Affordable source for magnesium?

earwicker7 · 07/28/2018, 04:24 PM

I've noticed that a lot of things sold to reefers are much, much cheaper if you buy them from other sources. I run a CO2 scrubber, and LFS prices on the media are insane. Instead of getting it in a container with fish pictures on it, I source it through veterinary supply stores and pay about 1/5 of the price.

I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of how I would go about doing this with magnesium? That stuff is really expensive in the hobby version. Should I go through chemistry suppliers, or are there other industries that use it that sell it cheaper?

AlSimmons · 07/28/2018, 06:12 PM

I just use regular old Epsom salt. This isn't very expensive and can be found at Target, Walmart, Rite-Aid etc.

earwicker7 · 07/29/2018, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

I just use regular old Epsom salt. This isn't very expensive and can be found at Target, Walmart, Rite-Aid etc.

My only worry about that is possible impurities... I was hoping to find something that is lab grade. Am I over thinking this?

basser1 · 07/29/2018, 03:34 PM

I buy my Mag mix from bulk reef supply....

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/magne...ef-supply.html

AlSimmons · 07/29/2018, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earwicker7

My only worry about that is possible impurities... I was hoping to find something that is lab grade. Am I over thinking this?

I'm not really sure if your overthinking this or not, but I have used Epsom salt to adjust my Magnesium for a long time now and have never experienced any problems that I can attribute to this. Then again I don't really have to fiddle with my Magnesium that often either, so if they're are some impurities in this product they're not manifesting themselves.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

jda · 07/30/2018, 05:44 PM

Dr. Holmes-Farley has posted a lot about Epsom Salt... it is fine to use.

You can also find Mag Chloride as a deicer if you are anywhere near cold weather.

five.five-six · 08/01/2018, 07:07 AM

Epsoms salts

Sisterlimonpot · 08/01/2018, 10:27 AM

Quote:

1. Epsom salts (USP grade magnesium sulfate heptahydrate) is readily available in drug stores and is fairly inexpensive. The problem is that if this were used to raise magnesium by a large amount (or a small amount several times) the aquarium water would become enriched in sulfate. This enrichment may not be a problem for some aquaria, especially those using salt mixes already deficient in sulfate, or those that employ frequent water changes. Nevertheless, Epsom salts alone is not an ideal magnesium supplement.

Randy has laid out some concerns as well as other alternatives to epsom salts, read the whole article posted by AlSimmons

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

DesertReefT4r · 08/09/2018, 08:19 PM

BRS for me, its pretty cheap. Dollar Tree sells epsom salt $1, pretty cheap. I woul not use the de icer products, BRS did a video that backed up my feeling for de icer.

BruceWayne · 08/15/2018, 11:03 AM

BRS magnesium super affordable and easy

07/28/2018, 04:24 PM	#1
earwicker7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 150	Affordable source for magnesium? I've noticed that a lot of things sold to reefers are much, much cheaper if you buy them from other sources. I run a CO2 scrubber, and LFS prices on the media are insane. Instead of getting it in a container with fish pictures on it, I source it through veterinary supply stores and pay about 1/5 of the price. I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of how I would go about doing this with magnesium? That stuff is really expensive in the hobby version. Should I go through chemistry suppliers, or are there other industries that use it that sell it cheaper?

07/28/2018, 06:12 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I just use regular old Epsom salt. This isn't very expensive and can be found at Target, Walmart, Rite-Aid etc. Last edited by AlSimmons; 07/28/2018 at 06:18 PM.

08/01/2018, 07:07 AM	#7
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	Epsoms salts __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

08/09/2018, 08:19 PM	#9
DesertReefT4r Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 771	BRS for me, its pretty cheap. Dollar Tree sells epsom salt $1, pretty cheap. I woul not use the de icer products, BRS did a video that backed up my feeling for de icer. __________________ Tank history 29g tropical ,55g cichlid tank, 20H softy reef, 29g mixed reef, 20H brackish goby & puffer tank, 55g mixed reef, 6g Nanocube softy lps reef, 40B sps reef, 75g sps reef, 75g sps reef in bu Current Tank Info: 75g sps reef build in the works.

07/29/2018, 03:34 PM	#4
basser1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: So. Indiana Posts: 1,109	I buy my Mag mix from bulk reef supply.... https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/magne...ef-supply.html

07/30/2018, 05:44 PM	#6
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	Dr. Holmes-Farley has posted a lot about Epsom Salt... it is fine to use. You can also find Mag Chloride as a deicer if you are anywhere near cold weather.

08/15/2018, 11:03 AM	#10
BruceWayne Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 8	BRS magnesium super affordable and easy