Anybody test for Magnesium?

[Gary Majchrzak]

Does anybody reading this thread test for Mg, or {even} feel it's worth testing for? I've read Mg tends to be depleted in limewater {kalkwasser} aquariums......

 

[drtango]

I do, maybe twice a year. When I only used kalkwasser, Mg was much lower, I sometimes added Epsom salts to supplement. When I added a Calcium reactor, levels seemed to keep stable aroun 1250-1300. Low Mg seems to make it harder to keep Ca up and also seems to inhibit coralline growth.

Some add Dolomite to their reactors to slowly supplement Mg.

John T.

 

[BCooksey]

I just asked Tom to order me a salifert kit yesterday!

 

[Playfair]

BRIAN! I told ya I would check your mag level if you brought over a water sample! I think that kit is pretty $$...

I tested back in Jan (don't remember value) and today; 1280.
Worth testing? Dunno- depends what your level is!
Does that answer your Q, Gary? lol

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

:lol: Well actually.....it sorta does answer my question!
You guys are helpful. Thanks! I have never tested for Mg, but after dosing kalk so heavily and for so long, it makes sense to suspect my Mg levels might be on the low side of "optimal"- but I won't know unless I test for it.
On a related note {testing}....my Ca and Alkalinity levels are now balanced and "ideal". All of the frags {and the pink A. millepora colony} I recently got at the meeting a week ago are acclimated and growing- even the fragged branches of the colony are healed and forming a blue center after 1 week....SWEET!

Next simple question: {remember- I'm a limewater addict!}
I picked up some of Kent's 'Tectra' A/B in a deal. {No- I'm not quitting limewater!} Is this stuff the same as B-ionic?

Lastly, {but not least!}, an announcement: My new crop of Aiptasia is fat and ready for consumption. Tom @ TRS is ordering me a medium size net caught Aussie Chelmon rostratus. The time is finally right for a new Copperband.:celeb1:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Old thread (2003) getting the bump.
With many people now using the "new" homemade two part calcium/alkalinity method I'm wondering how many are actually testing for Magnesium?

 

[bosborn1]

I do...Regulary. IME SPS growth can be spurred by high mg levels.

Scott

 

[rjrobert]

I started testing for mg about 2 weeks ago. When trying to raise my Cal from 330 to 4++ I noticed a very severe drop in Alk (8dKH --> 3.8dKH) within the time of a week. I did a bunch of reading on the topic and one thing I read was that low mg could cause stabalization issues. So I immediately got the test kit for it. two weeks ago I tested out at 1215 but after spending two weeks slowly bringing my water parameters in line the mg is now 1320 which is almost dead on where I want it. That being said I did not do anything to raise the mg directly. Either the original test was not performed properly or the alk/cal being off somehow affected the reading and now that alk/cal are back in line the kit may be reading accurate - (like how PH can throw off your Alk test).

Anyways. That was a long answer to your short question. Since I have the test kit I'll probably still test for it during the monthly maintenance where I test everything..

Bob

 

[dreaminmel]

I test for it about once a month and dose the 3rd part of the recipe as needed.

 

[bjromaine]

I have been testing for Mg now for about a month on a weekly basis. I figured what the heck is another $20 or so for a test kit....
since my tank has been struggling, I have been testing everything, well almost everything, trying to stablize the water

 

[nwrogers]

I do

 

[Henry Colf]

I use the espomsalt and water mix for my mg it gets tested once a month runs around 1350.