Mixing Aragonite media with Magnesium media in Calcium reactors.

[Ed Hahn]

I got a little help. But I really want a little more information. I am new to adding the magnesium to Calcium reactor. I previously used Deltec media. I have a ton of it.
I am considering with going with thicker aragonite like shuran media. I was told to add magnesium to about 15-20 percent of reactor. Don sells the magnesium for this. There is another media called Zeomag. I was considering. I just want to make sure I do not make a big mistake doing this. I have two Calcium reactors now. I am just waiting on one way air valves or check valves for CO2.
Boomer,
What is your experience with this method?
thanks in Advance,
Ed

 

[Boomer]

It is fine but I would start with no more than 10 % unless from Don's testing he thinks it is OK with his Mag sup.

Zeomag is some pretty good stuff.

The issue is that so called Mag sup's are dolomite but not all dolomite is Dolomite. There are grades of dolomite to limestone. The issue is really not to much Mg ++ IMHO, as long as it is not to high. The real issue is that dolomite sup's add ~twice the Alk as Aragonite when in solution. This is what you need to be concerned about. The closer the media is to limestone the less the issue is for Alk going through the roof. And such media require more dolomite to raise the Mg++ than others.

Take note there are two dolomites i.e., dolomite the rock and Dolomite the mineral. Pure dolomite rock, which should be called dolostone, is 95-100 % Dolomite the mineral. All others are often called dolomitic limestone.

 

[DonW]

The stuff I have is just Nigari and is NOT used in a reactor. I did use the zeo but was not happy with the results for the money spent but thats just me being cheap. I find it easier and cheaper to just dose.

Don