Do you/Would you use MgCl/CaCl from de icing products?

[MidwesternTexan]

So, Most of us have read the 'ol Randy Holmes Farley article on dosing, the big 3, and was to come up
with the solutions/concentrations to make your own solutions- or you can buy pre-make ones.

But buying premade doesn't work well for me though.
I've been DIY ing my solutions, using Arm and Hammer; and BRS products.

I've been using Bulk Baking soda for my Alk dosing the last 4 months via my
Jason special Jaebo dosing pump- working better than expected!

I read the other options for DIY dosing solutions from RHF article,
So today I stumbled on a ~ 97% MgCL- in an Ice melter;
AND, a high grade CaCl product as well- also an Ice melter.

I got each one on sale in a nice plastic jug- 9.5 lbs. each! for ~ $7!
( MY BRS MgCl- only 6 lbs. was over $21!)



The Meijer product- the MgCl;
The Preston product is the CaCl - this was on sale for the same price as the Meijer one.

I do understand that it may contain some toxins- I'm willing to take that chance on how
good and seemingly pure these products appear to be.

I'm only dosing small amounts, with a larger water volume- I think I'll be fine
I did look up the MSDS of the Prestone product- no real suprises here

Looking online; I realize I could have had a much better deal buying 20-50 lb. bags.
I'm still happy

 

[MidwesternTexan]

My local/regional forum basically says- it's not worth the risk

Anytime I can substantially save, I do it.

I could not afford to 'retail' what I currently have.

Here's my DT



I run these products through my internally controlled DP4 dosing pump to my sump

 

[laga77]

Although I am sure the chemicals are the same, it is the storage of these containers that scare me. When you buy chemicals from a pet supply, you should be somewhat confident that they were stored accordingly seeing that they are going in someones tank. When buying chemicals from a hardware store no one cares what gets put next to or on top of these products. There could be any poisonous material that might have been knocked over and spilled and mixed in with the jugs. For the small amount of savings I don`t think it is worth the risk.

 

[C.Eymann]

I have used prestone driveway heat with no issues, granted this was 5 years ago so not sure if anything changed or not.

 

[dkeller_nc]

I won't personally use ice melter products, mainly because the amount of $$ I spend on Ca, Alk and Mg supplements per year is very small compared to the other things that I buy for the reef (like electricity!).

But when all of this became popular in the early 2000's, Dowflake calcium chloride ice melter was the go-too product.

What would worry me is the source of the MgCl and CaCl in those products. If production has recently switched to a "globalized" supply source, there's really no telling how pure it is.

 

[bertoni]

The Prestone product should be fine. That product was tested a long time ago, and seemed to be fine, although there's always some risk. The magnesium chloride product hasn't been tested. I would use either Mag Flake or buy one of the products from online aquarium vendors.

 

[heathlindner25]

Although I am sure the chemicals are the same, it is the storage of these containers that scare me. When you buy chemicals from a pet supply, you should be somewhat confident that they were stored accordingly seeing that they are going in someones tank. When buying chemicals from a hardware store no one cares what gets put next to or on top of these products. There could be any poisonous material that might have been knocked over and spilled and mixed in with the jugs. For the small amount of savings I don`t think it is worth the risk.

+1.... if your tank ever crashes it's one less variable you have to consider

 

[domvert]

I have been using prestone the last 5 months and everything is A ok. I was using calcium plus from Leslie pool before

 

[MidwesternTexan]

They came in sealed ~ 1 gallon jugs. No cross contamination from the shelf possible.

I did some research FWIW and they seem about as pure as the 'pet grade' items.

I've already started to use some of it. So far, so good.