Problem Tropic Marine Salt: TOO LOW Mg - How to raise?

[aaron23]

I've had trouble raising the magnesium levels to their proper parameters. Is it just me or why are these levels sooo low... How would you suggest fixing the Magnesium in steps? thanks guys.
Aaron.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've not heard of it being consistently low. What value do you get?

ESV and Kent magnesium supplements are a good way to go, as is Dead Sea Works MAG Flake deicer (magnesium chloride hexahydrate). Other deicer brands may not be OK.

This calculator shows how much to use once you know the levels:

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

 

[aaron23]

i've heard about using eptsom mg salt with some thing in conjunction to get the mg levels to their proper parameters. I'd need bottles of Tech M to keep the levels stable. The batches are near 1000 ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My concern with Epsom salts is that it raises sulfate too much for such a large addition (more than it raises magnesium). I'd look for the Dead Sea Works MAG Flake deicer if you don't want to spend the money on commercial supplements.

These articles have more info:

Magnesium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

A Homemade Magnesium Supplement
http://web.archive.org/web/20030624...work.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/june/bio/default.asp

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php