Randy & Reef2Reef Community,
I came across your gem of an article on reefkeeping.com. (This one) I feel that I have digested it after reading numerous times and I am really looking forward to starting this process.
My question is specific to the magnesium dosing. The article says to dose 2.5 cups after dosing 1 gallon of each of the parts 1&2. If the magnesium is needed to prevent calcium and carbonate precipitating to calcium carbonate, why do we not dose the magnesium along with the other parts at a rate of 7.8% to both calc and alk, instead of waiting to dump in 591 ml at once?
I ask because I'm lazy and want to prevent as much calcium carbonate build up as possible inside the tank!
I would think that if the biology in the tank was consuming the magnesium while we are also dosing calc and alk, that we would want to steadily dose the mag to ensure that the water has a constant level of mag to prevent calcium carbonate.
It seems that everything else we dose we do at a steady rate over time in order to prevent swings in nutrients. Why is it different in the case of magnesium?
Cups
2.5 cups Mag, 16 cups calc, 16 cups alk = 1.25/16 7.8% Mag to part 1&2
ML
591.25 ml Mag, 3,784 ml Calc, 3,784 ml Alk = 591.25/7,568 = 7.8% Mag to part 1&2
Looking forward to your feedback on this! Thanks,
I came across your gem of an article on reefkeeping.com. (This one) I feel that I have digested it after reading numerous times and I am really looking forward to starting this process.
My question is specific to the magnesium dosing. The article says to dose 2.5 cups after dosing 1 gallon of each of the parts 1&2. If the magnesium is needed to prevent calcium and carbonate precipitating to calcium carbonate, why do we not dose the magnesium along with the other parts at a rate of 7.8% to both calc and alk, instead of waiting to dump in 591 ml at once?
I ask because I'm lazy and want to prevent as much calcium carbonate build up as possible inside the tank!
I would think that if the biology in the tank was consuming the magnesium while we are also dosing calc and alk, that we would want to steadily dose the mag to ensure that the water has a constant level of mag to prevent calcium carbonate.
It seems that everything else we dose we do at a steady rate over time in order to prevent swings in nutrients. Why is it different in the case of magnesium?
Cups
2.5 cups Mag, 16 cups calc, 16 cups alk = 1.25/16 7.8% Mag to part 1&2
ML
591.25 ml Mag, 3,784 ml Calc, 3,784 ml Alk = 591.25/7,568 = 7.8% Mag to part 1&2
Looking forward to your feedback on this! Thanks,