How are you reefers adding magnesium

[Patio]

Hey there,

I would like to hear how other nano reefers are recovering their lost magnesium?


Here are a few questions to help get the banter going:

Have you noticed benefits or pitfalls when adding mag?
Water changes are enough for your setup?
Particular brand product you are using?
1 part, 2 part, or 3 part dosing?
How frequent are your doses? Daily? And how often are you testing?
Have you had any bad experiences or perhaps a helpful tip to avoid problems when adding mag?


If you have some info you would like to share I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Patrick

 

[KafudaFish]

When I see my CA turning white I go to the fish closet, open it up and grab the BRS Mg container, open it up, scrape some out with a spoon and throw it into the tank, then I close the container, put it away, and close the closet door.

As with anything going slow is important.

I do a 95% WC once per month now and I dose 70 ml of kalk water made from Mrs. Wege's pickling lime per day.

 

[brandon429]

I do giant water changes, about that much and dose with c balance have never tested for mg in the history of my tank keeping. just got lucky I guess. do you have a specific reason you want to use it other than a test kit indication? coralline or corals not perky?

 

[JasonBJones]

I dose magnesium regularly, using either Kent M or BRS Mg.

I like to maintain my calcium around 480 and my alk around 7-8dkh. Adding magnesium allows me to maintain such high Ca levels. When Mg gets low, calcium will precipitate out of the water. That is the main benefit to dosing Mg. Studies have shown that most Mg incorporated in coral skeletons is generally a bi-product of calcium uptake, and not something the corals generally intend to do. Mg does not seem to be necessary for many other reasons.

Most salts are deficient in Mg, so water changes will not raise Mg levels in most cases.

 

[brandon429]

yea but what about the tons of nano tanks of the month that only do water changes and dose nothing and grow sps
lucky salt mix?

 

[ange062]

Test before you dose. I use an Elos Mg test kit, my tank in it's current config (3 clams and SPS dominant) takes 8ml of Kent 2-part per day, plus an equal amount of Kent Mg.

 

[mordibv]

^^^ Test depletion rates and adjust via BM dosing pumps with balling salts .

 

[pscott99]

I test for Mg. As stated it's important for Ca
Mine got lower than 1100.
Dosing daily Kent at the required rate brings it up slowly, which is key, by about 20 per day. On my second week up over 1200 and soon done. The new salts are getting better at adding more Mg. My Zoe's seem happier. No ill affects because it is bringing the Mg more in line with what it should be.

 

[JJIM]

You could start with a higher content salt such as Reef Crystals or Red Sea Coral Pro. I have used Reef Crystals for two years with pretty good success. When I do dose weekly, I simply squirt for approximately 2-3 seconds of Tech M or B-Ionic mag. I also like to make sure that I have Mg at a higher solution as it helps keep the Ca in solution with Alk (at least from what I have read). Yes, I did say squirt as I know approximately how much that translates to with my measurement cup, but since I am not at home to look at it I can't be specific (it's somewhat like cooking, when you have done it so many times you just know). I try to keep mine above 1300, and will only test when my corals do not look as well.

Red Sea Coral Pro - Ca 450, Alk 12.2, Mg 1340
Reef Crystals- Ca 490, Alk 13, Mg 1440

Taken from below info-
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2052771
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1714505