Help with salt...magnesium...

[JonoB]

Here are my tank parameters:

Temp: 78
Salinity: 1.026
Alk: 8.3
Calc: 435
Magnesium: 1170


On the 19th of April, I tested and my Mg was 1140. I slowly (over days) dosed using the BRS mg that came with the kit I ordered to start Kalk. I got it up to 1270, but tested today and it was back down to 1170. Super confused so I tested again, and got the same result.

I decided to test some fresh salt mix I had and found out the bucket of salt tested at 600! I use Reef Crystals. What should I do with this? Obviously it was the water change that brought my mg down...

Does this just happen sometimes with salt, is it possible to get a "bad batch"?

Do you guys test fresh salt water periodically to make sure everything is on par?

I guess this could be pretty simple but do I just need to slowly dose the mg back up to where I want it, and toss the salt and try a new bag? Just wanted to make sure I am doing this right.

In a way I'm kind of relieved that it is something fixable, since some of my corals have declined pretty fast over the last day two days (after I did a water change, of course ;Shifty).

 

[Mjrenz]

I would suggest switching to Tropic Marin salt, you won't have any inconsistencies with it

 

[BestMomEver]

Yea.... there are zillions of people that use IO and have for zillions of years with success. Personally, I never could get my parameters stable with it. I’m using Red Sea now. I would look at other salts.

 

[homer1475]

Bag or bucket?

While RC usually mixes pretty high, it's not uncommon. If it's a bucket, roll it around a bit before making the next batch. Stuff can settle in the bucket. Least thats what I've heard.

I use regular old IO and buy the 200G boxes. I use one bag, the whole bag, for each batch. I have never measured anything that low.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

On the 19th of April, I tested and my Mg was 1140. I slowly (over days) dosed using the BRS mg that came with the kit I ordered to start Kalk. I got it up to 1270, but tested today and it was back down to 1170. Super confused so I tested again, and got the same result.
.

I think its much more likely to be testing error than a real batch at 600 ppm magnesium.

 

[JonoB]

I think its much more likely to be testing error than a real batch at 600 ppm magnesium.

Maybe so, and I'm not doubting your expertise. However, I tested the water 3 different times and got the same reading. I guess it's possible (I mess up time to time ) but it seems crazy that I would mess up exactly the same 3 times in a row .

I'm mixing water with salt from a new bag now and will see if it's any different.

 

[JonoB]

Sho nuff'...

Tested the new bucket and it read around 600 again. Tested my tank the same exact way and the tank is around 1270, which is what it should be at from my dosing earlier...

Guess I got sucky salt?

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Did you follow the advice with “rolling the bucket” to mix the salt before using it ?

 

[JonoB]

Sure did! Got out a new bag of salt and mixed it up for a pretty good amount of time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sho nuff'...

Tested the new bucket and it read around 600 again. Tested my tank the same exact way and the tank is around 1270, which is what it should be at from my dosing earlier...

Guess I got sucky salt?

It's possible.

 

[Lukas75]

Sho nuff'...

Tested the new bucket and it read around 600 again. Tested my tank the same exact way and the tank is around 1270, which is what it should be at from my dosing earlier...

Guess I got sucky salt?

As @BestMomEver said many, many people use IO salts with a lot of success, maybe not zillions, but lots and lots. That having been said, the inconsistencies combined with the occasional batch mixing with ammonia in a fresh batch caused me to switch. I've been through just about all of the popular salts and I'm going to give Brightwell a shot. As a side note when I found ammonia in the fresh mixed batch the salt in the bag had a yellowish tint to it.