DIY 2-Part Additive

[bleedingthought]

I'm going to try making this: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php either this weekend or the weekend after since my Bionic is running somewhat low. Hopefully it'll work just as well and be considerably more affordable.

Any of you guys have tried this or are using it right now? Any tips on it?

TIA

 

[Anonymous]

I use it, it's nice, although I don't know what system the 100mL a day was on, but it sure as hell wasn't mine And I only have a dozen and a half frags + clam.

 

[bleedingthought]

That's good to hear!

Do you use part 3, or dose Magnesium at all?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't dose magnesium because 1) I don't have a test kit (yet), and 2) Don't have magflakes (yet.. they are in the mail as we speak). Plus I figure regular water changes probably more than sufficiently takes care of any deficiencies.

 

[bleedingthought]

It sounds like you're about to start dosing it though! :wink:

I had a 6 week problem with cyano (It seems to have subsided quite a lot since I cut the tips of the maxijets off! Almost all gone! ) and I was told that dosing magnesium would take care of the cyano. If it comes back, I'm trying it. What do you think/have to say about that?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't dose magnesium because 1) I don't have a test kit (yet), and 2) Don't have magflakes (yet.. they are in the mail as we speak). Plus I figure regular water changes probably more than sufficiently takes care of any deficiencies.

depends on your salt mix. IO, you'll always be low in mag, if you don't suppliment (been using IO for ever myself).

 

[Anonymous]

That's true, I use Oceanic which supposedly has high magnesium, so unless I see otherwise via test kits I probably won't dose the magnesium. I might just be nice and sell off my magflakes to the locals

 

[bleedingthought]

That's true, I use Oceanic which supposedly has high magnesium, so unless I see otherwise via test kits I probably won't dose the magnesium. I might just be nice and sell off my magflakes to the locals

What did it take (effort and money) for you to get magflakes?

 

[Anonymous]

effort? Finally getting around to clicking "add to cart" on at buckeyefieldsupply.com's website. Money, I believe it works out to about $22 for 8 pounds.

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW I got a 50 pounds bag of dow flake here from a redimix concrete company. It was listed as calcium chloride in their computers. It is used to harden concrete especially in cold weather.


.02

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it should be noted if you live in an area where it actually snows you'll have better luck finding de-icer things like Dowflake & MagFlakes locally

 

[bleedingthought]

It's been known to snow in Atlanta so do we count? :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

It's been known to snow in Atlanta so do we count? :wink:

Dunno, have you found it locally?

 

[Anonymous]

When I visited my home town of Des Moines Iowa last winter, the ice melter/snow melter was not pure calcium chloride (dow flake) but instead of mixture of various things. So that may not be a reliable source.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm... now that I think of it, if i go to Tahoe with the girl friend I'll have to look for this stuff

 

[Anonymous]

The third part of the diy additive has been a real pain for me. No local sources seem available for the magnesium chloride (mag flakes).

Not that I really need some. My mag is 1200 or so. And I could always use epsom salts also. But it would be nice to have a source.

.02

 

[bleedingthought]

Ok, so I'm having problems locating ANY of the supplies/chemicals for the additive mix. I'm in the Atlanta area. Anyone know where I could probably find these locally? Or an online vendor that ship these for cheap?

Best thing I heard is homedepot saying that they might get some Calcium Chloride in the winter. Might. No word about the magnesium chloride though...

 

[Anonymous]

Call around to the redimix concrete companies. Ask if they carry calcium chloride. It is dow flake. 50 pound bag here was $22 or so. But could be just in winter.

Also check wall mart in the pool supply area or pool supply stores. one pool additive is calcium chloride peladow repackaged. But the bottle does not say that on the outside.

I have all be given up on mag flake so will use epsom salts should mag test low. But I'll have to test first.

my .02

 

[bleedingthought]

I'll try that. Thanks!