Unmarked bags Mag Flake or Dow Flake???

[Leroy]

Two bags unmarked, one person says Dow the other says Mag as it's passed on. How am I going to be able to tell which is which? I'm not doing a taste test either........ugh.

Here's one thought I had, make a batch of salt water then test for Mag or Calc. I already have a 50lb bag of Dow, Feb 2005 but need Mag. I tried an RO mix but it's using up my test kit starting with Dow Flake. Suggestions??

 

[Dragon2115]

Exactly what you suggested. Mix up a small batch of water, add some of the mystery stuff and measure which one went up, MG or CA.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Another method is to dissolve some Epsom salts (if you have any handy) in water. A little Epsom salts in Dowflake solution will cause a lot of calcium sulfate precipitate. A little in MAG flake solution will only cause a little precipitate as calcium is present as a minor impurity in MAG flake.