magnesium supplements feedback wanted

[wah-zoh]

i continue to get low results when i test for magnesium. 840...:eek1: my salinity is a bit low @ 1.022 so i know that would make it a bit lower but not this low. i am slowly raising my salinity during top offs and water changes. target is 1.025

i would like to know what others are using and or doing to maintain thier magnesium levels.

btw ... my calcium is at 450.. and my ph is 8.1 lights off and 8.3 lights on... i cant get accurate reading on my alk red sea test are poor.. i will be getting a new test for this soon.

 

[dreaminmel]

I use this stuff and a little ends up lasting me quite a while. I mix it up per instructions in a gallon milk container and dose occassionally as needed.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...magnesium/magnesium-supplements-for-aquariums

 

[ggdowski]

I must have been doing something wrong....
I had focused on my Ca levels for quite some time... and could not get them above 400. Most of the time it came in at 350.

It turned out to be a big problem in Mg. My Mg levels were low, about 1100. My Ca level didnt rise until I got the Mg level straightened out and above 1300. Do you know if you are measuring Mg correctly. Are you putting in a lot of 2part solution to get your Ca up to 450?

I have the same Mg supply that Mel suggested. I just started using it so I cant really comment on it to much.

 

[wah-zoh]

i dont supplement calcium yet, my tank is newer only 3 months old and dont have any calcium consuming corals other than 1 small torch. i use reef crystals and do weekly 10% waterchanges. the last week i did daily 5%-10% changes because i added 50lbs of live rock and keep getting cloudy water, so that maybe why my calcium is so high. last week when i did my test it was @ 380 went up to 450. last week my MG was at 1100 and this week down to 840? does this not sound right???? maybe i will restest make sure this was not an error result. i am still trying to get the hang of running the tests.

 

[Gravesj1s]

I would question the test kit. That seems like way to low of a level.If it were correct your alk would be low. You could raise it but I highly doubt you'd maintain it for even a day despite alk buffer additions.

 

[pascal32]

I've been getting low (1100) mg levels from the reef crystals batch. I need to dose the pre-mix before water changes. I'm using 2 part magnesium chloride from BRS (link above) sixes with magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt from walmart). I'm not home, think it's 5 cups and 3 cups to a gallon. Check the brs calculator, then select 2 part instructions - bulk

 

[wah-zoh]

i will re test tonight. i can barrow a friends tests to compare as well. i will also test a fresh mix of salt to see what i get on MG. i have no idea what my alk is at whenever i try the test it always turns yellow right away and the red sea kit dont explain this result. will low MG levels , low or high ALK be a cause of this cloudy water?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

don't bother testing for anything until you get your S.G. up to 1.025-1.026

 

[Gravesj1s]

I'd agree with Gary.

 

[Cptn Spaulding]

likewise... if all else fails, bulk reef supply is amazing

 

[cardiffgiant]

I use BRS for magnesium chloride and epsom salts for magnesium chloride, and use the ratio on the BRS instructions.

As others have said, don't bother testing or supplementing the Mg until your Sg is where it needs to be.

 

[wah-zoh]

ok thanks for the info. i will get the S.G up and re test.

 

[ggdowski]

I will re-echo Gary's point and get the SG where you need it to be. Since the other values will vary with SG it is important to get that correct first.

But just remember... when you mix reef crystals to get a higher SG you will get a higher Ca+ in the water you mix. Your Ca+ is already fairly high. So I would do a few good water changes (ie. taking out some of the Ca+) and replace with water of the correct SG and regular Ca+ levels (that said, this will also bring up your Mg levels slightly as well). Do not simply add reef crystals into the tank or add water with a super high SG to make the correction. Go through the process by removing 10-20% of the existing water and gradually get the parameters to converge where you want them to be.

 

[block head]

+1 brs . salifert makes a nice mg test when your ready. it's a bit of pain to use ,but accurate.