Why is my tank using so much Magnesium?

[DeepSeaBeauti]

I was really struggling to get my Mag levels up so that I could maintain my Cal and alk to 400ppm and 9dkl respectively. For a while my mag would drop to 1000ppm and in my system using BRS Mag mix I would need to add nearly 9,000ml of there solution to get up to 1300ppm.
So what I did was a nice big water change of about 55 gallons. This brought my Alk, Ca and Mag levels right where they need to be. ( I use salinity salt) That was on Saturday, Ive been testing daily and my Ca level is dropping as expected but nothing drastic, same with my alk that is a bit less. My Mag though is already down to 1200 from the 1350 it was Monday.

I do drip super saturated Kalkwasser ( 3 tsp with 20ml of vinegar), could this be contributing to my mag level? Do I really need this much magnesium? Is there a better/Cheeper soluiton to raise my mag and keep it there? In my over 400gal system it gets very expensive to dose gallons of mag a week. Thanks in advance.

Will

 

[pecan2phat]

Is your coralline algae starting to take off?
This can deplete your magnesium quickly.

If you can find Dead Sea Scroll Mag Flakes deicer, this will greatly reduce the cost. There is a mixing ratio with epsom salt to get the right balance.

 

[b7fig]

Kalk does deplete/use Mag faster.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Is your coralline algae starting to take off?
This can deplete your magnesium quickly.
My tank in general has a lot of coralline algae, and has always grown fairly well. Im only really noticing this now because I have been trying to keep SPS corals recently so I have been watching my levels.

If you can find Dead Sea Scroll Mag Flakes deicer, this will greatly reduce the cost. There is a mixing ratio with epsom salt to get the right balance.

Yeah I have seen Randys mix but I also see that it was updated to say that they can not guarantee that the purity is acceptable enough for our aquariums

Kalk does deplete/use Mag faster.

Yeah, thats what I read, but was surprised at how much so fast.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Never had a problem with it.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Never had a problem with it.

From Randy's article:
Editors note (3/10/07): Note, the manufacturer of MAG flake has alerted us that they very strongly recommend against using this product in reef aquaria. While many reef aquarists have successfully used the product, the manufacturer does not claim to be able to provide this product at suitable quality in the future.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Never had a problem with it.[/QUOTE

Vinny, Where do you get your Mag flake from? I tried a quick search on the Depot site but don't see it. Its worth a try, but with all this weather lately I feel it maybe harder to get then in the summer.

 

[lrasser]

What your experiencing is normal during the beginning stages of setting up the tank. The sand, rock, coraline, coral (prob least draw) will absorb large amounts as the tank matures. It will stop once everything settles down. Here is a good explanation of whats happening:

(I dose 70 ml daily of mag!)


Allot of fresh carbonate LR and sand/ gravel could do that. along with coralline. Fresh new carbonate surfaces have a affinity for Magnesium. This causes the carbonate surfaces to have overgrowth precip's we call High Magnesium Calcite. These prepcips can deplete the Ca++, Mg++ and Alk allot in the beginning. This will all stop in time and get back to more normal dosing. With that said, what you and some are seeing is by far not a norm. The type of substrate, what it is, its grain size, the pH of the area, temp, porosity and total surface area are pretty much what controls it. Meaning, the higher the pH in that bed, higher temp, more surface area and porosity are what controls it until the surface of the material gets coated either from the High Magnesium Calcite, reaching equilibrium and or organic coatings which pretty much halts the process. And to add it is not just Magnesium, as Mg++ can not just leave by its self, it is taking Ca++ and Alk with it.

 

[Editour2]

I was really struggling to get my Mag levels up so that I could maintain my Cal and alk to 400ppm and 9dkl respectively. For a while my mag would drop to 1000ppm and in my system using BRS Mag mix I would need to add nearly 9,000ml of there solution to get up to 1300ppm.
So what I did was a nice big water change of about 55 gallons. This brought my Alk, Ca and Mag levels right where they need to be. ( I use salinity salt) That was on Saturday, Ive been testing daily and my Ca level is dropping as expected but nothing drastic, same with my alk that is a bit less. My Mag though is already down to 1200 from the 1350 it was Monday.

I do drip super saturated Kalkwasser ( 3 tsp with 20ml of vinegar), could this be contributing to my mag level? Do I really need this much magnesium? Is there a better/Cheeper soluiton to raise my mag and keep it there? In my over 400gal system it gets very expensive to dose gallons of mag a week. Thanks in advance.

Will

Will,
did you test your water change water? See what the levels are there as well. If the salt you are using is within the parameters you want to achieve that will be a good starting point.....you can take it from there.....I wouldn't strive for the alkalinity to be 9 dkh (although that is certainly within the acceptable range of 7 to 11dkh for reefs, normal seawater is around 7). When I asked everyone at the last meeting where they prefer to keep the alkalinity...7 was also the preferred number. The main focus should really be in remaining consistent in all aspects of reef keeping and to make slow small changes....nothing quickly and nothing drastic or disaster will ensue.
Frank

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

What your experiencing is normal during the beginning stages of setting up the tank. The sand, rock, coraline, coral (prob least draw) will absorb large amounts as the tank matures. It will stop once everything settles down. Here is a good explanation of whats happening:

(I dose 70 ml daily of mag!)


Allot of fresh carbonate LR and sand/ gravel could do that. along with coralline. Fresh new carbonate surfaces have a affinity for Magnesium. This causes the carbonate surfaces to have overgrowth precip's we call High Magnesium Calcite. These prepcips can deplete the Ca++, Mg++ and Alk allot in the beginning. This will all stop in time and get back to more normal dosing. With that said, what you and some are seeing is by far not a norm. The type of substrate, what it is, its grain size, the pH of the area, temp, porosity and total surface area are pretty much what controls it. Meaning, the higher the pH in that bed, higher temp, more surface area and porosity are what controls it until the surface of the material gets coated either from the High Magnesium Calcite, reaching equilibrium and or organic coatings which pretty much halts the process. And to add it is not just Magnesium, as Mg++ can not just leave by its self, it is taking Ca++ and Alk with it.

Well, I'd believe that but my system is far from new. The 300 has been set up now for well over a year, and 90% of all the sand and rock came from my 125 and that rock has been in the system for yearsssss. lol

Will,
did you test your water change water? See what the levels are there as well. If the salt you are using is within the parameters you want to achieve that will be a good starting point.....you can take it from there.....I wouldn't strive for the alkalinity to be 9 dkh (although that is certainly within the acceptable range of 7 to 11dkh for reefs, normal seawater is around 7). When I asked everyone at the last meeting where they prefer to keep the alkalinity...7 was also the preferred number. The main focus should really be in remaining consistent in all aspects of reef keeping and to make slow small changes....nothing quickly and nothing drastic or disaster will ensue.
Frank

I did not, All I tested was the salinity. I do know that the Salinity salt I use is very high in mag levels. This is right from there site ;

Calcium: target 422 mg/L, range 400 to 443 mg/L
Magnesium: target 1336 mg/L, range 1269 to 1403 mg/L
Strontium: target 8.4 mg/L, range 8.0 to 8.8 mg/L

Alkalinity and pH values vary widely over the Earth's oceans. salinityâ„¢ will be within the following ranges:
pH: 8.4 to 8.6
Alkalinity: 3.2 to 3.8 meq/L


So I know it all started right where it should. Just surprised at how much mag Ive been using.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Will -
All County Block & Supply
899 Lincoln Avenue
Bohemia, NY
631-589-3675
Just north of Sunrise Lincoln Ave Exit

 

[lrasser]

mine didn't start consuming it until about a year in. Now it drinks it like coolaid.

 

[Reefist]

I dose it but I have some big mangroves.
Tom

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Never had a problem with it.

Will -
All County Block & Supply
899 Lincoln Avenue
Bohemia, NY
631-589-3675
Just north of Sunrise Lincoln Ave Exit

Sweet, Thanks Vinny. If it really is consuming this much I am going to need a cheap solution.

mine didn't start consuming it until about a year in. Now it drinks it like coolaid.

Well its really hard for me to know for sure because Ive only recently been keeping a hawks eye on my water chemistry, but I never really had this much consumption as I could remember.

I dose it but I have some big mangroves.
Tom

I have no mangroves, just very little SPS and mostly soft corals.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Has anyone used the Reef advantage Magnesium? It looks like it has a very potent mix and does not take much to raise the levels much. Aqua hut said they can get me the big bucket for a great price.