High Magnesium (off chart)

Mikro · 05/30/2009, 10:42 PM

My Mg has been running high for a couple of weeks now. Today it was again off the chart on the Salifert test kit.
Is this harmful and should I do something to lower it?

I do 20% w/c every 2 weeks (Coralife) 75 gal. tank.

Here are some other parameters:

CA 420
DkH 13.8
PH 8.2
Salinity 1.026
Temp 80 F

laverda · 05/31/2009, 12:15 AM

What salt mix are you using and what are you dosing?

Peter Eichler · 05/31/2009, 12:20 AM

Let it come down naturally, even concentrations as high as 2200ppm don't seem to be noticably harmful to typical reef aquarium inhabitants. Coralife is a little high, but you shouldn't be above 1400ppm...

gabbagabbawill · 05/31/2009, 12:56 AM

could your salinity measurement be off, meaning that you have too much salt mix overall?

Tswifty · 05/31/2009, 02:23 AM

My guess would be a bad test or test kit. Also, the alkalinity level you posted is high. Most recommend running it between 7-12 dKH... with usually around 9-10 dKH considered as "optimal."

snorvich · 05/31/2009, 04:38 AM

What are you using to measure SG?

Mikro · 05/31/2009, 05:22 AM

I was dosing Bionic two part and Mg. Once I noticed the high levels I stopped dosing, that was about two weeks ago. But the levels haven't dropped even without dosing...
I use Coralife salt mix.
I use a swing-arm type meter (Instant Ocean)

Jack01 · 05/31/2009, 10:29 AM

Confirm your reading with another test kit.

05/30/2009, 10:42 PM	#1
Mikro Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Omaha,NE U.S.A. Posts: 1,093	High Magnesium (off chart) My Mg has been running high for a couple of weeks now. Today it was again off the chart on the Salifert test kit. Is this harmful and should I do something to lower it? I do 20% w/c every 2 weeks (Coralife) 75 gal. tank. Here are some other parameters: CA 420 DkH 13.8 PH 8.2 Salinity 1.026 Temp 80 F __________________ Mikro Current Tank Info: On 12/18/04 Started 75gal. reef tank

05/31/2009, 12:15 AM	#2
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	What salt mix are you using and what are you dosing? __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

05/31/2009, 12:20 AM	#3
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	Let it come down naturally, even concentrations as high as 2200ppm don't seem to be noticably harmful to typical reef aquarium inhabitants. Coralife is a little high, but you shouldn't be above 1400ppm... __________________ April 2015 TOTM

05/31/2009, 02:23 AM	#5
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	My guess would be a bad test or test kit. Also, the alkalinity level you posted is high. Most recommend running it between 7-12 dKH... with usually around 9-10 dKH considered as "optimal." __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

05/31/2009, 04:38 AM	#6
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	What are you using to measure SG? __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

05/31/2009, 12:56 AM	#4
gabbagabbawill Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 251	could your salinity measurement be off, meaning that you have too much salt mix overall?

05/31/2009, 05:22 AM	#7
Mikro Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Omaha,NE U.S.A. Posts: 1,093	I was dosing Bionic two part and Mg. Once I noticed the high levels I stopped dosing, that was about two weeks ago. But the levels haven't dropped even without dosing... I use Coralife salt mix. I use a swing-arm type meter (Instant Ocean) __________________ Mikro Current Tank Info: On 12/18/04 Started 75gal. reef tank

05/31/2009, 10:29 AM	#8
Jack01 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: west coast, canada Posts: 52	Confirm your reading with another test kit.