag. For mag I use epsom salts.

[MMAX]

Originally Posted by Palmer

I use Randy's two part as well. Have used it for 3 years with baking soda right out of the box and for calcium I use dow flake which is dirt cheap something like $25 for a 40 Ib bag. For mag I use epsom salts.

Don't know if I'd trust the Dowflake, heard of some disasterous results using it. I use all pharmaceutical grade chemicals for dosing.

[Reef Pilot]

For Ca, I dose SeaChem Advantage Calcium during the day. And for KH, I dose SeaChem Reef Buffer at night.

[Baldy]

Originally Posted by MMAX

Don't know if I'd trust the Dowflake, heard of some disasterous results using it. I use all pharmaceutical grade chemicals for dosing.

Thats the reason i went with BRS stuff. its also cheap. For my 75 itll take me about 3 years to go through the half gallon containers of each, and i think theyre about $13 for each. even if i was keeping a lot of sps and had higher demand for each, id probably still be using it.

[Whiston]

Originally Posted by Palmer

I use Randy's two part as well. Have used it for 3 years with baking soda right out of the box and for calcium I use dow flake which is dirt cheap something like $25 for a 40 Ib bag. For mag I use epsom salts.

Not only is the dowflake possibly a concern, but exclusively using epsom salts for magnesium can lead to rapid sulphate imbalances. It is generally recommended to use a mix of epsom salts and magnesium chloride.

[MMAX]

Originally Posted by Whiston

Not only is the dowflake possibly a concern, but exclusively using epsom salts for magnesium can lead to rapid sulphate imbalances. It is generally recommended to use a mix of epsom salts and magnesium chloride.

Yep, you need them both.

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by MMAX

Yep, you need them both.

Why would you need both? Dont they disassociate into Mg, Cl, So4, either way? I think I have enough Cl ions in my NaCl?

[MMAX]

Originally Posted by Palmer

Why would you need both? Dont they disassociate into Mg, Cl, So4, either way? I think I have enough Cl ions in my NaCl?

Just brushed up on my reading again on Randy Holmes-Farley's dosing methods. You could go either way with your Mg. Plain epsom salts (MgSO4) or both MgSO4 and MgCl2.

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by Whiston

Not only is the dowflake possibly a concern, but exclusively using epsom salts for magnesium can lead to rapid sulphate imbalances. It is generally recommended to use a mix of epsom salts and magnesium chloride.

Initially there were concerns when they changed their formula but I checked into it years ago and I believe those concerns were primarily laid to rest. I have used it with great success and I am dosing heavy for SPS and have been for years now. Same with the epsom salts.