High Mg

[lowtek]

Total system approx 190g
All Salifert kits
Alk 8.7
Cal 440
Mag 1500 maybe higher

So last night I checked my mg two days after doing a water change. To my surprise, my mag was off the charts. I use IO salt and never seen my levels so high. Only thing I did different was I shook up the salt prior to mixing and I blew off my rocks with a power head before the water change. Made a mess. Could that of released mag somehow? Also have a bubblegum digitata that doesn't have full polyp extention. All other corals look fine. I'm totally stumped. Should I mix a small batch of salt and test it? Because I read the best way to lower it was water changes. However if I have a bad batch of salt, a WC wont help too much. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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[mcgyvr]

Mag in that range doesn't seem to cause much if any problems that we really know of..
Testing a freshly mixed batch of saltwater is a good idea.. It also may be testing error..
I wouldn't worry too much..

Blowing off the rocks won't cause mag to raise..
A bad batch of salt is a possibility..
Some even claim that the salt mix could "settle" and some areas be higher in mag than others so mixing the dry salt (rolling the bucket or whatever) isn't a bad idea either in the future..

 

[lowtek]

Thanks. You're always one of the first to respond. I tested 4 times. Doesn't expire until next year. It's such a simple test too. I been testing iron for freshwater for years. That's the one I'd be screwing up on (Seachem). Like you said though. I'm not going to worry too much. All my corals minus one and snails seem to be fine.
It's just that Bubblegum Digitata hasnt been the same for a couple weeks. I have other Monti's that are doing great. I'll look at some other possible causes. Any ideas? Thanks again.

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[Uncle99]

While outside the 1250-1350 ppm range, I would not be concerned too much at your 1500 level, but, if it was to continue to rise, then the source would need to be identified.

It should, over time, fall slightly as it is consumed by the Stoneys, just in very tiny amounts.
Whereas I dose daily, 15 ml ALK and 6 CA, mg only needs 0.5 ml to stay in the range.
The most frequent cause is test error. I use RED SEA for MG and once I became consistent (and performed the test exactly to instructs) then I got more consistent results.

My error was not shaking the sample for 15 seconds after each drop and this (in my case) led to higher and incorrect numbers.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that high magnesium seldom is a problem. You can titrate more to determine the level. Many kits (at least) do a final titration to a color change. Using two syringes should be fine.

I don't know what caused the high level, but checking some freshly-mixed saltwater might be useful.

 

[lowtek]

While outside the 1250-1350 ppm range, I would not be concerned too much at your 1500 level, but, if it was to continue to rise, then the source would need to be identified.

It should, over time, fall slightly as it is consumed by the Stoneys, just in very tiny amounts.
Whereas I dose daily, 15 ml ALK and 6 CA, mg only needs 0.5 ml to stay in the range.
The most frequent cause is test error. I use RED SEA for MG and once I became consistent (and performed the test exactly to instructs) then I got more consistent results.

My error was not shaking the sample for 15 seconds after each drop and this (in my case) led to higher and incorrect numbers.

Hmmm I dont recall the part about shaking for 15 seconds after every drop part on salifert kit. That would take forever since 1350 is around the .10ml mark. Will read over again after work.

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[lowtek]

I agree that high magnesium seldom is a problem. You can titrate more to determine the level. Many kits (at least) do a final titration to a color change. Using two syringes should be fine.

I don't know what caused the high level, but checking some freshly-mixed saltwater might be useful.

The highest reading on a Salifert mg test is 1500. I dont know how to do the math to figure what it would be past 1500. I will check fresh mixed saltwater next wc though.

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[lowtek]

Snails aren't at risk with high magnesium?

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[Uncle99]

Yes they can be at risk as MG increases beyond range.
The 5 second shake was an example of my error, in the RS kit.

 

[Daddi0]

Swirl it - not shaken

 

[Uncle99]

Swirl it - not shaken

True!
Sorry that was for for Martini...

 

[bertoni]

You can use two syringes with the Saifert kit and just add the results. So the final number would be 1500 plus whatever the second syringe reads.

 

[lowtek]

You can use two syringes with the Saifert kit and just add the results. So the final number would be 1500 plus whatever the second syringe reads.

Gotcha! I just mixed up 15g of saltwater will see what I get in a lil bit. Gotta figure this problem out. Thanks for your responses [emoji1690][emoji110]


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[lowtek]

So I tested fresh mixed Intant Ocean salt. Mg came back off Saliferts chart. Took whole ml plus an additional .07 from next syringe. So I'm thinking around 1570.
Must be a bad batch. Been using IO for almost a year never been this off.
It was last bag from 200g box so hopefully next box is better.

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[lowtek]

More like 1600 something

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[Uncle99]

More like 1600 something

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Seems to be another member having trouble with IO, low CA in his case.

I "turn" my salt container about 10 times when I get if home, just in case they did a poor job.

I use RED SEA PRO forever, coming from IO, and never had any further problems with salt mixes, but I remix it anyways.

 

[bertoni]

1570 ppm is high, but it should be safe enough. A lot of mixes have been in that range consistently, and people had good results with them anyway.

 

[Fourstars]

I keep mine a 1500 and no issues at all. Snails are breeding.