Magnesium Chloride group order?

jeffbrig

jeffbrig

Premium Member
I've been reading some of Randy Holmes-Farley's articles on DIY reef cal/alk supplements (calcium chloride and baking/washing soda), and he recently added a third supplement for maintaining magnesium. It's basically a mix of epsom salt (readily available) and magnesium chloride (not as readily available). The blend is superior to dosing straight epsom salt, which tends to elevate sulfate levels.

The good thing is, magnesium chloride is inexpensive, and is sold up north as a de-icer. A 50 lb. bag can be at your door for $50 including shipping (less if ordering 5 or more bags), but that's an insane amount of magnesium salts for one person, IMO.

So, I'm exploring the option of splitting an order with some locals. Or, if anyone's already sitting on a stash, if they'd be willing to sell me a smaller amount. My magnesium is running about 1080ppm right now, and with a 250g tank, I'm looking at $30-$35 to buy enough of an off-the-shelf magnesium supplement to raise it to 1250ppm.

Here's the site someone recommended for ordering MgCl:
http://www.snomelt.com/pricemag.htm

-Jeff
 
Rogger,

Here's the link to Randy's article
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php


Dissolve Epsom salts (3 cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate sold by the Dead Sea Works company (5 cups) in enough purified freshwater to make 1 gallon total volume. This solution is added much less frequently than the other two parts. Each time you finish adding a gallon of both parts of Recipe #1, add 610 mL (2 Ã"šÃ‚½ cups) of this stock solution. You can add it all at once or over time as you choose, depending on the aquarium's size and set up. Add it to a high flow area, preferably a sump. In a very small aquarium, or one without a sump, I suggest adding it slowly.

The first time it's added, I recommend adding just a small portion and making sure there isn't any problem (such as corals closing up due to stress) before adding the remainder. Make sure corals and other organisms don't get blasted with locally high concentrations of the main ingredients or impurities, or else they may become stressed. This solution contains about 47,000 ppm magnesium, 70,000 ppm sulfate and 86,000 ppm chloride.
Click to expand...


Also, the first Ebay auction is 500g for $35. That works out to about $30/lb, compared to $1/lb in bulk.

The 2nd one is 32 oz. of liquid magnesium supplement, I'm willing to bet it's very close (if not identical) to Randy's recipe.
 
I started dosing Randy's Magnesium formula into my tank about 3 month back. I've gone through about a gallon. This stuff gets used up quick! I could use half a bag.
 
Ok, so far that's
jeffbrig: 1 bag (on Chris' recommendation, I'll get a full bag for myself)
Treeman: 1 bag
chrisaggie: 1/2 bag
Flamehawk: 1/2 bag

That's 3 bags worth.

If we get that up to 4 bags, the price drops to $37.50/bag. If we can't get enough people for that, I recommend we place separate orders, to save ourselves the headache of distributing it.

Anyone else want to join in? I'm not in a huge rush, we could give this several days for others to sign up.
 
I'll take two bags. Or two and a half if that works for everybody. If you want it can be delivered to my office. Somebody is here 5 days a week, 7:30 - 4:30.

Matt
 
Matt, that's a great idea, thanks for offering! Since it ships freight, you're probably better set up to receive it. :D

We have 2.5 bags for everyone else, plus whatever you ultimately decide on for yourself (another 2.5?).

I'm also going to propose that we round the "prices" to an even $40 a bag, and $20 for a half bag. That will make things easier when everyone picks theirs up from Matt's place.
 
Just send me the info and I can order it or you can order it and I will give you my address. Let me know.
 
Way cool, Jeff.... :)

Btw, found your forum. I'd ask for a bag, but I got mine a couple days ago. It's the right stuff and everything! :)
 
The 5 bags were delivered yesterday. PM me or just post here when you want to come. I have some bags so I can split the 1/2 bags.
 
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