Mixing Aragonite media with Magnesium media in Calcium reactors.

[Ed Hahn]

Hello Boomer,
I am getting ready to reload my calcium reactor. I have been reading of people mixing media. I believe I heard 15 % Magnesium Media to Aragonite Media. I am wanting to use Shuran Media with Tropic Marin Magnesium Media if I can find it. If this a safe practice?
thanks in Advance,
Ed

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Tagging along. Filling a really large Koralin reacter this week.
Add other than just CaribSea A.R.M.?

 

[DonW]

Ed,

Its not going to hurt anything. I used the zeo stuff for awhile but honestly it was a waste of money. It really didnt keep up with my mg consumption. I really couldnt tell that it did much of anything.

Don

 

[VegasMike]

Ditto what Don said.

I have used it for a while, but I still end up having to add Mg. I think the Ph needs to be really low in the reactor to have any effect on the Mg granules.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Ditto what Don said.

I have used it for a while, but I still end up having to add Mg. I think the Ph needs to be really low in the reactor to have any effect on the Mg granules.

Mike,
What is low? I am usually around 6.25 inside the reactor with previous media.
thanks in advance,
Ed

 

[VegasMike]

I think 6.0 may get you some benefit, but not sure. You have the ratio about right, so you might want to try it, can't hurt....

 

[Ed Hahn]

Tropic Marin does not make such a product. I guess its Zeo Mag or some other media. I just watched a Talk on large tanks. I could have sworn it was Tropic Marin.


Here is letter from Tropic Marin

Dear Mr. Hahn,



We are sorry but we have no magnesium for calcium reactors.

We use and sell Tropic Marin BIO-MAGNESIUM and BIO-MAGNESIUM Liquid. 1 l/0.26 US-gal. BIO-MAGNESIUM Liquid or 450 g/16 oz. BIO-MAGNESIUM powder contain 54 g/1.9 oz. of magnesium. Since the magnesium concentration is quite stable in saltwater aquaria it is sufficient to add BIO-MAGNESIUM after measuring a deficit.



Kind regards



Hans-Werner Balling



Dr. Biener GmbH

Steinaeckerstr. 3-5

36367 Wartenberg

Germany



Tel. +49 (0) 6641-9686-13

Fax +49 (0) 6641-9686-66



Please also visit our homepage www.tropic-marin.com

I am still confused.
I want to believe Magnesium depletes in Reef Aquarium unless you are doing constant water changes to stay on top of it, especially in large aquariums.

 

[DonW]

I am still confused.
I want to believe Magnesium depletes in Reef Aquarium unless you are doing constant water changes to stay on top of it, especially in large aquariums.

Ed,

Your belief is correct. Mg does deplete and fairly quickly if you have a well stocked sps system.
The ca reactor media by nature will replace some of the need Mg by default. The stuff that you add to the carx does dissolve pretty easy but the fact is that it doesnt add all that much Mg to a system. If you keep in mind how much Mg suppliment you have to dose to a system to change Mg at all youll get a better understanding. Even running alot of the zeo stuff in my reactor I was still forced to dose almost as much as I did without it. IMO it was just a waste of money. I just try to keep up a dosing regimine of once a week for Mg along with the use of the carx 24/7. Currently if I do a 40g water change each week with IO. I dosed 3tbs Nigari to the salt mix to bump it up a bit and dose 4tbs to the tank each friday. This simple process kept my tank perfectly stable since the mg really never falls mor than 60ppm during the course of a week.


Hope this helps
Don

 

[Katchupoy]

stupid question... but what is nigari

 

[DonW]

stupid question... but what is nigari

Put simply. Its Mg crystals extracted from sea water.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Its Mg crystals extracted from sea water.

Don

And where does one get it?

 

[DonW]

And where does one get it?

I think I am the cheapest source around. I buy it a couple hundred pounds at a time. Its also used a Tofu coagulant but you have to be sure its natural. There are a few places on the net that will sell smaller quantities but the shipping cost is high.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Would you mail any? I would like to buy some from you. Running a 180 packed with corals and clams. Whatever quantity at whatever price including shipping. You name it...

 

[DonW]

Would you mail any? I would like to buy some from you. Running a 180 packed with corals and clams. Whatever quantity at whatever price including shipping. You name it...

http://www.reefwerks.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=22
Last I checked there were 2lbs left and 200 expected 8/21.

Don

 

[Herefishyfishy]

You have paypal

 

[bc_slc]

I would also like to get some Don when you get some more. I can wait till 8/21.

let me know when you get more - I can prepay if that helps.

How long does a pound last for your tank?

Mat

 

[DonW]

I would also like to get some Don if you have any left over. I also could wait till 8/21.

let me know if you still have some.

Mat

I will have plenty on the 21st. The site will let you order after I get the delivery.

Thanks
Don

 

[Skimmy]

you can also get it at that local aisan market "Oujimaya"

 

[DonW]

you can also get it at that local aisan market "Oujimaya"

There are a number of ways to make "Nigari" and number of products labeled as nigari. Before getting it at the asian market make sure you research the manufacturer.

Don

 

[Boomer]

Ed did you get all your questions answered ? I was gone fishin' for 10 days