magnesium additive question...

nemofish2217 · 02/08/2006, 02:23 PM

Is it absolutely neccassary to have a magnesium test kit before dosing a small amount of magnesium sulfate? I know that sounds stupid, but i also know that with calcium, it is very hard to overdose...do the same principles apply to mag? thanks....

NoSchwag · 02/08/2006, 02:52 PM

I don't know.. But I do know that it takes an awful lot of Mg to raise it in a 120g tank.

Craig Lambert · 02/08/2006, 03:03 PM

Yes! You need to test. It takes a large amount of Magnesium suppliment to raise the level.

You might try using this calculator:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Paintbug · 02/08/2006, 04:46 PM

first how to you know you need to add magnesium without knowing what the levels are? you need to test anything you add, plain and simple!

CW from the OC · 02/08/2006, 05:14 PM

I just got done raising the Mg in my 120 from 700 to 1450. Even testing everyday before supplementing, I still overshot my target of 1350.

Here is what I'd suggest you do:
1. Buy the Salifert Mg test
2. But a 64 ouce bag of Epsom Salt from a pharmacy - $3.50
3. Check your magnesimm level. If it is below 1000, dose 1 cups of Epsom Salt a day until it gets over 1000.
4. Once above 1000, does 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt a day until it gets to 1200. Then 1/4 a cup until it hits 1300.
5. Make sure your calcium reactor is running properly.
6. Check your level monthly, it will drop slower than calcium will, but it will be used up over time.

Edit: I just noticed you have a 47 gallon tank. when making changes, it is better to go slow than too fast, so you may want to start with 1/4 cup a day and lower the does as you near 1350ppm Mg. Ther is nothing wrong with taking 2 weeks to raise it, and it is much less stress on your fish/corals.

02/08/2006, 02:23 PM	#1
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	magnesium additive question... Is it absolutely neccassary to have a magnesium test kit before dosing a small amount of magnesium sulfate? I know that sounds stupid, but i also know that with calcium, it is very hard to overdose...do the same principles apply to mag? thanks....

02/08/2006, 02:52 PM	#2
NoSchwag Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterbury, Ct. Posts: 2,530	I don't know.. But I do know that it takes an awful lot of Mg to raise it in a 120g tank. __________________ Keeping low levels of po4 without chemicals since 2005. Current Tank Info: Beckett skimmed, penductor flowed, luminarc lighted, UV sterilized, litermeter dosed, Aquacontroller controlled, SPS dominated, 120 BB tank.

02/08/2006, 03:03 PM	#3
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Yes! You need to test. It takes a large amount of Magnesium suppliment to raise the level. You might try using this calculator: http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

02/08/2006, 04:46 PM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	first how to you know you need to add magnesium without knowing what the levels are? you need to test anything you add, plain and simple! __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

02/08/2006, 05:14 PM	#5
CW from the OC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 853	I just got done raising the Mg in my 120 from 700 to 1450. Even testing everyday before supplementing, I still overshot my target of 1350. Here is what I'd suggest you do: 1. Buy the Salifert Mg test 2. But a 64 ouce bag of Epsom Salt from a pharmacy - $3.50 3. Check your magnesimm level. If it is below 1000, dose 1 cups of Epsom Salt a day until it gets over 1000. 4. Once above 1000, does 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt a day until it gets to 1200. Then 1/4 a cup until it hits 1300. 5. Make sure your calcium reactor is running properly. 6. Check your level monthly, it will drop slower than calcium will, but it will be used up over time. Edit: I just noticed you have a 47 gallon tank. when making changes, it is better to go slow than too fast, so you may want to start with 1/4 cup a day and lower the does as you near 1350ppm Mg. Ther is nothing wrong with taking 2 weeks to raise it, and it is much less stress on your fish/corals. __________________ Cheers! C Dub Current Tank Info: 210 LeeMar starfire reef (7x2x2), 100 gal SoCalCreations sump, Aquacontroller 3, Geo 618 fed by Cole Parmer peri pump, ATB Large Cone , Aquatinics Constellation T5, 4 Vortecs with wireless controllers, Eheim 1262 return on a SeaSwirl