Epsom salts?

[briang]

My mag. is low and I ran out of Mag. Flake so I looked on the site, "Chemistry Reef Calculator" and it shows Epsom Salts. Does anyone use this? If it is a good product, at least I can get it today at a drug store and I wouldn't have to wait for shipping.

 

[UncleJT]

I prefer mixing epsom salt with magnesium chloride hexahydrate per Randy's recipes. However, in a pinch, epsom salt alone can be used. 8 cups (64 oz.) of epsom salt makes 1G of solution.

 

[delta]

You can use it but it will boost your sulfate levels.

Here are a few article on it.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

 

[briang]

I prefer mixing epsom salt with magnesium chloride hexahydrate per Randy's recipes. However, in a pinch, epsom salt alone can be used. 8 cups (64 oz.) of epsom salt makes 1G of solution.

My mag. is fairly low so I guess I'm in a pinch. Thanks for the reply, Brian

 

[briang]

You can use it but it will boost your sulfate levels.

Here are a few article on it.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

Very interesting , Thanks

 

[UncleJT]

You can use it but it will boost your sulfate levels.

Yeah, I should have mentioned this. The solution made from 8 cups epsom salts alone contains about 47,000 ppm magnesium, 70,000 ppm sulfate and 86,000 ppm chloride.

 

[JeremyR]

While people talk about sulfate levels, I've never seen any hard evidence it ever becomes a problem with occasional epsom salt use.

 

[jrmx635]

epsom salt

I used 8 pounds of epsom salts in my tank in about 3 days of dosing.
I never seen any noticable impact.
I have used it from time to time to maintain and still had no problems.
It will save you alot of money if you have a large tank.