Mag levels

ndz98 · Mar 10, 2016

Would it be a bad thing if mag levels were too high?

joshkirkland83 · Mar 10, 2016

Its not a good thing, if you want a balanced reef.

DannyB · Mar 10, 2016

How high are we talking?

ndz98 · Mar 10, 2016

>1600 ppm

DannyB · Mar 10, 2016

It isn't at a dangerous level or anything but try not to let it get higher.

ndz98 · Mar 10, 2016

What can I do to get it lower?

joshkirkland83 · Mar 11, 2016

Water change

joshkirkland83 · Mar 11, 2016

Might wanna double check your test before you do anything also.

ndz98 · Mar 11, 2016

I've done several water changes and the test is accurate. It seems to stay pretty high for some reason.

joshkirkland83 · Mar 11, 2016

ndz98 said:
I've done several water changes and the test is accurate. It seems to stay pretty high for some reason.

What brand test and what test did you double check with?

ndz98 · Mar 11, 2016

Red Sea and I tested with another Red Sea test kit I have.

joshkirkland83 · Mar 11, 2016

ndz98 said:
Red Sea and I tested with another Red Sea test kit I have.

What salt are you using?

ndz98 · Mar 11, 2016

Aqua forest salt

joshkirkland83 · Mar 11, 2016

Oh lawd. I know nothing about that salt. I do know @reefwiser uses it. He might be one to ask. Im sure hes in bed now tho.

ndz98 · Mar 11, 2016

Is there any other way to lower it besides a water change?

joshkirkland83 · Mar 11, 2016

ndz98 said:
Is there any other way to lower it besides a water change?

Not that i know of. I use RSCP. When i wanna drop my levels, which is super rare, i use purple top IO. I do know there are diffetent levels of that brand salt, so you may not have enough coral to consume that much mag between water changes. So, you may need to look at a different level with a lower mag.

dacianb · Mar 11, 2016

I had same issue with Mg at 1600 and Ca above 500. Tried out different tests, more water change, things went from bad to worse.
Then someone give me a nice idea - to check salinity. I used a floating device and was sure that I have 1.024 in my tank. I bought a refractometer and calibration liquids and I found out that I had > 1.032 salinity. Next few days I just replaced saltwater with RO water and once I get to 1.026, Ca and Mg were in perfect zone (450 and 1350).

Luke Schnabel · Mar 13, 2016

I keep mine around 1390.

mrtian97 · Mar 13, 2016

I use RS salt and been trying to get my mag level from 1240 to 1300. Been dosing RS mag 10mL/day

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 13, 2016

ndz98 said:
Is there any other way to lower it besides a water change?

Nope.

FWIW, some folks have problems getting accurate results with the Red Sea magnesium kit, but regardless, use the kit on your new salt water to see if a water change will help any.

Unless you massively dosed magnesium, that is where it came from in the first place.