Low numbers

[dirty_south87]

I used a Red Sea test kit to get these numbers

Mg - 1040

K - to low to show up

Fe - 0.05

what should I do to get these numbers up? I have the red sea trace dosing pack that I have been using for the iron and potassium, anything else I should do?

 

[acesfull44]

I would be careful of using the Red Sea Mg Test kit. Mine consistently showed 1600+ (literally almost every time I tested) but my ICP test read 1270.

With the Alk test, I have a Hanna checker for that, and then bounce that off my Red Sea test kit to get a range.

 

[dirty_south87]

I would be careful of using the Red Sea Mg Test kit. Mine consistently showed 1600+ (literally almost every time I tested) but my ICP test read 1270.

With the Alk test, I have a Hanna checker for that, and then bounce that off my Red Sea test kit to get a range.

Mine never really stayed the same but did stay within range. I will look into getting another test for that

 

[Uncle99]

Never seen a 1040 in MG.
Lowest ever seen was 1150.
So I’d get a second opinion before changing.
Takes a bit of product to get it in theb1350-1450 slot.
Red Sea makes a MG increased.
Salifert or Aquaforest tests are good at a reasonable price point.

 

[dirty_south87]

Never seen a 1040 in MG.
Lowest ever seen was 1150.
So I’d get a second opinion before changing.
Takes a bit of product to get it in theb1350-1450 slot.
Red Sea makes a MG increased.
Salifert or Aquaforest tests are good at a reasonable price point.

I’ll redo the test just to see what the numbers show. Unfortunately the Red Sea is the only test I have for Mg

 

[Uncle99]

I’ll redo the test just to see what the numbers show. Unfortunately the Red Sea is the only test I have for Mg

Then raise MG 100ppm, retest again and see if you get a movement.

 

[dirty_south87]

Then raise MG 100ppm, retest again and see if you get a movement.

I just went digging through my stuff, I actually have the aquaforest Mg test kit

 

[dirty_south87]

Then raise MG 100ppm, retest again and see if you get a movement.

With the aquaforest test I’m reading 1140

 

[Uncle99]

With the aquaforest test I’m reading 1140

I like this kit, that’s a low, but believable number.
So let’s raise that 100ppm at once, then next day 100ppm again, then retest.

Keep going until you can get say 1350ppm ish, and that it will hold stable at the new elevated level.

Sometimes can take a bit of product at first.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I used a Red Sea test kit to get these numbers

Mg - 1040

K - to low to show up

Fe - 0.05

what should I do to get these numbers up? I have the red sea trace dosing pack that I have been using for the iron and potassium, anything else I should do?

I do not know if the iron is real or test error, but if real it is very high (despite Red Sea's wildly high recommendation, which I suspect is only to allow detection by their kit) and doesn't need any boost at all.

Potassium is highly unlikely to be too low to show up. I expect a testing error of some sort.

I also expect a test error or a very low salinity is the magnesium issue.

Before dosing ANYTHING, use the potassium and magnesium kits on some new salt water.

What salt mix are you using and what do you think the salinity is?

 

[dirty_south87]

I do not know if the iron is real or test error, but if real it is very high (despite Red Sea's wildly high recommendation, which I suspect is only to allow detection by their kit) and doesn't need any boost at all.

Potassium is highly unlikely to be too low to show up. I expect a testing error of some sort.

I also expect a test error or a very low salinity is the magnesium issue.

Before dosing ANYTHING, use the potassium and magnesium kits on some new salt water.

What salt mix are you using and what do you think the salinity is?

Magnesium was retested with a different test and it came out to 1140
the salinity is 1.025 I checked twice to be sure. I use the Red Sea coral pro salt. I’m gonna redo the potassium today when I get home

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Magnesium was retested with a different test and it came out to 1140
the salinity is 1.025 I checked twice to be sure. I use the Red Sea coral pro salt. I’m gonna redo the potassium today when I get home

Assuming the 1140 ppm is accurate (not convinced, magnesium tests are notoriously inaccurate, IMO), then increasing the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) will boost that magnesium to 1204 ppm, and I'd do that anyway.

 

[dirty_south87]

Assuming the 1140 ppm is accurate (not convinced, magnesium tests are notoriously inaccurate, IMO), then increasing the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) will boost that magnesium to 1204 ppm, and I'd do that anyway.

What would cause it to go down? Up until yes my number is usually 1200 or better.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What would cause it to go down? Up until yes my number is usually 1200 or better.

Test error. lol (or a salinity drop)

Magnesium consumption is never more than about 1/10th of the calcium consumption, so to take up 50 ppm of magnesium will require uptake of 500 ppm of calcium.

Magnesium is very stable relative to most other ions we measure.

I personally think most reefers, and all new tanks, are best off not measuring it, and just using a calcium supplement that has an appropriate amount of magneisum in it.

 

[dirty_south87]

Test error. lol (or a salinity drop)

Magnesium consumption is never more than about 1/10th of the calcium consumption, so to take up 50 ppm of magnesium will require uptake of 500 ppm of calcium.

Magnesium is very stable relative to most other ions we measure.

I personally think most reefers, and all new tanks, are best off not measuring it, and just using a calcium supplement that has an appropriate amount of magneisum in it.

What about the calcium level being in normal range and using calcium supplements would that make it climb to much?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What about the calcium level being in normal range and using calcium supplements would that make it climb to much?

If calcium is normal and not declining, there's not going to be any decline in magnesium and there's no reason to add a calcium supplement.

Magnesium cannot ever decline without a much larger decline in calcium. The only mechanism for a detectable decline (aside from salinity changes) is incorporation as a minor component into calcium carbonate formation in place of some of the calcium.

 

[dirty_south87]

If calcium is normal and not declining, there's not going to be any decline in magnesium and there's no reason to add a calcium supplement.

Magnesium cannot ever decline without a much larger decline in calcium. The only mechanism for a detectable decline (aside from salinity changes) is incorporation as a minor component into calcium carbonate formation in place of some of the calcium.

I’ll redo all testing tonight just to see what comes up. its still a learning process for me, rather make sure to double test than to cost myself hundreds in a screwed up test results

 

[dirty_south87]

If calcium is normal and not declining, there's not going to be any decline in magnesium and there's no reason to add a calcium supplement.

Magnesium cannot ever decline without a much larger decline in calcium. The only mechanism for a detectable decline (aside from salinity changes) is incorporation as a minor component into calcium carbonate formation in place of some of the calcium.

When you test your water where do you try to get it from?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When you test your water where do you try to get it from?

It should not matter, except not right near and when you are dosing something.

 

[dirty_south87]

It should not matter, except not right near and when you are dosing something

I tend to get at least minimum of a few inches below the top of the water