Let's talk about Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium in an SPS Tank
- Thread starter JB NY
- Start date
does anyone know anything about the magnesium in Instant Ocean? i have been using it for about the last year and haven/tn had any loss, parameters seem to be good but i don't test for mag ever. I supplement with kalwasser and various coralvite, and phytoplankton as wek=ll as purple up during monthlys.
I only ask because I set up a new 150 for sps, still have lots of lps and mush, leathers but a superman monti is the only sps i have i think, Superman Montipora ? Encrusting
I'd appreciate the feed back?
I only ask because I set up a new 150 for sps, still have lots of lps and mush, leathers but a superman monti is the only sps i have i think, Superman Montipora ? Encrusting
I'd appreciate the feed back?
Aquarist007
New member
where are you getting your makeup water from?
Aquarist007
New member
Aquarist007
New member
I like the new avitar Marc
melev
Well-known member
The alkalinity of your RO/DI water may not be accurate, since you are probably using a saltwater test kit.
Or was that measurement of 12.5 dKH from the saltwater you just mixed? How long did you allow it to mix? I would wait 24 hours, allowing it to completely mix with a powerhead during that period. You could also add an airstone to oxygenate the water. Let us know what that number ends up being.
You need to measure the Magnesium with a test kit. Salifert or Elos both make one that is relatively easy to use. The numbers vary from bag to bag and bucket to bucket, so no matter what number you see published on this forum or any other, that doesn't mean every batch you mix will match it.
Randy Holmes Farley wrote several good articles on Magnesium. You can read how it works in our systems, as well as how to make your own Magnesium additive to dose the system.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php
Jdieck made a Chemistry Calculator to determine how much you need to dose, which is very useful and something I use often.
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html
melev
Well-known member
Since you are changing a portion of your water, the slightly higher dKH will not affect the system adversely.
It is good to always check the pH of your aged (24 hours) saltwater, as it is an indicator of the alkalinity level. I discuss this near the end of this article:
How to Change Water in Your Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-11/nftt/index.php
It is good to always check the pH of your aged (24 hours) saltwater, as it is an indicator of the alkalinity level. I discuss this near the end of this article:
How to Change Water in Your Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-11/nftt/index.php
Reefer07
New member
My Mg has been sky high, 1600+ since I started my tank 6 months ago. I have never dosed it once. My ca and alk are pretty easy to maintain (uptaking the same amount of a 2 part additive daily) but I would still like to maybe get it down to target levels.
I was using Instant ocean salt but now Tropic Marin Pro.
Any ideas what the heck its problem is?
I was using Instant ocean salt but now Tropic Marin Pro.
Any ideas what the heck its problem is?
melev
Well-known member
High magnesium is rarely an issue, so even if that number is true, don't worry about it. The only thing I know that seems affected by high Mg readings are snails. Some people dose it on purpose to kill back Bryopsis, a type of turf algae that looks like green hair algae. When they do, they dose even higher.
I would expect as your tank is more heavily stocked, that number will begin to deplete.
Btw, whenever you have an usual number, it is best to do the test three times in a row and then take the average of the three.
I would expect as your tank is more heavily stocked, that number will begin to deplete.
Btw, whenever you have an usual number, it is best to do the test three times in a row and then take the average of the three.
Reefer07
New member
My tank is jam packed with corals as well as bryopsis haha. I haven't elevated my Mg levels at all because they are already so high. One day I did take a syringe and tried to shoot a little section. It didn't work. I recently got some lettuce nudis and found that my astrae snails like it. I am also working out some other small flaws with my system that may be contributing to the excess algae.
Aquarist007
New member
Here is a link to the byopsis thread--you might find some help there.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1113109
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1113109
