magnesium chloride and epsom mix

[GSnake]

I made some mix from randys diy recipe today. after settling there is a foam like white solution in the bottom of the bottle, its distinct from the clear solution above it. is this all the same when dosing? cause my line usually goes to the bottom of the bottle... .or do we only want the clear stuff - like we do when dosing kalk.

what about the calc chloride solution? is it the same? I have yet to mix it myself -using old powder first

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There should be nothing but some trace undissolved solid deposits left.

Do you have a link or name for the exact products used?

Can you get a picture of the "foam"?

 

[GSnake]

I don't have link or pic of the mag bag, but it's mag flakes just like the picture in recipe.

It's more like a thick white liquid.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There is sometimes white precipitate of calcium sulfate when you mix these two materials, from impurity calcium in the mag chloride, even when both are clear to start with. It can be pretty fluffy and I suspect that is what you are seeing. It can be ignored and dosed or not. It is only a minor amount even though it looks substantial, and it will dissolve in the tank water when dosed (if you dose it, letting it settle out is also fine).

 

[GSnake]

Just an update, I made a bigger mag reservoir, and the white fluffy stuff looks brown after a few months. Probably still safe but right, but not sure of the colour change. I guess the impurities just stratified and settled out better. I've been just dosing the clear liquid anyway. Does the mix usually look like this.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The color would be traces of metal impurities such as iron. I wouldn't worry about the color.