Magnesium Question

[Sculpin]

I use magnesium in crystal form and the instructions say to mix with water before adding to the tank. I'm assuming that's so the crystals aren't added to the main tank in solid form and risk landing on a coral and burning it or something. Would it be ok to add the dry crystals to my sump without first mixing with fresh water, in a section with no risk of having crystals getting pumped back into the main tank before they have dissolved? Or is mixing the crystals with fresh water part of some activation process that won't happen properly if mixed with salt water?

Thanks, Sculpin

 

[NC2WA]

is this a two part mix? if not, what brand of Mg is it?

 

[trido]

I add handfuls of Mg flake to my very large sump quite often. Not only is it recommended to dissolve additives for the reason you stated but also so you can accurately measure how much your adding to the tank. This is assuming that your adding two part like NC2WA was asking.

 

[mojoreef]

The concept their is that in order for the mag to work in the reef tank they need to be in a dissolved state, so if their are in a solid state they wont do what you want them to do. So what we are looking to do with the addition of Mag. (beyond keep our chemistry in order) is to have it protect our Calcium so that the alkalinity just doesnt bond with the calcium ion and drop out of solution. If we just through the crystals in it will do the job but just to the water that passes it by while it dissolves, if you dissolve it in fresh water you kind of make sure it doesnt bond up prior and then when it goes in its fully dissolved and ready to cover a much broader area of water volume.

So its not the end of the world to dump it in the sump but far more ineffective to do it that way?? make sense?

Mike