magnesium dosing

[gibson981]

I have a 90 gallon display, 29 gallon sump (runs half full). 3 clams (one is 3 inches, the other two are 5 inches, frogspawn with 8 or 9 heads, torche coral with 8 or 9 heads, a lot of xenia, a couple of unidentified sps, 80 pounds or so of live rock. I run a GEO 612 Ca reactor w/CRM media. If I have my Ca around 400, my dKh around 10, and my Mg around 1250, would it be ok if I dripped MG in to help keep the Ca balanced?

 

[HighlandReefer]

It will take a lot of mag. supplement to increase your level up. The easiest way to maintain your mag. level, especially if you are using a low mag. salt mix like Instant Ocean is to add the appropriate amount of mag. mix to your water change salt mix. You can use the mag. mix and the Reef Chemistry Calculator to increase your current Mag. level to where you want it. It is not recommended to increase your Mag. level by more than 100 ppm per day.

Randy's Do-it-Yourself Mag. mix will be much cheaper to use.

Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[bertoni]

A drip is fine, although I don't bother, personally. My tanks haven't consumed enough magnesium for it to be worth the effort, but every tank is different.

 

[reef_doug]

I would use the 10:1 recipe for raising Mg and dose per the calculator not to exceed 100 ppm per day as suggested.

Secondly I would add some ZEOmag to your reactor. I believe they recommend 10% reactor volume of ZEOmag.

 

[Billybeau1]

Mag at 1250 is not going to stop your calcium from doing its job.

If you want to bump it up a little, an occasional dose of a magnesium supplement is a good idea. Dosing is not necessary IMO as mag depletes slowly in most tanks.

The diy's are good for large tanks, but I just keep a gallon of Kent's Tech-M on hand and an occasional bump keeps my magnesium level in check.

 

[gibson981]

Thanks for all the replies. I will look into using Randy's recipe. This is what I love about this hobby and RC. There are many people passionate enough about this hobby to give advice and assistance to see others have success. Thanks everyone.:rollface:

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck!