Any benefits in running parameters higher?

[Reef.]

I would say there is quite a bit of evidence that running high alk can help corals grow faster than NSW levels, not saying there are no drawbacks as loss of colour and weaker skeletons is said to be a side affect but what are the arguments for running calcium and mag higher? I’ve seen some run mag around 1600! But I’ve not read much justification for this apart from anecdotal claims of ‘my corals love it’?

 

[A Young Reefer]

I would say there is quite a bit of evidence that running high alk can help corals grow faster than NSW levels, not saying there are no drawbacks sas loss of colour and weaker skeletons is said to be a side affect but what are the arguments for running calcium and mag higher? I’ve seen some run mag around 1600! But I’ve not read much justification for this apart from anecdotal claims of ‘my corals love it’?

its been said that lps like higher mag. also its claimed that higher mag reduces evaporation and certain algae's like bryopsis hate such high mag.

 

[Reef.]

its been said that lps like higher mag. also its claimed that higher mag reduces evaporation and certain algae's like bryopsis hate such high mag.

I’ve heard the same, just wondering is the claim LPS prefer high mag backed up by anything more than anecdotal evidence?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

The only reason I’ve seen for high Mag is that it helps with predator digestion, but the recommended level is ~1400, so nowhere near 1600. Haven’t really heard much for high Cal.

 

[A Young Reefer]

I’ve heard the same, just wondering is the claim LPS prefer high mag backed up by anything more than anecdotal evidence?

All I can tell you is that my lps did not appreciate low mg.
for calcium I think accelerated calcium carbonate precipitation is the only risk, not sure if there are any positive side effects.

 

[Reef.]

All I can tell you is that my lps did not appreciate low mg.
for calcium I think accelerated calcium carbonate precipitation is the only risk, not sure if there are any positive side effects.

What do you run your mag at now, what lvl were they not happy with?

 

[A Young Reefer]

What do you run your mag at now, what lvl were they not happy with?

lowest I went was 980 and they were all shriveled up. rn I am keeping it at 1280, would like it to be higher just cause why not but I would rather not keep tinkering with my parameters.
I would generally say don't chase the numbers and leave it to settle wherever it wants to as long as its within an accepted range.

 

[Reef.]

lowest I went was 980 and they were all shriveled up. rn I am keeping it at 1280, would like it to be higher just cause why not but I would rather not keep tinkering with my parameters.
I would generally say don't chase the numbers and leave it to settle wherever it wants to as long as its within an accepted range.

1280 isn’t high tho, it’s NSW lvl. Some run 1400,1500, even seen 1600.

 

[homer1475]

Mine runs north of 1500, it's just where my salt mixes up to. Nevr had an issue with anything up to 1600(we used to use a certain MAG product back in the day to combat bryopsis(doesn't work anymore)).

I believe back in the day when experimenting with levels with said product, inverts started acting wierd after 1600.

No other downside to my klnowledge with high mag. The higher the mag, the less likely you'll ever see a precipitation event(high MAG allows more ALK and CAL to stay in suspension in SW).

 

[A Young Reefer]

1280 isn’t high tho, it’s NSW lvl. Some run 1400,1500, even seen 1600.

yeah I never said that I run it high. I only ran it low (980).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think that calcium levels are relatively unimportant as long as they do not get low enough to be the factor that limits coral calcification. Generally, alk and pH are limiting to many corals, aside from things like light, flow and space.

 

[Tamale]

I would say there is quite a bit of evidence that running high alk can help corals grow faster than NSW levels, not saying there are no drawbacks as loss of colour and weaker skeletons is said to be a side affect but what are the arguments for running calcium and mag higher? I’ve seen some run mag around 1600! But I’ve not read much justification for this apart from anecdotal claims of ‘my corals love it’?

My mag ran really high (like 1800) for the first few months of my tank. Pretty sure it was the batch of Red Sea salt I was using as it went down to normal levels when I moved to a new bucket. I had no coral issues for that time frame. But they were all young corals and I'm a new reefer so no idea if it held them back/increased growth rates. But no deaths or loss of color etc! I wouldn't purposely raise my mag that high though, as I didn't see any benefit to it.

 

[Garf]

Mine runs north of 1500, it's just where my salt mixes up to. Nevr had an issue with anything up to 1600(we used to use a certain MAG product back in the day to combat bryopsis(doesn't work anymore)).

I believe back in the day when experimenting with levels with said product, inverts started acting wierd after 1600.

No other downside to my klnowledge with high mag. The higher the mag, the less likely you'll ever see a precipitation event(high MAG allows more ALK and CAL to stay in suspension in SW).

Kent Tech M, lol. Unfortunately some folks think it was the mag level to this day.

Snails are said to be paralysed at high mag.

How the heck does high mag help with evaporation, lol

 

[homer1475]

Kent Tech M, lol. Unfortunately some folks think it was the mag level to this day.

Snails are said to be paralysed at high mag.

How the heck does high mag help with evaporation, lol

Evaporation?

And yes I know it was Tech M, and it wasn't the high level, but whatever they used to make it with(reason it doesn't work now). Your level just got naturally high from dosing a magnesium product.

 

[Garf]

Evaporation?

And yes I know it was Tech M, and it wasn't the high level, but whatever they used to make it with(reason it doesn't work now). Your level just got naturally high from dosing a magnesium product.

Evaporation was from post #2, not yours

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

its been said that lps like higher mag. also its claimed that higher mag reduces evaporation and certain algae's like bryopsis hate such high mag.

The evaporation issue is not a thing.

All salts reduce the vapor pressure above seawater a little bit, but salinity is the driver, not any particular component.

This has more:

Colligative Properties