Magneseum testing

singold · 09/05/2008, 09:17 PM

Is Magnesium critical to test for? Will regular water changes be enough to keep it in check? What types of corals are its levels dependent on, needed , etc. Any advise would be appreciated

jdieck · 09/05/2008, 09:23 PM

A proper level of magnesium makes calcium levels stable and calcium is critical specially for clams, SPS and LPS corals as well as coralline algae.
Depending on the salt you use, you might be able to keep it at level but even then I would recommend to test it once a month.

singold · 09/05/2008, 09:38 PM

I use Instant Ocean, but I am willing to switch salts if more advantageous. Also, I only plan on having Soft Corals & LPS Corals in my tank.

jdieck · 09/05/2008, 09:48 PM

IO is usually a salt with low levels of magnesium so your tank magnesium level may be low if you havent supplemented it.

CAROLGYRL · 09/05/2008, 10:27 PM

let me sqeak in, I noticed in the api reef and salt water test kits, ther is no measure for magnesuim. What test kit do we buy ?

sps1-2-b · 09/05/2008, 10:36 PM

Salifert mg

singold · 09/05/2008, 11:32 PM

Thanks for advise, will get a Magnesium test kit and start testing levels.

tmz · 09/06/2008, 07:41 AM

You may also wan't to check the article on salt mix comparisions at the beggining of the reef chemistry forum to see how salts vary in various elements of interest.

LCDRDATA · 09/06/2008, 12:15 PM

If I can piggy-back on the question, my LFS store told me none of the commercial magnesium test kits, including the Salifert, gave either accurate or consistent answers. Is this a consensus opinion or just "the LFS guy"? If it's just "the LFS guy", is Salifert the consensus on being the best magnesium test kit? Are there any kits in particular to avoid?

tmz · 09/06/2008, 10:27 PM

In my experience salifert or seachem are fairly reliable. Since, I'm not too confident in any hobby test kits and a bit obsessive I use both and compare them.

09/05/2008, 09:17 PM	#1
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Magneseum testing Is Magnesium critical to test for? Will regular water changes be enough to keep it in check? What types of corals are its levels dependent on, needed , etc. Any advise would be appreciated __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

09/05/2008, 09:23 PM	#2
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	A proper level of magnesium makes calcium levels stable and calcium is critical specially for clams, SPS and LPS corals as well as coralline algae. Depending on the salt you use, you might be able to keep it at level but even then I would recommend to test it once a month. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

09/05/2008, 09:38 PM	#3
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	I use Instant Ocean, but I am willing to switch salts if more advantageous. Also, I only plan on having Soft Corals & LPS Corals in my tank. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

09/05/2008, 09:48 PM	#4
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	IO is usually a salt with low levels of magnesium so your tank magnesium level may be low if you havent supplemented it. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

09/05/2008, 11:32 PM	#7
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Thanks for advise, will get a Magnesium test kit and start testing levels. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

09/05/2008, 10:27 PM	#5
CAROLGYRL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PALM DESERT, CA. Posts: 184	let me sqeak in, I noticed in the api reef and salt water test kits, ther is no measure for magnesuim. What test kit do we buy ?

09/05/2008, 10:36 PM	#6
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	Salifert mg

09/06/2008, 07:41 AM	#8
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	You may also wan't to check the article on salt mix comparisions at the beggining of the reef chemistry forum to see how salts vary in various elements of interest. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

09/06/2008, 12:15 PM	#9
LCDRDATA Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 225	If I can piggy-back on the question, my LFS store told me none of the commercial magnesium test kits, including the Salifert, gave either accurate or consistent answers. Is this a consensus opinion or just "the LFS guy"? If it's just "the LFS guy", is Salifert the consensus on being the best magnesium test kit? Are there any kits in particular to avoid? __________________ "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called 'research'" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef (zoas/palys/discoma/xenia/GSP; monti (cap & digi)/acan/favia/hammer/frogspawn/candy cane; derasa clam, Leopard Wrasse, Randal Goby, Kole Tang, Clown pair, 2xYT Blue Damsel, Engineer Goby, Skunk Cleaner/Coral Banded Shrimp,asst scavengers)

09/06/2008, 10:27 PM	#10
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	In my experience salifert or seachem are fairly reliable. Since, I'm not too confident in any hobby test kits and a bit obsessive I use both and compare them. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.