Mag Mixing Question

[Skibi]

So I needed to make up some magnesium to dose to my tank so I followed 200g in 1000g of rodi water in a plastic 1gallon mixing container (brs). When I did the reaction was heat which i was expecting but alot of heat like to the point of melting the 1 gallon jug some should i not use the magnesium from this container with fear of leaching? Is it normal to produce this much heat? What would be a better way to make this solution up?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds like you used an anhydrous material? What did you use?

 

[Skibi]

Used brightwell Mag-p

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yep, it’s anhydrous and generates far more heat than the usual materials.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

the material you used is likely fine.

 

[Skibi]

Okay thank you! It had been a minute since I had made some up but didn't remember it doing this the last time lol

 

[Skibi]

Would it of been better to add a little at a time and mix in between?I kind of just dumped it all in at once and started to mix it.

 

[Coolcasino]

I use the same brand of mag. On the reef calculator its the most potent... doesn't require as much as the other brands... but still quite a bit. I use a 1000ml on a magnetic stirrer. I know what you mean when you say this thing melts. You can actually hear it sizzle when your adding to water. I haven't experienced this with other brands. I start with 200ml of cold RODI water add a tbs at a time until it gets kinda hot and then add some more cold RODI. I continue this until I have what I need to dose according to the calculator.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Yep, it’s anhydrous and generates far more heat than the usual materials.

What is used in your brs formula?

 

[Coolcasino]

I'm going to guess the opposite... hydrous compound. Maybe that why others don't sizzle as it contains water and Brightwell's Mag sizzle because it doesn't contain water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I use the same brand of mag. On the reef calculator its the most potent... doesn't require as much as the other brands... but still quite a bit. I use a 1000ml on a magnetic stirrer. I know what you mean when you say this thing melts. You can actually hear it sizzle when your adding to water. I haven't experienced this with other brands. I start with 200ml of cold RODI water add a tbs at a time until it gets kinda hot and then add some more cold RODI. I continue this until I have what I need to dose according to the calculator.

That's just because it is anhydrous (has no water in the crystal). Unless you pay by the gram, there's no benefit to being anhydrous and I cannot see any reason to use it. It takes extra effort and energy to make anhydrous magnesium chloride and sulfate from the typically produced hydrates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What is used in your brs formula?

Nearly all magnesium supplements, including my recipes that BRS uses, are hydrates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm going to guess the opposite... hydrous compound. Maybe that why others don't sizzle as it contains water and Brightwell's Mag sizzle because it doesn't contain water.

Right!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Would it of been better to add a little at a time and mix in between?I kind of just dumped it all in at once and started to mix it.

Yes, when making up solutions that get hot, slow mixing of a little solid at a time into a lot of water is the way to go.

 

[Skibi]

Thank you for all the information was very helpful!! Definitely going to be switching to BRS when i need to place and order. Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing.