dolomite

[sea monkey]

I was just curious if anyone in their club uses dolomite in their calcium reactors as a magnesium additive.

[MNGold15]

Not me, I have never herd of that. I just run straight Gen-x.

[mtfatwork]

I use zeomag.

[mattb]

I use zeomag.

Same here :)

[JG24]

I have talked to several people at MANCA's and IMAC's that are using it. I want to say they use something like 3 oz. Per like 8lbs of genex or whatever type media.

I think the ones I have spoken to got it from a regular rock quarry or similar supplier. Instead of buying like 40lbs. Although, in your case Ryan, you'd probably be getting it in larger amounts.

[sea monkey]

i was just curious, someone mentioned it to me yesterday. I figured someone in the club had tried it.

Dolomite is Calcium Magnesium Carbonate and will dissolve at low PH levels in a reactor but it sounds like it wont work with every media.

[mattb]

I've used zeomag with both arm and genx. No problems here. Ryan I think you're right, you need to run the reactor a little harder (lower pH) than with regular media, I think it has a lower dissolve point. Again no worries with ARM or genx here. I didn't know it was CaMg(CO3)2.... so it's addng calcium too? Do you have sources for Mg(CO3)2 ?

[wes]

would there be other ways of adding dolomite other than a reactor? say, could you dissolve some in acetic acid? I was thinking it'd be a nice way to increase Mg without the sulfate of epsom salts or having to balance the Cl of MgCl. But Ca, Mg, AND CO3? of course it's too good to be true. :-)

[mattb]

My guess is that the end product would still be magnesium bicarbonate, which is soluable, whereas magnesium carbonate isn't. If you are using the part 3 of the two part, the additional Cl, and SO4 isn't an issue, it's balanced.

[sea monkey]

would there be other ways of adding dolomite other than a reactor? say, could you dissolve some in acetic acid? I was thinking it'd be a nice way to increase Mg without the sulfate of epsom salts or having to balance the Cl of MgCl. But Ca, Mg, AND CO3? of course it's too good to be true. :-)


I think this would be more work than its worth

[wes]

at this point in my reefin', I'm more work than worth. :-)

[Dirk Griffin]

Have not seen the word "dolomite" in a very long time. Many got away from it years ago. Seem to recall it was ok for fish only systems, not very good for reefs. Leaches out something, drives ph up/down...just can't recall. Something is unstable about it with certain conditions

[mattb]

It depletes alkalinity when used as a substrate, precipitation of CaCO3 in new tanks with fresh dolomite gravel... Though the same could be said about new sand (not live sand)... You mean you don't have that pretty pink dolomite gravel in your tank :)

[sea monkey]

Have not seen the word "dolomite" in a very long time. Many got away from it years ago. Seem to recall it was ok for fish only systems, not very good for reefs. Leaches out something, drives ph up/down...just can't recall. Something is unstable about it with certain conditions


thanks : )