Is it possible to mix the Magnesium Sulfate solution in with the Part 1 or Part 2?

[RobTheReefer]

Since we are mixing 8 cups of magnesium sulfate in with a total volume of 16 cups (1 gallon), each cup of the resulting solution contains 1/2 cup (dry) of magnesium sulfate. And since we are supposed to add 2 1/2 cups of this solution after each gallon of the "two part", couldn't we just mix 1 1/4 cups of dry magnesium sulfate (2 1/2 x 1/2) in with either the calcium chloride solution OR the sodium carbonate solution? That way, we could keep the magnesium levels stable and have one less thing to worry about?

If I had a 3 pump doser it wouldn't matter, but I have a two tube dosing pump from innovative aquatics: http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/products/lieutenant-2.html
(I'm not recommending this pump, though. The sodium carbonate solution ate through the tubing and failed in less than 3 weeks).

Anyway, I never took chemistry and don't know what will happen when mixing magnesium sulfate with either calcium chloride or sodium carbonate.

Anybody know?

 

[Du]

You can mix it with calcium chloride.

 

[Du]

ups, it's possible to gain undissolved calcium sulphate, so don't mix it together with part1 or 2.

sorry.

 

[bertoni]

I'm not a chemist, but that doesn't sound like a good idea, for the reason stated. You could consider using the newer DIY recipe:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

It uses inexpensive magnesium chloride, and so I don't think the third part is needed.

 

[DrBDC]

You need to keep them seperate or you will get precipitation.

 

[OracleOCA]

I use Randy's Recipe #1 and I dose all three parts daily according to your demand. I figured out the percentage of magnesium to the other two parts instead of having to dose 2.5 cups of part 3 at one time(after parts 1 & 2 are empty. The Mg ratio comes out to be 16% of parts 1 & 2. So, I dose the following for my tank (low demand) for 65 gallons total H2O volume:

19.5 ml Ca and Alk
3.12 ml Mg

I hope this helps. I though it was crazy to add all that Mg at once especially if you have pH/alkalinity problems. You will run out of the alk part first.

RobTheReefer:
According to my calculations and that you have 90 gallons mixed reef. You would need .5ml per gallon of parts 1 & 2 which equals 45ml (Ca and Alk) and 7.2ml of Mg daily. You can use a syringe of some type or a dosing bottle for your Mg.

 

[RobTheReefer]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll just keep adding the magnesium manually. At least the alk and calcium are automatic.