High magnesium

Heath Biggers · Mar 5, 2017

I recently started running a calcium reactor a few weeks ago after dosing two part with magnesium for the last two years. My magnesium levels are running about 1700 ppm. I am using reborn and re-mag at the prescribed ratios. I am considering simply turning off the solenoid on the CO2 and let it keep running but Add calcium and alkalinity two part without the magnesium until the levels come back down to normal. Wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas or thoughts on it. It is an 800 gallon system so changing large amounts of water is sort of impractical Thanks for the help

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 5, 2017

What magnesium kit?

The media in the reactor cannot be the cause of that elevated magnesium.

Heath Biggers · Mar 5, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What magnesium kit?

The media in the reactor cannot be the cause of that elevated magnesium.

It is a salifert test kit. When I run the titration I use the full ml then about 1.5 ml more to turn it blue so I am assuming about 1700 ppm. This is a new kit I got two months ago to replace the other salifert one I used up. Do you think I should just keep running the calcium reactor as usual and hope it levels out soon?

Heath Biggers · Mar 5, 2017

Heath Biggers said:
It is a salifert test kit. When I run the titration I use the full ml then about 1.5 ml more to turn it blue so I am assuming about 1700 ppm. This is a new kit I got two months ago to replace the other salifert one I used up. Do you think I should just keep running the calcium reactor as usual and hope it levels out soon?

Also, the skimmer is made by skimz. I believe it is the largest one BRS sells. It is rated for up to 1300 gallon systems mine is currently at 800 but I plan to add. I'm running the full amount of media which is about 5 gallons total

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 5, 2017

Heath Biggers said:
It is a salifert test kit. When I run the titration I use the full ml then about 1.5 ml more to turn it blue so I am assuming about 1700 ppm. This is a new kit I got two months ago to replace the other salifert one I used up. Do you think I should just keep running the calcium reactor as usual and hope it levels out soon?

If you added 300 ppm of magnesium using dolomite or other media in a reactor, the alkalinity will necessarily rise by more than 69 dKH. Since that presumably didn't happen, the reactor isn't likely responsible.

Heath Biggers · Mar 5, 2017

That makes sense. I do have it in the correct 10% proportion they recommended and it is keeping my alkalinity and calcium stable. I'm wondering now if it was already elevated before I started running the reactor and I was just not aware of it. It seems to be staying consistent over a week or so at where it is. Do you think I should take any action to try to lower it?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 5, 2017

Try measuring your new salt water. If it reads high, the kit may be off or the salt mix is off.

Heath Biggers · Mar 5, 2017

ok, thanks for your help

domination2580 · Mar 5, 2017

I've tested my brand new saltwater mix numerous times at over 1600 mag...I use af reef salt. I can't seem to get a test lower than 1500...Any suggestions?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 6, 2017

domination2580 said:
I've tested my brand new saltwater mix numerous times at over 1600 mag...I use af reef salt. I can't seem to get a test lower than 1500...Any suggestions?

A new kit in case it isn't giving correct results (any chance it is Red Sea?) or a new salt mix.

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
A new kit in case it isn't giving correct results (any chance it is Red Sea?) or a new salt mix.

It is red sea test kit. And I've tried numerous tests and even took to a friend's to test with his test kit also red sea and tested his water with mine as well

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 6, 2017

Many folks get false high readings with the Red Sea kit.

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Many folks get false high readings with the Red Sea kit.

Hmm...will have to check with different test kit then.

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2017

Just tested with salifert amd still over 1500

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Many folks get false high readings with the Red Sea kit.

Any idea?

domination2580 · Mar 6, 2017

@Randy Holmes-Farley

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2017

Have you tested your new salt water?

What is the salinity and how are you measuring it?

Assuming salinity is good and magnesium really is high, I'd remove the remag from the reactor so that magnesium can slowly decline by consumption, and assuming mag is normal in your salt mix, regular water changes will also bring it down.

domination2580 · Mar 7, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Have you tested your new salt water?

What is the salinity and how are you measuring it?

Assuming salinity is good and magnesium really is high, I'd remove the remag from the reactor so that magnesium can slowly decline by consumption, and assuming mag is normal in your salt mix, regular water changes will also bring it down.

Refractometer with atc and calibrated using calibration fluid. 1.025. Yes I have
Mag in brand new saltwater is 1500+

domination2580 · Mar 8, 2017

@Randy Holmes-Farley

domination2580 · Mar 8, 2017

Just retested again with brand new box of af reef salt...once again high mag of over 1600 using red sea and salifert...this is 3 boxes now with high mag...not too happy