De-Icer as MgCl2 source

[MikeS]

Hey Boomer

Winter in Wyoming, had to break out the sidewalk de-icer a few weeks ago...

It says it is 100% Magnesium Chloride-Hexahydrate... MgCl2 (6H2O)...can you explain the hexahydrate part to me, and tell me how this would differ from commercially available Mg suppliments? I use Seachem, it says it is Magnesium Sulfate and Sodium Chloride...

Would a de-icer like the one I described be useful or safe for use in the reef tank? I've read some of the threads at RC about it, but I thought I'd get your opinion on this stuff....

MikeS

 

[chris&barb]

is it dead sea works mag flake?

 

[MikeS]

It's called MeltDown, made by a company called Envirotech

MikeS

 

[Boomer]

Mike

See that 6H20 > That meana it has 6 molecules of water. Mag-Chloride often comes with water. Pure MgCl2 would have no water, which is called Magnesium Dichloride Anhydride or Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride.

Ok so what the hell does that mean ?


MgCl2 = 95.211 g/mol (Anhydrous)

MgCl2 (6H2O) = 203.31 g/mol (Hexahydrate)

So, if you had 1000 gr (= 2.2 lbs) of the Hexahydrate and 1000 gr of the Anhydrous.


Anhydrous = 24.3 g of MG++ and 70.9 g of choride, so the Mg ++ makes up 25 % of the stuff, with 75 % chloride.

Hexahydrate = 95.2 MgCl2 + 108 g of water = 203 g. So the Mg++ would = 12 % of the 1000g ( 1 kg or 2.2 lbs)

So by weight there will be lots of water. So when adding you would need more of the Hexa than the Anhy or about 2x more of the Hexa by weight to reach the same Mg++ level if you used teh Anhy.

But you do not have to worry, JD has taken care of that here in his calculator in the Mg drop down window, where you can select either one

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

Most seen to be safe that have been check but you should take a tsp of it and add it to a L of RO/DI and check for ammonia. Same if using MgCl2.

You also need to read this. As most Mag sups should have chloride and sulfate but you dont' have to. The sulfate is the worst of the two, as it accumulates at a much greater rate in time.

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

 

[MikeS]

Thanks Boomer

Mike

See that 6H20 > That meana it has 6 molecules of water. Mag-Chloride often comes with water. Pure MgCl2 would have no water, which is called Magnesium Dichloride Anhydride or Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride.

Ok so what the hell does that mean ?


MgCl2 = 95.211 g/mol (Anhydrous)

MgCl2 (6H2O) = 203.31 g/mol (Hexahydrate)

So, if you had 1000 gr (= 2.2 lbs) of the Hexahydrate and 1000 gr of the Anhydrous.


Anhydrous = 24.3 g of MG++ and 70.9 g of choride, so the Mg ++ makes up 25 % of the stuff, with 75 % chloride.

Hexahydrate = 95.2 MgCl2 + 108 g of water = 203 g. So the Mg++ would = 12 % of the 1000g ( 1 kg or 2.2 lbs)

So by weight there will be lots of water. So when adding you would need more of the Hexa than the Anhy or about 2x more of the Hexa by weight to reach the same Mg++ level if you used teh Anhy.

Yeah, that was pretty much what I thought, mostly water by weight...the molar equations BTW are lost on me...most of my time in Chemistry class in college was either spent trying to figure out how to get that cute co-ed sitting next to me (who had an "A" in the class compared to my "D") to go on a date, or when that didn't pan out, to at least tutor me on molar solutions and maybe go on a date later....:lol:

But you do not have to worry, JD has taken care of that here in his calculator in the Mg drop down window, where you can select either one

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

Got that one, been using a long time for Ca and Alk, I like the Mg option on there now...

Most seen to be safe that have been check but you should take a tsp of it and add it to a L of RO/DI and check for ammonia. Same if using MgCl2.

Will do....anything else I should be looking for with this kind of stuff?

You also need to read this. As most Mag sups should have chloride and sulfate but you dont' have to. The sulfate is the worst of the two, as it accumulates at a much greater rate in time.
Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

Yeah, read that one a while back...but been awhile...I'll read it again...

I've used pickling lime in the past, and I continue to use baking soda, so I'm not totally afraid of "alternative" suppliment sources, but something about De-Icer has always spooked me....

MikeS

 

[Boomer]

Nope, nothing to add Mike you look good

molar equations BTW are lost on me

I'll be easy on you :lol: Pretend a mole is a dozen and a dozen is always 12. So a mole has x ions/ atoms and the number is always the same just like a dozen. Thus, 12 blowing balls is just like a dozen apples but the bowling balls weigh more.

I mole = 6,020,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms/molecules/ bowling balls /apples etc., or 1 mole = 6.02^21 things. The MW of Calcium is 40, meaning 40 grams of Calcium has 1 mole of Calcium ions/atoms. 1 mole of water, H2O, has 2 mole of H and 1 mole of O . H = 1 gram x 2 ( has 2 H) = 2 grams and O = 16 grams, so 1 mole of water = weighs 18 grams ( 16 +2)

 

[IAP Brian]

JD is very nice to make such a handy and easy to use calculator for us, I love this one too !
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/volcalc.html

(especially since what I learned in trig, geometry and physics has long since left my brain capacity)

 

[MikeS]

I mole = 6,020,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms/molecules/ bowling balls /apples etc., or 1 mole = 6.02^21 things. The MW of Calcium is 40, meaning 40 grams of Calcium has 1 mole of Calcium ions/atoms. 1 mole of water, H2O, has 2 mole of H and 1 mole of O . H = 1 gram x 2 ( has 2 H) = 2 grams and O = 16 grams, so 1 mole of water = weighs 18 grams ( 16 +2)

Yeah, that cute co-ed told me something like that....but to my recollection it went more like this....

I mole = 6,020,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms/molecules/ bowling balls /apples etc., blah blah...." bowling balls? does she like to bowl? maybe I should ask her if she wants to go bowling and get a beer...." or 1 mole = 6.02^21 things. Blah Blah...."she mentioned apples too....hmmm....what the hell is that all about? Oh well....it will be worth failing Chemistry if I can hook up with this babe...."........

:lol:

MikeS

 

[reeftank1]

To funny Mike........I am still laughing....I remember something like that too.

Now I pay for it trying to learn from the guys who really paid attention...Thanks Boomer

 

[sryder]

mike check out reefvideos.com they have some dowflake that they use and show how to mix it. I was curious of how that worked as well. check it out and let me know what you think
steve

 

[Boomer]

A Boomer error It is 602 followed by 21 zero's.

I mole = 6,020,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms/molecules/ bowling balls /apples etc., or 1 mole = 6.02^21 things


is 602,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 6.02^23

 

[MikeS]

A Boomer error It is 602 followed by 21 zero's.

I mole = 6,020,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms/molecules/ bowling balls /apples etc., or 1 mole = 6.02^21 things


is 602,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 6.02^23

:lol: In one ear and out the other....I wonder if that gal still likes bowling and apples....I should look her up....:lol:

Thanks for the help Boomer...

MikeS

 

[Boomer]

Well gee Mike stick plug in your ear then. Don't just let it leak out

 

[MikeS]

Well gee Mike stick plug in your ear then. Don't just let it leak out

I'm trying Boomer, I'm trying....:lol: If that good looking co-ed who had my somewhat undivided attention couldn't get me to learn it...well....:lol:

MikeS