High magnesium

[Paul31733]

Hey everybody!
I have changed buckets to tropic Marin pro-reef.
When I mix it to 1.025 I am getting magnesium levels of 1450ppm on my test kit
Will this hurt anything as I usually kept it at 1350 previously.
Thanks.
Paul.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi and good evening,

I use TM Pro because I like the elevated levels. Unless you are doing a large water change the raise should have minimal impact and is safe. You can stop dosing Mg for a while, but most likely will need to start after a while. I still dose mag even using TM. I dose 20ml a day in my 180 Just to maintain 1400, is where I like it.

 

[Coralsdaily]

+1 on water change in small doses shouldn't hurt anything, and the elevated Mg level should help boost growth.

 

[Paul31733]

Thanks for the replys!
I am still relatively new and was worried when I saw it said out of range on my test.
I only do 10 - 15% water changes weekly.
As long as I know this amount will not hurt anything I will continue on as regular!
Paul.

 

[Paul31733]

My salt is mixing 1.025 with 425 calcium 1450 mag and 7.7 dkh.
I have been adding red Sea additive to bring it up to 9 dkh.does this sound good?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My salt is mixing 1.025 with 425 calcium 1450 mag and 7.7 dkh.
I have been adding red Sea additive to bring it up to 9 dkh.does this sound good?

I'm not sure 9 dKH is any better than 7 dKH, but if you want any alk in the range of 7-11 dKH, you should be fine, as long as you have adequate nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) to support corals at the higher alk levels.

 

[Paul31733]

I'm not sure 9 dKH is any better than 7 dKH, but if you want any alk in the range of 7-11 dKH, you should be fine, as long as you have adequate nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) to support corals at the higher alk levels.

I have been trying to raise my nutrient levels. My tank is just 5 months old and I have 1 ppm nitrate with salifert test and 0ppm phosphate with Hanna ulr phosphorus which I convert with their chart. I have added a third fish in a 13.5 gallon and have been feeding twice a day with pretty large amounts and nutrients seem to stay the same. Also no heavy algae outbreak I can see to be taking up nutrients.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have been trying to raise my nutrient levels. My tank is just 5 months old and I have 1 ppm nitrate with salifert test and 0ppm phosphate with Hanna ulr phosphorus which I convert with their chart. I have added a third fish in a 13.5 gallon and have been feeding twice a day with pretty large amounts and nutrients seem to stay the same. Also no heavy algae outbreak I can see to be taking up nutrients.

I'd suggest feeding more or dosing phosphate. The risk of dinos is serious.

 

[Paul31733]

I'd suggest feeding more or dosing phosphate. The risk of dinos is serious.

What do you suggest to use to dose phosphate. Can I buy phosphate in a bottle?

 

[Paul31733]

Could I use tropic Marin n+p to bring them both up a bit?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes. But I recommend good grade sodium nitrate and sodium phosphate. Amazon carries them.

 

[Paul31733]

Yes. But I recommend good grade sodium nitrate and sodium phosphate. Amazon carries them.

Thank you for your time I will check on Amazon tonight. Don't want to take more of your time but is there a specific quality brand I should look for.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Food grade is good, as is ACS reagent grade. Food grade is easy to find in the US. Loudwolf and something or other Pantry are good.

 

[Paul31733]

Food grade is good, as is ACS reagent grade. Food grade is easy to find in the US. Loudwolf and something or other Pantry are good.

I have found these items available to me in Canada. Can I use these in my aquarium?

I read an earlier thread where you spoke about the tsp and seems people were ok with it.

Thought I would check with you if they are ok.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

They will function fine, but I do not know the purity. It's a bigger concern with nitrate since one doses a lot more, but both may be OK.

 

[Paul31733]

They will function fine, but I do not know the purity. It's a bigger concern with nitrate since one doses a lot more, but both may be OK.

Ok thank you. Apparently these are harder chemicals to come by for a Canuck... I have started a thread to ask fellow Canadians what they use. Somebody recommended seachem phosphorous. I assume this would be a good choice as it's for aquariums?

 

[Paul31733]

Ok thank you. Apparently these are harder chemicals to come by for a Canuck... I have started a thread to ask fellow Canadians what they use. Somebody recommended seachem phosphorous. I assume this would be a good choice as it's for aquariums?

The sodium nitrate under ingredients just says sodium nitrate. I don't know if this is what you mean by purity. I really appreciate your help. I thought finding these would be much easier....

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No, not just the ingredient list. An actual test to be sure it doesn't contain traces of other stuff. Food grade tests it for actual other impurities that it must pass.

Example of one set of specifications I found. The heavy metal is probably the most useful test:

Appearance	White to off-white crystalline powder
Purity (On dry basis) by KMnO4 titration	99.00 % w/w Min.
Loss on drying at 110ºC for 10 min.	0.50 % w/w Max
Alkalinity as Na2CO3 or NaOH by H2SO4 titration	0.20 % w/w Max.
Chloride as Cl by Nitrobenzene	0.10 % w/w Max.
Sodium Nitrate by PDSA	1.00 % w/w Max.
Water insoluble	0.05 % w/w Max.
Sulphate as SO4 by turbidity	0.08 % w/w Max.
Iron as Fe by Potassium thiocyanate	0.002 % w/w Max.
Heavy metal as Pb by visual colorimetric	0.005 % w/w Max.
Clarity of 30% aqueous solution	It should be clear solution

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you have a link to that product? At the end it says preserving, which suggests it is food grade.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok thank you. Apparently these are harder chemicals to come by for a Canuck... I have started a thread to ask fellow Canadians what they use. Somebody recommended seachem phosphorous. I assume this would be a good choice as it's for aquariums?

Seachem doesn't list purity, but it is likely OK.