Magnesium wont rise

[AdamSabina]

I am using 2 part as BRS suggest. My alk is fairly stead at 155ppm 8.15 DKH, calcium 390, and magnesium is 1230. 150 gallon under stocked SPS (tank is new, 4-5 months), only bio load is small cleaner crew.

I'm trying to get to 170, 420-430, 1400 mag. I cant seem to get ANYTHING TO RISE.

I does 105ml magnesium (solution) which got me from 950 to 1200.

ALK falls second fastest over 20-30ppm a day. 65ml seems to hold it steady at 155.

And calcium falls slowly maybe 10-15 ppm a day. I'm dosing 40ml a day.

I "fell" my mag is to low causing precipitation Any one else using BRS 2part? I added another 30ml to the magnesium to zero affect.

 

[jerpa]

It takes a lot of magnesium solution to raise it much. Here is a Reef Calculator to help you figure out how much to add. I would question the test kit as the 105 ml you added wouldn't raise it that much. Verify the magnesium level is above 1200 before trying to raise the calcium and alkalinity.

Your consumption rate isn't very high. That corresponds to a drop of 1.5 dKh per day. Coralline alone can consume more alkalinity and calcium than that per day. I would test alk daily and do a few additional manual doses to raise it to where you would like to keep it. Same with calcium. I'd limit the increases to .5dKh per day and 25ppm calcium. Add the same amount of calcium as you add alkalinity and test calcium weekly otherwise you will just chase numbers. If you notice calcium decreasing or increasing over a few weeks due to water changes you may need to dose more or less calcium. Its always best to start with equal amounts of 2 part though.

 

[Chronicj7]

I second the test kits. Try to cross reference with another kit.

 

[AdamSabina]

It takes a lot of magnesium solution to raise it much. Here is a Reef Calculator to help you figure out how much to add. I would question the test kit as the 105 ml you added wouldn't raise it that much. Verify the magnesium level is above 1200 before trying to raise the calcium and alkalinity.

Your consumption rate isn't very high. That corresponds to a drop of 1.5 dKh per day. Coralline alone can consume more alkalinity and calcium than that per day. I would test alk daily and do a few additional manual doses to raise it to where you would like to keep it. Same with calcium. I'd limit the increases to .5dKh per day and 25ppm calcium. Add the same amount of calcium as you add alkalinity and test calcium weekly otherwise you will just chase numbers. If you notice calcium decreasing or increasing over a few weeks due to water changes you may need to dose more or less calcium. Its always best to start with equal amounts of 2 part though.

Thank you. I've just moved from a low demand LPS soft coral tank to this larger tank that is VERY new to me so I'm learning. I'm going to start adjusting tomorrow. I test alk every day and calcium and magnesium every other day. That an ok Schedualing?

 

[jerpa]

I wouldn't test calcium more than once a week with your demand. It won't move much, if at all. You can test magnesium weekly as well. That will deplete slower than calcium and sometimes water changes alone will meet that demand. Simply base your 2 part dosing on the daily drop in alk and dose the same amount of both parts. Based on what you said I would dose 65ml of calcium and alkalinity daily.

If the alkalinity has held steady with your current dose you can begin checking that twice a week. I would resume daily testing if you add more coral as even a few frags can bump consumption up considerably.