Magnesium

[T5PO]

Same Problem

Same Problem

I do test for Mag and just started using the New Red Sea Salt. I use Seachem solid Mag 5mil every other day with my top off on a 37g mixed reef, and it keeps my Mag around 1275ppm. That new salt really keep the Calcium up in the 4 hundreds, i only have to add Alk and Mag only. Even whith other Salt mixes the Mag ran out of my tanks fast.

 

[pecan2phat]

benray,
I would suggest that you test magnesium with a Salifert test kit and adjust your magnesium level to 1300 ppm with either hobby marketed magnesium supplement or magflake. Using Purple Up does not "target" what your trying to increase and I also have not heard anything good about that product.

 

[pecan2phat]

ctreefer,
I believe that SPS dominated tanks loose magnesium faster but your correct on a fowlr tank too
I tested my fowlr after a month and the mag levels dropped off also.
Leads me to believe that live rock growing coralline will absorb it also especially if there is no source of supplement as in a CaRx. Unless you also reactor your fowlr tank

 

[benray4fun]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10096596#post10096596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pecan2phat
benray,
I would suggest that you test magnesium with a Salifert test kit and adjust your magnesium level to 1300 ppm with either hobby marketed magnesium supplement or magflake. Using Purple Up does not "target" what your trying to increase and I also have not heard anything good about that product.

I'm getting a mag test kit and mag/strontium dosing agent this weekend. Also, I'm using purple up as an ONLY resort right now because that's all I have that contains at least some magnesium for the moment.

 

[Obi-dad]

I agree that some corals like SPS and coralline algae uptake some Mg, but most of the Mg depletion is occurring due to water changes with salt mixes that are low in Mg, not coral uptake. Corals incorporate little Mg compared to Ca and Alk.

One problem with Purple Up is that it is not a balanced additive - you are not adding Alk to go with the Ca, so the Ca/Alk ratio becomes unbalanced.

 

[Neublian]

There are some balanced one part additives like calcium acetate which adds both calcium and alk. Products like liquid reactor use this method. I don't know about purple up (or any other one part additive) but it could be possible to add both in one shot.

-Neublian

 

[Obi-dad]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10097063#post10097063 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Neublian
There are some balanced one part additives like calcium acetate which adds both calcium and alk. Products like liquid reactor use this method. I don't know about purple up (or any other one part additive) but it could be possible to add both in one shot.

-Neublian

I am not sure that is correct. Acetate is an organic molecule (like acetic acid but with one more oxygen atom), alkalinity is CO3- (inorganic). Acetate is a carbon source, but not a source of alkalinity.

 

[Neublian]

I am not sure that is correct. Acetate is an organic molecule (like acetic acid but with one more oxygen atom), alkalinity is CO3- (inorganic). Acetate is a carbon source, but not a source of alkalinity

I'm certainly no chemist.

It talks very briefly about it at the end of this article.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[Obi-dad]

It looks like calcium acetate can be a balanced additive, but there are drawbacks. From a post by Randy:

calcium acetate, and it is an OK way to go with two considerations:

1. cost for adequate purity

and

2. It consumes a lot of O2. I'd add it in the AM, and even better would be added several times throughout the day (or constantly).

In general, I'd prefer to use a balanced two part system, especially since they are often mush less expensive and consume no O2, and allow for pH raising if necessary (or not if it isn't).

Calcium acetate will tend to lower pH.




Other posts on acetate mention that it is used by bacteria as a carbon source, so can cause bacterial blooms.

 

[Khaley]

Anyone know where to find Magflake near Milford?

 

[pecan2phat]

Would be tough to find Magflake (ice melt) now. Back in April, I found bags of it in a Home depot up in Wallingford.

 

[Khaley]

Thank you. Trying to find a cheaper way to dose Mg. Also I like your method of dosing the water prior to change. Hate the Mg loss after my 20% weekly change.

 

[bpd964]

I have been using this media in my calcium reactor for several months now and I am confident that this is the reason that I no longer have issues with low magnesium..

 

[ctreefer]

Khaley, if you need some to tie you over till winter I could spare some. I only have about 3 lbs so I could give you half and I'll have plenty till then.

I'll be working around the house today (Milford) and will check back every so often.

 

[pecan2phat]

bpd,
How much do you add into your Rx & does it need a low ph to dissolve. I've tried the dolomite method but that needs a ph effluent of 6.2 or lower. Also who sells it?
Thanks.

 

[bpd964]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10108564#post10108564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pecan2phat
bpd,
How much do you add into your Rx & does it need a low ph to dissolve. I've tried the dolomite method but that needs a ph effluent of 6.2 or lower. Also who sells it?
Thanks.

I use 1/3 in my second calcium reactor chamber..

 

[PL-Reef]

james- where did you buy the ULTRA MAG?

 

[bpd964]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10114416#post10114416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PL-Reef
james- where did you buy the ULTRA MAG?

Jas, try this link:

http://www.stm-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Fauna_Marin.html

 

[bpd964]

This might be better..
http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/

 

[PL-Reef]

thanks bro.