Adding all Trace Elements to Magnesium (Component C)?

[Coling]

Reefers,

I had been dosing Aquaforest Components 1+2+3+ but recently started dosing kalkwasser. The kalk has been able to keep up with my calcium and alkalinity demand but I would like to dose magnesium in trace elements as well. Can I just dose the kalkwasser in conjunction with Component 3+ (Magnesium and Component K) and add the other trace elements (Components A, B and C) that are supposed to be dosed with Components 1+ and 2+ into the Component 3+ container?

Thanks for your time!

Cheers,

Colin

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’m not sure what you are asking. Not all trace elements are soluble in kalkwasser. Magnesium (not a trace element) is certainly not stable in kalkwasser.

 

[Coling]

Sorry if I didn't articulate that very well.

I am asking if I can dose all trace elements (Aquaforest Components Strong) combined with magnesium from one container/dosing pump.

I have been dosing Component 1+ (Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr), Component 2+ (NaHCO3, F, I) and Component 3+ (Mg, Reef Mineral Salt, K and B) but no longer need the Ca and NaHCO3 as I am getting that from kalkwasser. Just wanted to see if I can dose the Sr, Ba, Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr, F and I with Component 3+ rather than having to dose from 3 dosing lines/containers in addition to the kalk (I am constantly dripping kalkwasser with a stepper pump).

Or if I could add those elements to the kalk that would be convenient too.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would advise first that using the part three of a three part when not using calcium chloride likely won’t be ionically balanced long term as it likely contains a lot of sulfate to offset the chloride. Net effect will be rising sulfate and falling chloride. It’s ok for a bit, but not a permanent method.

Some trace metals may precipitate from kalkwasser.

Any trace element that you can put into a calcium part can be put in a magnesium part. Trace elements that aren’t stable in calcium won’t be stable in the magnesium.

I do not know what forms of these trace elements any given company uses, so giving advice beyond that is tricky.