Water Chemistry: Mg, Alk, Calcium

R

Reefugee

New member
Hello All,

I need to raise the Mg in my tank from 950ppm to 1350ppm . How fast can I raise the Mg (in PPM) each day? I am dosing with ESV Ionic Mg supplement. The container shows how to raise the Mg 15 PPM per day. At that rate, it would take my 4 weeks of daily dosing to bring it up to the right level. I was wondering if it would be safe to do it any faster?

After my Mg is in the righ range, I will need to increase my alk and calcium in that order. Once again - what is the fastest rate that I can raise the alk and calcium.

Thanks
Minh
 
Also, go to the Reef Chemistry Forum and open up the reef chemistry calculator. Plug in your numbers and tank volume under magnesium, pick your product and read the warning about ESV at the bottom. That'll get you going. :)
 
Last night I added in 200ml of the ESV B-Ionic Mg to my 120G. it raised my Mg level from 960ppm to 1020ppm. So at the rate I am raising my Mg, it will take about one week to get it to approximately 1350 PPM.

My goal is to raise the Mg to about 1350 PPM. Once that is raised, I was planning on using baking soda to bring my Alk up to the right level.

After the calcium is up to the correct level, I plan on using some Dow Flakes (CaCl) to bring my calcium up to the right level.

Once every thing is in balace, the calcium reactor will be used to maintain the alk and Ca level. All water for water changes will be balanced prior to adding it to the tank.

Does this seem like a reasonable process? Are there any other water parameters (beside Ca, Mg, Alk, pH, temp, ORP) that I should be monitoring and fixing?

Thanks
Minh
 
I assume you are testing your specific gravity.

You might also test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate once a month or so.

Also Phosphate (PO4) occasionally :)
 
Minh,

Are you saying that your ca reactor will be able to maintain both your alk and ca once you have both set at the desireable level? I thought that ca reactor will help maintain only the ca and you have to consistently add pickel lime or baking soda to your topoff to maintain the alk.
 
Billy - good point. I do check for those about once a month.

Lou - I thought (probably incorrectly) that a CA reactor helps maintain both Ca and Alk. if it doesn't help maintain alk - then I will consider dripping pickle lime or backing soda.
 
Wow this is all like a foreign language to me, I sure do have some reading up too do. I think the 25$ for the membership is going to be well worth it.
 
Yes Minh, you are correct to assume that once your calcium and alk are in balance, the reactor can be used to maintain those levels. Your method looks good to me.
 
Minh, once you decide to get your reactor up and running there is some media , don't remeber the name, that you can use to also maintain your Mg levles. I know a few member like Tim are useing it.
 
Thanks to everyone for your response. I will proceed and see how this works. :D I thought that maybe the carbonate in the carbonate would act is a buffer (just like baking soda which is sodium bicarbonate). It was only a guess - but thanks to everyone for confirming it.

Hiep - Mg doesn't directly affect corals. However, it will affect how much calcium is in the water. In the tank, calcium will react with carbonate ions to precipitate out calcium carbonate. Since Mg+ has a stronger electron (negative) affinity, it is more likely to bind to the carbonate anions (which has a negative charge). But reducing the amount of carbonate anions. the Le Chatelier principle states that the reaction will shift in the direction of free Ca cations and free carbonate anions.

David - The media is Dolomite. Dolomite is basically alternating layer of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. I know this compound all too well because I spent a year of my life doing nothing by calculating the thermodynamic properties of it and taking a lot of picture under an scanning tunneling microscope (which our research group purchased for something like $800K!). Ironically - now I have no clue where to buy dolomite. :-P

Minh
 
Ok - I have been slowing dripping in some ESV Magnesium B-ionic. At first, my Mg level went from 900 to 1100 pretty quickly. However, now it's rising very slowly. Last night, when I checked my Mg level it was at 1060. My ALK was 7.4. I can't remember my Ca level, but it was in the 300.

Based on CaliforniaDreamer's earlier post, I thought I would raise the Mg level to about 1300PPM, then Alk to about 8-10 (using baking soda), and then Calcium to 450 PPM (using Dow Flake).

Anyway - I have gone through almost a whole gallon of ESV Mg B-Ionic. I has assumed that by now, my Mg level would have been in the 1300 PPM range. Maybe I need to order another bottle of ESV Mg or some Mag Flake.

My test kits are all Salifert.

So what am I missing here?

-Minh
 
Hi Minh, sounds like you are doing everything right. I have noticed also that razing Mg levels does not seem linear, don't know why. I was told at one time that live rock will "absorb" Mg until it's levels stabilize, don't know if that is true. In any case you might want to keep the Ca and Alk balanced by increasing both at the same time. I use ToeCutter's calculator (it seems to be down right now) as a guide to balance. You also might want to read Anthony Calfo's guide HERE , I found it informitive and helpfull.
 
John,

Thanks for the info. It was driving me nutz that my Mg level spiked up really fast, but then just plateau out. I have a question regarding the Mg and Ca group purchase. I will post it in the other thread. Thanks again.

Minh
 
The reef chemistry calculator says you need 78.4 oz of that stuff to get from 1060 to 1350. Dont forget, no more than 100ppm per day raise to be safe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Calcium very elevated
Replies
3
Views
328
jcarlilesiu
J
Broken reefer
Alk and calcium
Replies
3
Views
325
Reefing102
Reefing102
Sohal Tang Tim
HOW FAST CAN I ADD MAGNESIUM
Replies
1
Views
336
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
Broken reefer
Alk and cal
Replies
10
Views
389
Broken reefer
Broken reefer
R
How to simplify my dosing?
Replies
1
Views
593
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
Back
Top