Domolite lime and other lost arts...

[DJ88]

We meet again Victor.. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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there is a little secret that I use when buying lime

Isn't that something you should share with others to minimize the chances of getting a bad that may be contaminated? Hmm???? Where was this tidbit when you were suggesting dolomite? Keeping the safer bags for yourself were you?

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if you do a search on RC...there is tons of info on this topic

I did before you posted this. Here is a rough breakdown of what I found.
[list][*]9 were for adding a tiny amount of dolomite to a Ca reactor to increase Mg levels.[*]6 Using as a substrate yourself, Yellow tang & hatton3(asking about cycling with dolomite 3 posts)[*]3 of Steve asking about dolomite[*]4 Used with UGF in the past[*]2 Used as kalk substitute[*]2 Beginner mistakes[*]2Grain size (linked to reefs org)[*]Looking for Southdown. Recommended dolomite by person above to reefs.org.[*]Taking dolomite out[*]Dr Ron recommending to get rid of UGF and Dolomite as substrate.[*]Troy talking to Randy Holmes-Farley where he recommends keeping an eye on Mg levels[*]Using Dolomite with UGF and wanting to switch.[*]Scooter asking if it was good to Dr Ron[*]Store selling old bags of.[*]Worst purchases.[*]Talking about progression of substrates trough the progression of the hobby. listed as a substrate used with UGF's[*]Silica sand use. Was in the thread.[*]Flame Angel bought the wrong dolomite[*]Keeping Mg levels up.[*]Looking for cheap substrate[*]Dolomite sandbed doesn’t buffer as well as aragonite or oyster shells. Lower pH. Tests done over two months in Salt Water.[*]Super calc gold looking like[*]Spelling mistake.

That is a summary of Dolomite on RC. Three people using it. Of which I think you are the only one using it in a DSB. So the only one who will see what will happen to the MgCO3 in a DSB. I did see lots of uses in a Ca reactor to INCREASE Mg levels in the system. Once again I wonder what will happen as the Ph in your DBS drops and the Mg starts to enter into your water column. You according to your tank description only do in-frequent water changes. And that worries me. Randy Holmes-Farley said that you should keep and eye on your Mg levels and I hope you do. I know some will precipitate out but I bet you can get your concentration of Mg up beyond levels safe in your system. It is a hunch I am gathering from the responses and articles I am seeing on the boards.

To me other than you and two others using dolomite(one was a 12 gallon FO), it isn't in use very much. I searched on reefs.org and found two posts. Both by the same author. In the past when there wasn't the abundance of substrates(Aragonite based) as there is now it was used solely with an UGF. Not in a DSB so those can be an example of it's use but not when used in a DSB. That is a while different creature.


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Why should the newbee believe me in 100% confidence

To a newbie in this hobby you are very knowledgeable. You have a tank up and running. They don't know for how long or how short. All they see is you making a recommendation for Dolomite as a substrate. And that you are using it. It took quite a few posts to get your secret out of you about getting bags in the middle of the stack.. lol. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] When someone sees the possibility of saving a few dollars in this hobby their eyes get cloudy as to all the things involved. I have done it. I'll admit it. As someone new all they will have to see is someone who has many posts recommending something and they will do it. Hey these people will go and buy a skimmer that is good for a 40 gallon tank and throw it on something over 100 gallons if they see someone saying they do it on a board. Heck I bought a SeaClone for a 90 gallon tank!!!! I thought it was enough. [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

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Today, salt mixes have higher than normal magnesium levels to compensate

According to this study(link below) done not all are so. Most are lower. I use Instant Ocean and it is almost identical. Mg levels in synthetic sea salt and Natural Sea Water.

So what happens if the Mg levels are increased even higher? That is my point. I use Iocean and it keeps my levels at or near NSW. To me your levels will increase over time. A noted chemist in this hobby has said as such. What do you say in regards to that?

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>So, if the dissolution rate of increase is slow enough, the preciptation and dissolution should find an equilibrium where both are happy.
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You are sure about this? Once again, Randy Holmes Farley has said that you should keep an eye on these levels. If there was no reason to worry about it increasing why would he mention it? But that is me interpreting a chemist and what he is saying.

I guess in time we will see. Hopefully it isn’t for the worse.