Mag way low...sk8er!!!

JammyBirch · 02/16/2015, 08:09 PM

Got a mag kit today, RedSea pro, measured water...water change just yesterday.

0.4ml used = 800ppm

Ya right, measured again, same damn thing...

Need a mag dose, what do you guys recommend?

I use a 2 part calcium/alkalinity dose method. Thought when this says it's a perfect balance of trace elements like iodine...yada yada must include mag. Guess not...

JammyBirch · 02/16/2015, 08:10 PM

What are some of the effects of a low mag level?

sticky polyps · 02/16/2015, 08:27 PM

I just noticed that my mag levels have been lower than I like too. started using "Ions" by aqua vitro (seacheam) to soon to tell if its doing the Job. I would definitely buy the big bottle if I had the chance again.. one inner capful for every 35 gallons raises the mag level 5 mg/L (so it claims). I use the reef foundation pro test kit too and I don't know what that ^ converts into ppm....

JammyBirch · 02/16/2015, 09:27 PM

Ya it's not ppm, so used to using that...I orders some mag from ESV, the makers of the 2 part calcium they have it so why not...

Sucks, I was wondering why my calcium uptake wasn't great...also may explain the pink red cap I am trying to nurse back to red...arrrggghhh...

So annoying, getting an SPS a corpora prompted me to get all of this measuring capability...should have started with it...super annoyed that it's low and I just did a 20% water change yesterday. I don't get it at all...

thegrun · 02/16/2015, 09:40 PM

I suspect you either read the results incorrectly, did not follow the instructions correctly or have a bad test kit. With the Red Sea Pro test kit it is very important to swirl the test sample for 15 seconds between adding drops of the titration. If your magnesium were that low your calcium and alkalinity readings would almost certainly also be very low also, since the down side to low magnesium is that your calcium and alkalinity will then combine to form calcium carbonate. The general rule of thumb is to keep your magnesium 3 times the level of your calcium.

sticky polyps · 02/16/2015, 11:18 PM

I am learning to just be super consistent and anal when testing, as to make sure I don't get wild readings... also when stocking my tank and first starting to try to figure out how much/what to dose, I am doing a lot of testing and a lot of logging down. unfortunately some of my results don't seem to be consistent to what I do for my tank either...im sure it will become clearer the more I log down..

ca1ore · 02/16/2015, 11:59 PM

+1 on testing error. Also check out Randy's improved two part formula .... It includes a third , one time dose of a magnesium solution after consuming a gallon of the two part.

JoelA7 · 02/17/2015, 01:07 AM

You can add some of this each day for a while to bring your Mg up.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=27649

gone fishin · 02/17/2015, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I suspect you either read the results incorrectly, did not follow the instructions correctly or have a bad test kit. With the Red Sea Pro test kit it is very important to swirl the test sample for 15 seconds between adding drops of the titration. If your magnesium were that low your calcium and alkalinity readings would almost certainly also be very low also, since the down side to low magnesium is that your calcium and alkalinity will then combine to form calcium carbonate. The general rule of thumb is to keep your magnesium 3 times the level of your calcium.

I agree with this as well.

downbeach · 02/17/2015, 06:42 AM

Here's the Mg test kit demo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhYhbgMDPPE

KSU_WILDCAT · 02/17/2015, 07:00 AM

Why not do a water change to bring your mag up? It's not going to hurt anythng. Or you could test what the mag is on your NSW and if that comes back all whack then you know its a testing issue. I wouldn't just start adding suppliments.

JammyBirch · 02/17/2015, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downbeach

Here's the Mg test kit demo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhYhbgMDPPE

This is exactly what i did...the instructions are pretty simple. Testing a new batch of salt water is a good idea, i'll make a batch tonight and see what i get.

Lmax8rn · 02/17/2015, 07:32 AM

Took me a while to get my mg up. I think I started around 800-900 as well. Keep dosing, and DON'T USE INSTANT OCEAN, it only has a mg of 1100. I use reef crystals and finally have my mg stabalized at 1300-1350.

JammyBirch · 02/17/2015, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmax8rn

Took me a while to get my mg up. I think I started around 800-900 as well. Keep dosing, and DON'T USE INSTANT OCEAN, it only has a mg of 1100. I use reef crystals and finally have my mg stabalized at 1300-1350.

The website says at 1.026SG the mag level should be 1320, however most reviews reflect what you are saying 1000 levels...

Switching to crystals...

JammyBirch · 02/17/2015, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

If your magnesium were that low your calcium and alkalinity readings would almost certainly also be very low also, since the down side to low magnesium is that your calcium and alkalinity will then combine to form calcium carbonate.

What does Calcium Carbonate look like in an aquarium?

My calcium readings are 420, Alk is 9.4...these levels could not be this high with a Mag reading of 800?

I have read a lot of posts on this topic and i'm really confused...not a chemistry guy here at all, Electrical Engineer...lol Anyone care to point me in the direction of a thread that breaks it down for say, a third grader?

MondoBongo · 02/17/2015, 07:55 AM

out of curiosity, what form does your salt come in? bag, bucket, box, etc...?

i've had some super wacky alk numbers a few times in new salt mix, most likely from settling components during shipping in the salt mix. i tend to prefer the boxes of salt mix, with the 4 individual bags inside them. they are easiest to shake up before mixing with.

if i have a bucket, i usually roll it and use a scoop to mix it before making water from it. just a thought.

ReefKeep66 · 02/17/2015, 09:03 AM

I had the problem of my Red Sea mg test reading me 1500+ppm every test. Even following their directions precisely I still get the same result. The test is unreliable for me.

JammyBirch · 02/17/2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MondoBongo

out of curiosity, what form does your salt come in? bag, bucket, box, etc...?

i've had some super wacky alk numbers a few times in new salt mix, most likely from settling components during shipping in the salt mix. i tend to prefer the boxes of salt mix, with the 4 individual bags inside them. they are easiest to shake up before mixing with.

if i have a bucket, i usually roll it and use a scoop to mix it before making water from it. just a thought.

i use a 5g bucket of instant ocean, i have never mixed it, didnt know i needed too.

MondoBongo · 02/17/2015, 11:01 AM

it's certainly not a bad idea. different densities and grain size, things can settle during shipping.

JammyBirch · 02/17/2015, 11:19 AM

the more research i do the more i'm learning that reef crystals or other salt mixes are better for maintaining coral health. Dosing and all of that is fine but i wonder what else is missing or deficient in standard sea salt mixes.

Anyway, i ordered reef crystals to give it a try...i have heard that mixing can be difficult, settling of un absorbed salt... I mix my salt in a round tub with a huge pump to circulate the salt and water, creates a vortex...pretty hard to not mix everything.

I'm also going to make a small batch of salt water tonight and run my test on it, i've never done this and just assumed it was a homogenious mix each time...

Also going to borrow a buddy of mine's mag test kit to compare to rule out a bad kit.

I appreciate all of the good advice and conversation. I'm due for new salt anyway and found a 200 gallon size batch of IORC on amazon for $60, why not.

downbeach · 02/17/2015, 12:02 PM

F&S has the 200 gal. IORC for $49.99 with free shipping. Mixing the salt mix before use is a good idea. I would also get another Mg kit.

JammyBirch · 02/17/2015, 03:40 PM

Still thinking about this...

Is mag consumption similar to nitrate removal? In other words you have to take out more nitrate with each water change than what is produced else your nitrates keep adding up...

Is magnesium subtractive, in other words you need to add more mag per each water change than you could use or it will just keep depleting. Or simply dose it.

I have never dosed it or measured it, if I do 20% water changes even if the water is at 1300-1350ppm, I'm adding it to depleted water, the other 80%, I'd always be losing.

Is this right?

02/16/2015, 08:09 PM	#1
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Mag way low...sk8er!!! Got a mag kit today, RedSea pro, measured water...water change just yesterday. 0.4ml used = 800ppm Ya right, measured again, same damn thing... Need a mag dose, what do you guys recommend? I use a 2 part calcium/alkalinity dose method. Thought when this says it's a perfect balance of trace elements like iodine...yada yada must include mag. Guess not... __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/16/2015, 08:10 PM	#2
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	What are some of the effects of a low mag level? __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/16/2015, 09:27 PM	#4
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Ya it's not ppm, so used to using that...I orders some mag from ESV, the makers of the 2 part calcium they have it so why not... Sucks, I was wondering why my calcium uptake wasn't great...also may explain the pink red cap I am trying to nurse back to red...arrrggghhh... So annoying, getting an SPS a corpora prompted me to get all of this measuring capability...should have started with it...super annoyed that it's low and I just did a 20% water change yesterday. I don't get it at all... __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/16/2015, 11:59 PM	#7
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	+1 on testing error. Also check out Randy's improved two part formula .... It includes a third , one time dose of a magnesium solution after consuming a gallon of the two part. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/17/2015, 01:07 AM	#8
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	You can add some of this each day for a while to bring your Mg up. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=27649 __________________ New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12

02/16/2015, 08:27 PM	#3
sticky polyps Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sarasota FL Posts: 195	I just noticed that my mag levels have been lower than I like too. started using "Ions" by aqua vitro (seacheam) to soon to tell if its doing the Job. I would definitely buy the big bottle if I had the chance again.. one inner capful for every 35 gallons raises the mag level 5 mg/L (so it claims). I use the reef foundation pro test kit too and I don't know what that ^ converts into ppm....

02/16/2015, 09:40 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I suspect you either read the results incorrectly, did not follow the instructions correctly or have a bad test kit. With the Red Sea Pro test kit it is very important to swirl the test sample for 15 seconds between adding drops of the titration. If your magnesium were that low your calcium and alkalinity readings would almost certainly also be very low also, since the down side to low magnesium is that your calcium and alkalinity will then combine to form calcium carbonate. The general rule of thumb is to keep your magnesium 3 times the level of your calcium.

02/16/2015, 11:18 PM	#6
sticky polyps Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sarasota FL Posts: 195	I am learning to just be super consistent and anal when testing, as to make sure I don't get wild readings... also when stocking my tank and first starting to try to figure out how much/what to dose, I am doing a lot of testing and a lot of logging down. unfortunately some of my results don't seem to be consistent to what I do for my tank either...im sure it will become clearer the more I log down..

02/17/2015, 06:42 AM	#10
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Here's the Mg test kit demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhYhbgMDPPE

02/17/2015, 07:00 AM	#11
KSU_WILDCAT Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 89	Why not do a water change to bring your mag up? It's not going to hurt anythng. Or you could test what the mag is on your NSW and if that comes back all whack then you know its a testing issue. I wouldn't just start adding suppliments. __________________ Justin 220 DSA, Reef Octopus Skimmer, 3 Radion Gen 2, RW-15, APEX Current Tank Info: 220 DSA, Reef Octopus Skimmer, Radion Gen 2, APEX, and all the other bells and Whistles

02/17/2015, 07:32 AM	#13
Lmax8rn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 286	Took me a while to get my mg up. I think I started around 800-900 as well. Keep dosing, and DON'T USE INSTANT OCEAN, it only has a mg of 1100. I use reef crystals and finally have my mg stabalized at 1300-1350.

02/17/2015, 07:55 AM	#16
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	out of curiosity, what form does your salt come in? bag, bucket, box, etc...? i've had some super wacky alk numbers a few times in new salt mix, most likely from settling components during shipping in the salt mix. i tend to prefer the boxes of salt mix, with the 4 individual bags inside them. they are easiest to shake up before mixing with. if i have a bucket, i usually roll it and use a scoop to mix it before making water from it. just a thought. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

02/17/2015, 09:03 AM	#17
ReefKeep66 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: The great state of Georgia Posts: 549	I had the problem of my Red Sea mg test reading me 1500+ppm every test. Even following their directions precisely I still get the same result. The test is unreliable for me.

02/17/2015, 11:01 AM	#19
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	it's certainly not a bad idea. different densities and grain size, things can settle during shipping. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

02/17/2015, 11:19 AM	#20
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	the more research i do the more i'm learning that reef crystals or other salt mixes are better for maintaining coral health. Dosing and all of that is fine but i wonder what else is missing or deficient in standard sea salt mixes. Anyway, i ordered reef crystals to give it a try...i have heard that mixing can be difficult, settling of un absorbed salt... I mix my salt in a round tub with a huge pump to circulate the salt and water, creates a vortex...pretty hard to not mix everything. I'm also going to make a small batch of salt water tonight and run my test on it, i've never done this and just assumed it was a homogenious mix each time... Also going to borrow a buddy of mine's mag test kit to compare to rule out a bad kit. I appreciate all of the good advice and conversation. I'm due for new salt anyway and found a 200 gallon size batch of IORC on amazon for $60, why not. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/17/2015, 12:02 PM	#21
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	F&S has the 200 gal. IORC for $49.99 with free shipping. Mixing the salt mix before use is a good idea. I would also get another Mg kit.

02/17/2015, 03:40 PM	#22
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Still thinking about this... Is mag consumption similar to nitrate removal? In other words you have to take out more nitrate with each water change than what is produced else your nitrates keep adding up... Is magnesium subtractive, in other words you need to add more mag per each water change than you could use or it will just keep depleting. Or simply dose it. I have never dosed it or measured it, if I do 20% water changes even if the water is at 1300-1350ppm, I'm adding it to depleted water, the other 80%, I'd always be losing. Is this right? __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube