Kent Marine Tech M Raising Specific Gravity

[Snarkys]

Blacktip,

Everyone seems to implement and manage this so differently. It is interesting that the community hasn't found a collective "best" way to do this yet. Would you mind sharing a few more details?

Can you share how you went about raising it to 1800, over what period of time and what impact that schedule had on your calcium and alkalinity level? With many brands of salt 1.022 will probably be low enough that many reefers would want to correct cal/alk back up as well.

I am also curious what you did last time and this time to get the magnesium levels back down. Once the bryopsis is gone the goal is to get all the major and minor elements back in line with natural seawater. Presumably the dilution has brought most of the ions pretty far out of line with overall salinity and calcium or alkalinity which were likely already corrected.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[BlackTip]

Blacktip,

Everyone seems to implement and manage this so differently. It is interesting that the community hasn't found a collective "best" way to do this yet. Would you mind sharing a few more details?

Can you share how you went about raising it to 1800, over what period of time and what impact that schedule had on your calcium and alkalinity level? With many brands of salt 1.022 will probably be low enough that many reefers would want to correct cal/alk back up as well.

I am also curious what you did last time and this time to get the magnesium levels back down. Once the bryopsis is gone the goal is to get all the major and minor elements back in line with natural seawater. Presumably the dilution has brought most of the ions pretty far out of line with overall salinity and calcium or alkalinity which were likely already corrected.

Thanks for sharing.

First time: I raised magnesium from 1300 to 1800 over 7 days using a doser. (80 ppm a day). At the time, I was using IO salt, and I was dosing BRS 2 parts. I adjusted calcium and alkalinity by dosing BRS supplements. At the time, I had a precipitation issue I was dealing with. My alkalinity wouldn't go above 8 no matter what I did. My tank is relatively new, and I didn't have any SPS. The only side effect I had was dead snails. After 4 weeks, I let the magnesium fall back down on its own by doing water changes.

In Between: I was dealing with precipitation problems using BRS 2 parts. I switch salts to SeaChem Reef Salts. I did 5 water changes over 5 days, 13% each time. Then I installed calcium reactor.

Second time (still in process): I raised magnesium from 1300 to 1800 over one week. I am using SeaChem Reef Salt, and a calcium reactor. Every two weeks I am doing 13% water change. I use one bag of salt to mix 50g of water. This produce approximately 1.022. My total water volume is about 340g. The start salinity is about 1.026 and after water change is about 1.0255. I test magnesium, and top it back to 1800 over 24 hours. Salinity goes back up to 1.026. My alkalinity drops a bit about .5 dkh, but it comes back up within few days. I set the calcium reactor to provide a little extra than my tank needs. I am on the 10th week now, and I am going to keep it up for another 4 weeks. Most of my snails are dead. Shrimps and crabs are OK. I have SPS and LPS, and they all doing OK.

 

[Snarkys]

Awesome, how is the bryopsis doing this time?

kent tech M for raising the magnesium ?

 

[BlackTip]

Awesome, how is the bryopsis doing this time?

kent tech M for raising the magnesium ?

Bryopsis melted away after 3 weeks; same as first try. I am taking extra precaution by keeping the Mag high for extended period of time. Hopefully they won't come back, or I am screwed.

Yes, I have used and using Kent Tech M. I must have bought about 9 gallons so far.

 

[Xxero]

First time: I raised magnesium from 1300 to 1800 over 7 days using a doser. (80 ppm a day). At the time, I was using IO salt, and I was dosing BRS 2 parts. I adjusted calcium and alkalinity by dosing BRS supplements. At the time, I had a precipitation issue I was dealing with. My alkalinity wouldn't go above 8 no matter what I did. My tank is relatively new, and I didn't have any SPS. The only side effect I had was dead snails. After 4 weeks, I let the magnesium fall back down on its own by doing water changes.

In Between: I was dealing with precipitation problems using BRS 2 parts. I switch salts to SeaChem Reef Salts. I did 5 water changes over 5 days, 13% each time. Then I installed calcium reactor.

Second time (still in process): I raised magnesium from 1300 to 1800 over one week. I am using SeaChem Reef Salt, and a calcium reactor. Every two weeks I am doing 13% water change. I use one bag of salt to mix 50g of water. This produce approximately 1.022. My total water volume is about 340g. The start salinity is about 1.026 and after water change is about 1.0255. I test magnesium, and top it back to 1800 over 24 hours. Salinity goes back up to 1.026. My alkalinity drops a bit about .5 dkh, but it comes back up within few days. I set the calcium reactor to provide a little extra than my tank needs. I am on the 10th week now, and I am going to keep it up for another 4 weeks. Most of my snails are dead. Shrimps and crabs are OK. I have SPS and LPS, and they all doing OK.

It's spooky because this is almost identical to what I have been doing. I went from about 1300 to 1800 at 80ppm over a few days, but I was using IO Reef Crystals and Red Sea Reef Foundation A+B+C. My alkalinity is also stubborn at 8. So far, all of my snails are okay though. I have a few SPS, LPS, Shrooms, Crabs, etc. and have seen no signs of stress.

I also switched over to Seachem Reef Salt, in hopes of a higher Magnesium content, but it is as weak as IORC. I'm going to try Coralife Marine Salt next. I have a total water volume of about 100g, and I change 20 gallons every 2 weeks.

Now I have questions:

1) I have read that you should not increase your system's Magnesium level more than 100ppm in a 24 hour period. If you mix your new saltwater at the 1.022 SG, doesn't that cause a large plummet in your system's Mg level? And if so, is a drastic drop in Mg as bad as a drastic increase? That's why I have been trying to match my new saltwater's Mg to my display's.
2) BlackTip, have you taken a Magnesium measure of your out of box Seachem mix, and if so, what have your results been? Mine have read anywhere from 960 to 1080 so far.

 

[2_zoa]

This. ^

The problem that I am having is that I have my system's Magnesium at 1800 right now trying to stave off this Bryopsis. But when I mixed this last batch of new saltwater, out of box, the Magnesium was 960! I had to add 7 cups of Kent Marine Tech M to that new water to raise the Mg up to 1800. If I don't match up the Magnesium levels of the new saltwater to my system's current water, then it will drop my system's Magnesium levels waaay back down.

7 cups is a lot and that is what raised the specific gravity so much. So I diluted the new batch with RO/DI to lower the SG, thus diluting everything in the mix apparently. This was my concern about using the water because the other trace elements in the salt mix would have been watered down.

I'm trying to find a salt mix brand that delivers Magnesium in at least the 1300 range, out of box, but I am not having any luck. They all advertise these numbers, but testing proves otherwise so far. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals delivered in the 1000 range and Seachem's Reef Salt is mixing at around 1000 as well. Having to maintain such a high Mg level for Bryopsis is a real pain in the arse when you're using such low producing salt mix.

Thank you guys for all of the input. Very educational! :bigeyes:

I'm curious if you mix your new salt containers before you open and use them?

I read a wile back the the different components that make up our salt mixes can stratify during shipment. That it was a good idea to mix them well before use. So I've always rolled my buckets of salt back and forth for about 5 mins before I open them for the first time. It isn't something you do every time, just before you open them.

 

[BlackTip]

It's spooky because this is almost identical to what I have been doing. I went from about 1300 to 1800 at 80ppm over a few days, but I was using IO Reef Crystals and Red Sea Reef Foundation A+B+C. My alkalinity is also stubborn at 8. So far, all of my snails are okay though. I have a few SPS, LPS, Shrooms, Crabs, etc. and have seen no signs of stress.

I also switched over to Seachem Reef Salt, in hopes of a higher Magnesium content, but it is as weak as IORC. I'm going to try Coralife Marine Salt next. I have a total water volume of about 100g, and I change 20 gallons every 2 weeks.

Now I have questions:

1) I have read that you should not increase your system's Magnesium level more than 100ppm in a 24 hour period. If you mix your new saltwater at the 1.022 SG, doesn't that cause a large plummet in your system's Mg level? And if so, is a drastic drop in Mg as bad as a drastic increase? That's why I have been trying to match my new saltwater's Mg to my display's.
2) BlackTip, have you taken a Magnesium measure of your out of box Seachem mix, and if so, what have your results been? Mine have read anywhere from 960 to 1080 so far.

Yes, after water change there is large plummet in MG. 100 to 150 parts. I didn't notice any ill effect from MG plummeting. I bring right back up within 24 hours. The reason that I don't add Kent Magnesium to the water mix is because of potential precipitation.

I didn't take MG measure of SeaChem mix, but I believe it is too low. My last water change dropped MG by full 200 parts. It took one full gallon of Kent to bring back up. This is unacceptable parameter for MG. I will test the next patch.

 

[Xxero]

I'm curious if you mix your new salt containers before you open and use them?

I read a wile back the the different components that make up our salt mixes can stratify during shipment. That it was a good idea to mix them well before use. So I've always rolled my buckets of salt back and forth for about 5 mins before I open them for the first time. It isn't something you do every time, just before you open them.

Yes. I have heard the same in regards to the components settling in shipping. I usually buy the 200g cases which contain 4 individual bags. After opening a bag, and also before each new water mix, I turn and flip and rotate and swirl and shake the bag in hopes of redistribution. :bigeyes:

 

[Xxero]

Yes, after water change there is large plummet in MG. 100 to 150 parts. I didn't notice any ill effect from MG plummeting. I bring right back up within 24 hours. The reason that I don't add Kent Magnesium to the water mix is because of potential precipitation.

I think that I will try it your way from now on. I'm only at about a committed 4 weeks into this treatment. I believe that I did have a little precipitation on my first batch, but I didn't notice any at all on this last.

I didn't take MG measure of SeaChem mix, but I believe it is too low. My last water change dropped MG by full 200 parts. It took one full gallon of Kent to bring back up. This is unacceptable parameter for MG. I will test the next patch.

I feel the same about it being unacceptable. I feel that if they advertise certain numbers, the levels should at least be close. It took me about 60 fl. oz. of Kent Tech M to raise the levels of that last batch to 1800. I figure I have gone through about 2 gallons of Kent Tech M so far in this treatment. :furious:

 

[2_zoa]

Yes. I have heard the same in regards to the components settling in shipping. I usually buy the 200g cases which contain 4 individual bags. After opening a bag, and also before each new water mix, I turn and flip and rotate and swirl and shake the bag in hopes of redistribution. :bigeyes:

Awesome.

 

[Maxxingout]

I'm on my 2nd gallon of tech m, after going through a 64oz and a 1 gallon jug already. I'm on 3 weeks also. Wish I could say my bryopsis is melting away to, but it's not. The ferns are whitish but some are still green. I started out at 1350ppm on my mag and went up 100ppm a day until I hit 2000. I do about 15% water change evey 2 wks and measure mag before and after then adjust. I do nothing extra to my alk & cal but my salinity does need to be adjusted. I'm also carbon dosing with vinegar and dosing h2o2 in the tank every early morning and late evening before lights come on and turn off. I only have a few snails left and my fire shrimp just molted and crabs are around but very slow.

I"ll also be screwed if I can't get this virus to leave my tank. I can't imagine having to start all over again. One would have to completely sanitize everything as far as equipment and get rid of all rocks, sand, even coral. I've hit my coral's bad areas with straight 3% h2o2. I knew I was going to loose those parts in doing so. Well wks later that part of the coral is dead and new bry is starting to grow back. I've had my zoes in straight h2o2 3x already, stuff keeps growing back! I mean how would you be able to add anything back to a new tank if you can't rid bry off the corals no matter the method? So if you can't get rid of this stuff off your corals then they'd have to go also. Basically only the fish would be what you'd keep.

 

[Xxero]

I"ll also be screwed if I can't get this virus to leave my tank.

It's a plague is what it is. :mad2: