Mag Flakes - bath & foot safe to use?

[Willito]

I do 25% monthly water changes using IO salt on a 560 gallon and having to boost magnesium significantly. It’s costly so I am looking for alternatives to BRS Mag. Found some on Amazon labelled as “Mag Flakes - Dead Sea Bath & Foot Soak”. Would this be considered as food or pharmaceutical grade and safe to use to make large adjustments? I typically add 12-15 cups to my 140g of make up water to get it in ideal range.

Please let me know your thoughts on this product….it’s half the price of BRS where I live

Amazon product ASIN B084HLHHWJ

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not know if it is adequately pure or not, but it may be.

 

[Willito]

Assuming it’s not pure, what would likely be the most relevant concerns if I am adding 12-15 cups to 140g ?

Would you consider this product to be equivalent to Dead Sea Works Mag Flake?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ammonia is a common problem in magnesium chloride. If that’s the issue, using just a little each day rather than in big gulps is likely ok.

I am not sure what else may be there. I have more confidence in products from the Dead Sea Works than random other sources. They published a detailed analysis years ago.

 

[Willito]

Thanks for the advice Randy. I will continue on searching for something similar to Dead Sea Works due to the amount I have to supplement every month.

Anyone in Canada knows where to purchase Mag Flakes for Dead Sea Works, or alike?

 

[Willito]

I found this, made by Dead Sea Works. I am not knowledgeable on chemistry, would you be able to tell me if any of the elements on the data sheet is toxic to our reef?

https://settlerssupplies.ca/product...Th2n_1b280KkjzzQdaXJ9bar_81aI6GLIxuHmoG95LAe8

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, that’s the one that should be ok. I used it for years.

 

[Willito]

Right on, thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome.

Let us know how it works out!

 

[Willito]

Before I proceed to purchase 2-3 bags of it to last 3-4 years, do you think it can be stored in its original packaging for that duration without clumping?

Thinking of transferring a whole bag into a IO salt bucket and scooping from there. Hopefully sealing it this way is good enough to prevent it from clumping as it gets used over a period of a year.

How did you store your Mag Flakes when you had it, and what was your experience with clumping?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It may clump, but that does not make it unusable. Mine did clump, and when I needed some, I broke out chunks. Sealing it in salt buckets may help, and unopened bags may stay unclumped much longer.

 

[Willito]

Can I assuming the mixing recipe would be identical to BRS product, and both products would yield the same concentration?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you base the recipe on mass, it is identical. The basis is 64 total ounces per gallon, or 8 total cups per gallon. BRS uses my recipe and may have changed the volume slightly if their material was more or less fluffy than this one.