Test question?

[an411]

Is magnesium something that I should get a test kit for?

Also after testing with a salifert calcium test kit my calcium test came out at 470? I am going to retest it tonight but if that is the case how do I lower my calcium or is that ok to be high?

 

[papagimp]

it's a little high, but not dangerously so, at least not in my opinion. Mines running about 480 at the moment. To lower it, just let it run it's course, it should lower with time and nothing else. Just don't keep dosing Ca in the tank while it's high, only going to raise it even higher. As for magnesium, It wouldn't hurt to get a test kit for it. Not something that I test for all the time, about once every couple months or so, but it is good to know what your mag levels are cause that can help forsee problems before they become a problem. Also need to be testing your alkalinity as well, very well may be but since you didn't specifically list it, thought it should be mentioned.

 

[an411]

papagimp yeah I been testing alk also that was fine when I tested it.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that 470 ppm Ca isn't high enough to be dangerous. I'd just stop dosing it for a bit. Magnesium is useful to test now and then, in my opinion. I run magnesium tests every few months or so.

 

[cloak]

No. If it's not broke don't fix it. Testing and tweaking might be a problem.

 

[an411]

The weird thing is I never dosed it at all. This tank has only been setup for about a month and a half

 

[kevinohio]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10715112#post10715112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by an411
The weird thing is I never dosed it at all. This tank has only been setup for about a month and a half

What type of salt are you using, what salinity level are you at.
some mixes have higher levels than others, and depending on how much you are adding it can get CA levels that high.

 

[an411]

1.026 is where I like to keep it at and I am using instant ocean

 

[kevinohio]

yeah at 1.026 abd that mix you sgould have good CA, i didnt think that high, but i keep my at 1.024 so that mnay be the difference

 

[an411]

It honestly could be that I didnt do the test right cause that was the first time that I ever tested for calcium.

 

[kevinohio]

what test kit are you using, I like salifert best for CA

 

[an411]

Salifert is what I been using for all my tests besides PH got a digital tester for that

 

[Sk8r]

Magnesium, calcium, and alkalinity are 3 main tests. Test mg if your calcium or alk won't stay up: mg is low if the other two start falling inexplicably. Your mg level should be 3x your calcium reading---but keep it just below 1300.

 

[XSiVE]

Why is it important to keep mg below 1300?

 

[an411]

why test for magnesium if its 3 times calcium?

Or is that what it is suppose to be?

 

[XSiVE]

thats just what its supposed to be. If its too low the calcium will precipitate out IIRC.

There's an article somewhere on reefkeeping that explains the relationship between calc, alk, and mg.

 

[papagimp]

I've hear keeping mg at about 1350 to be better, but in all honestly I don't know for certain. mine is sitting right about there so i don't worry about it.

fwiw, I used to use IO salt mix before switching to ReefCrystals several months back, when I was using IO I aimed the SG to be around 1.026 and my Ca levels were never that high. Always stayed a little on the low side, even with a higher SG.

 

[bertoni]

Magnesium at around 1275 ppm should be fine. I wouldn't worry about 1350 ppm, personally. This article covers all the water parameters:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Low magnesiums levels can encourage calcium carbonate precipitation.