Still having magnesium issues

[Reefer07]

About a month ago I had a post up that I was having trouble with my magnesium. It was unusually high and everyone just said to keep doing water changes and it should slowly come down.
Well I have been doing regular water changes and I haven't dosed or even tested my Mg in a month. Today I figured I'd test it and it is still uunusually high (1500-1600)

Basically I am making this post again to see if anyone has any other ideas as to how I can reduce my Mg. I am using RO water which I have tested and there is 0 nitrates. I also am using instant ocean salt mix.

Also, my nitrates seem to always be at 20 even after I do a water change. My chaeto is growing fairly well too. Any know of any ways I can reduce this as well?

Thanks,
Zac

 

[Billybeau1]

Hi Zac. I suspect you are using Oceanic Salt right ?

I haven't seen any evidence that high magnesium is a problem. I would not be too concerned and maybe double check your test kit to make sure it is reading properly.

Believe me, many wish they had your problem.

 

[coral diver]

BTW what test kit your using Elos had a reformulated one that instead of dividing it with 100 its 75

 

[lancer99]

I had this problem, Mg about 1500-1600, with a couple of buckets of Reef Crystals purchased late last year. Maybe Instant Ocean had the same problem as well?

-R

 

[Reefer07]

Yes I am using instant ocean. It just stinks because I bought a test kit and a big bottle of Mg supplement and I thought I was going to have to supplement it like calcium and alkalinity.

 

[Reefer07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12940292#post12940292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coral diver
BTW what test kit your using Elos had a reformulated one that instead of dividing it with 100 its 75

I use a red sea test kit......

 

[lancer99]

I first tested my Mg with a Red Sea test kit, but because it was so high, suspected the test kit. Then I bought an Elos and got pretty much the same results....bought some Tropic Marin salt and the Mg was normal (with both test kits). So the Red Sea test kit seems good.

-R

 

[Reefer07]

That's good to hear.....a lot of people try to push salifert and stuff but I have tested with many different test kits and I find most of them to be pretty much in the same vicinity. Especially when dealing with big numbers like Magnesium.
I'm not saying test strips are ok though hahah

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I expect the problem is testing. I do not believe that normal Instant Ocean has that much magnesium, and water changes would have quickly brought it down. Have you measured the salt mix itself with that kit?

 

[Reefer07]

Ya I tested it with the kit and it showed the same result as my tank does.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Then I expect it is most likely to be testing error. IO usually looks more like this:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1287118

................................Calcium Alkalinity (dKH) Magnesium
................................350..............12....................1070

 

[Reefer07]

That sounds like more reasonable levels. I don't think I have tested my alk. that high but I would have to test again but that definitely sounds more on target.

 

[Billybeau1]

I tested the Red Sea magnesium kit and it did not fair well.

I have only found 2 brands of hobby grade magnesium kits to be reasonably accurate. Salifert and Elos.