How to lower Magnesium level???

[Larah]

Is there anyone who can tell me how to lower the mag level?
I know I've asked a bunch of times now..
But the Mag is STILL at 1500 and I haven't added any Tech M for a month... and I've changed abotu 30% of the water.. Yes my salt mix (Reef Crystals) has a MAg level of 1260 but still, 1500?
SHould the organisims in the tank be using it? Why is it constant at 1500?

 

[Tswifty]

That's odd... It should drop... mine fluctuates quite a bit with water changes.

I've been trying to get mine up to 1600 actually, and can't seem to get it above 1400 using Tech M

Have you tried taking your water to get tested for mag at your LFS... It could be a bad test.

 

[kevin2000]

Are you using any additives?

Mag level of your show tank water isn't going to be any higher than the mag level of your salt mixture unless your using an additive.

Perhaps you have a bad test kit or the device your measuring salinity is incorrect (if your running higher salinity the calc, mag etc are going to be higher than expected).

 

[Larah]

I'm using a refactometer for salinity
and I did dose Tech M but the last time was a month ago..
I am using an Elos Magnesium test...
I think I will buy another brand and retest...
I'd take to my LFS but most of them don't test for Mag..
yeah I know, crazy!

 

[Flipper62]

Sounds like a bad or old kit. Before you buy a new kit, have your LFS test it & see what they get. If its the same reading that you get then you know your kit is ok.

 

[kevin2000]

Remember that water changes will remove the "problem" in the direct percentage of water changed ... if you have a water issue and make a ten percent water change your only going to remove 10% of the problem .. kinda common sense but I bet a lot of aquarist seem to over look it.

I would not be overly concerned with a mag level of 1,500 you will be hard pressed to find any article that says thats going to do any harm.

I suggest you stop mag additives and consider stopping other additives until your sure you need them.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12412096#post12412096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin2000
Remember that water changes will remove the "problem" in the direct percentage of water changed ... if you have a water issue and make a ten percent water change your only going to remove 10% of the problem .. kinda common sense but I bet a lot of aquarist seem to over look it.

I would not be overly concerned with a mag level of 1,500 you will be hard pressed to find any article that says thats going to do any harm.

I suggest you stop mag additives and consider stopping other additives until your sure you need them.

I agree that the mag level of 1500 won't hurt anything except hair alage

The salifert test for magnesium is great--very accurate

 

[Larah]

Hey Captn'! Just orderd the salifert test kit!

and yes I stopped adding Tech M a month ago...
in fact you're right, I stopped using any additives for now!

Did just get the B Ionic 2 part, but at the moment I don't need it...

and yeah, it TOTALLY makes sense that if you only change 10% of your water you're only changing 10% of the "problem"...
I guess I just figured that since I've done 3 10% water changes I'd have 30% less and that over time it would have dissapated some, but I guess I was wrong on that one!

Thanks for your thoughts, opinions and HELP!

 

[demonsp]

See if you can get your reading double checked through another soruce if possible.Then weekly 25% water changes untill you see it drop.Then stop adding and monitor its level between normal water changes.

 

[Larah]

I just ordered 2 new test kits so that'll make 3 different kits from 3 different companies, so hopefully that'll solve that issue! LOL!

I am also going to try to see if there are LFS that test for MAG.
The one I go to most doesn't....
I thik that's a GREAT idea Lance!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12413027#post12413027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
See if you can get your reading double checked through another soruce if possible.Then weekly 25% water changes untill you see it drop.Then stop adding and monitor its level between normal water changes.

I "think" that it was Bertoni that stated water changes won't reduce the level of magnesium much

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12412949#post12412949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Larah
Hey Captn'! Just orderd the salifert test kit!

and yes I stopped adding Tech M a month ago...
in fact you're right, I stopped using any additives for now!

Did just get the B Ionic 2 part, but at the moment I don't need it...

and yeah, it TOTALLY makes sense that if you only change 10% of your water you're only changing 10% of the "problem"...
I guess I just figured that since I've done 3 10% water changes I'd have 30% less and that over time it would have dissapated some, but I guess I was wrong on that one!

Thanks for your thoughts, opinions and HELP!

I would use the b-ionic two part--it will maintain your levels so they don't see saw all over the place
The first part contains magnesium but I have found it is never enough and needs supplementation with Tech M or something like that

Magnesium takes alot to bring up a level but very very little is used up so the level can remain there for a long time

but like other posters have said it is not dangerous at that level

 

[demonsp]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

 

[tmz]

A ten percent water change at 1260 ppm will only drop the 1500ppm by 24,if I did the math crrectly.. It stays high longer than calcium or alkalinity (carbonate) because there is so much more of it, roughly three times as much as calcium. It may take a year to deplete to 1350 or so with normal consumption by corals, coraline etc.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

I use the Elos Magnesium kit and they are pretty accurate mate!