High Mg

[newbreefer316]

TLDR version - I've got high Mg and am looking for the potential source. BRS kalk, ESV B-Ionic parts 1/2 or Acropower. Only things, other than food (mostly new spectrum pellets, pe mysis and calanus), going into my tank.

I'm relatively new to the whole concept of not just monitoring your parameters but also understanding what is contributing to them and I've got a couple questions about Magnesium in regards to trying to isolate what may have gotten my levels so high.

Current parameters:
SG - 1.026
Alk - 10.0 dkh
Ca - 500
Mg - 1650
NO3 - < 5

I base all of my dosing off of 125g water volume, but I have a really high evaporation rate due to the footprint of the tanks ~2g per day and I'm currently using Fritz salt.

I had been running my ato through BRS kalk in an Avast K2 stirrer but I noticed that my parameters were rising due to the high evaporation rate so I recently took the Kalk off in order to establish a more steady dosing regimen with ESV B-Ionic Ca and Alk. I am working to gradually get my parameters down to NSW levels so I am currently dosing 18ml, 3ml every 4 hours, of both which is lower than the dose required to maintain my levels but I need to refine my methods by checking the calibration of my doser as well as taking measurements at the same times to make sure the results aren't skewed by potential recent dosings.

 

[cmcoker]

Red sea pro test kit? If so try another kit, they are notorious for reading way high.

 

[newbreefer316]

Red sea pro test kit? If so try another kit, they are notorious for reading way high.

Salifert kit, I've got a red sea pro but those things are way too much work!!!

 

[cmcoker]

Salifert kit, I've got a red sea pro but those things are way too much work!!!

Ok, the next thing I'd check is a brand new batch of saltwater, see what the parameters are to begin with. What brand you using?
How are you measuring salinity? If it's actually higher than you are reading it could skew the numbers

 

[newbreefer316]

Ok, the next thing I'd check is a brand new batch of saltwater, see what the parameters are to begin with. What brand you using?
How are you measuring salinity? If it's actually higher than you are reading it could skew the numbers

I'm using fritz salt and will be mixing up a small batch to test tomorrow, depending on what the mg numbers are I may end up doing a a 15g water change with another batch of it or some IO purple bucket that I have.

I use the digital milwaukee and a refractomer to check salinity with 2lf calibration fluid.

 

[cmcoker]

Have a read here:https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/282493/

Multiple users reporting high mg and ca in their fresh fritz rpm mix. So if your testing confirms high numbers on the new mix, that's where the mg is coming from.

Could try some water changes with a lower mag salt like red sea blue bucket.

 

[newbreefer316]

Thanks, that makes sense. I've been dealing with high ca and mg in all my tanks. I have the white box of fritz, so maybe it's the older high mg version. I'll try mixing to 1.025 and see what I get.

I'm about at my wits end with Fritz but also know that each brand potentially faces the inconsistency issues as well.