Getting that color??
- Thread starter allsps40
- Start date
dzhuo
Active member
This is unusual as normal Mag consumption doesn't go through that fast. Any chance of testing error or bad test kit? Are you using salt with very low or high Mag? I would double check to make sure your Mag is really changing throughout the week before taking any action.
gary faulkner
New member
I agree, Mag should not be getting used up. I would guess at testing method being off.
HTH
HTH
allsps40
New member
No not a testing error, I use Elos mag test kit. My mag drops about 100ppm per week, I am using D-D H2Ocean salt which has 1380 mag. I have been watching my mag for a while and it does drop between water changes. I have been getting a bit of growth and cal and alk level would drop a large amount if I did not dose kalk.
Thanks j-dizzle for the comments.
Thanks j-dizzle for the comments.
dzhuo
Active member
I am surprise you went through this much Mag every day. How much calcium do you add weekly?
dzhuo
Active member
3 to 4 tbs to 5 gallons of RO/DI is not even close to saturated lime so I can't imagine you are adding a lot of alk / cal via auto top off unless you have a huge amount of evaporation daily? Mag is roughly 5x more abundant than calcium and assuming the salt you use is cal / alk / mag balanced, you would have used a lot more cal in order to drop 100ppm of mag weekly. Your alk consumption would even be greater. Base on your grow and coralline coverage, it doesn't seem normal to this usage. I think something is up with these params.
allsps40
New member
About 1 gallon a day. I know my kalk amount is low but that is what my tank needs to stay stable and it works very well. DD H2Ocean as I have tested it Ca 460, Alk 10, Ph 8.3, Mag 1380. I have coraline exploding again in my overflow and back glass and my sump was growing it quite fast while I had the fuge light on. I mag float my glass every day so nothing can really start to grow, not that it needs it not much algae on the glass ever. I will be closely watching my mag to see what is going on. I agree it does seem off to be using that much. My test kit is new by the way, got it a few weeks ago.
gary faulkner
New member
Check out this thread if you haven't already.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php#5
There are several more articles on the Chemistry Forum that might be helpful.
HTH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php#5
There are several more articles on the Chemistry Forum that might be helpful.
HTH
gary faulkner
New member
I don't think that most of us do, that's why I thought your measuring was off. It does say that we have different amounts being used but I know most people can keep up most of the time with water changes for Mag. I have a Mag suppliment but hardly ever use it. Now you got me thinking I need to check mine. =0
LifeAquatic
New member
Mag in my tank has to be dosed too. I didnt think dosing mag was out of the the ordinary? I typically follow the bulk reef supply instructions of dosing 20 oz of mag for every gallon of 2 part solution used. Im dosing about 150ml 2 part a day so the gallon jug last about 1 1/2-2 weeks. Im adding 5 oz mag about every 2 weeks. Although sometimes I just eyeball it and add a little more. Water changes alone will not support my mag consumption and every few months I check the mag level. I try and keep mag between 1300-1400. Dose that sound normal to you guys?
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