Magesium Math Strugglebus

[SaltLife77]

Good afternoon fellow reef keepers!

I am trying to determine HOW much magnesium I can dose in a day....and I have used a calculator and am still not sure if I am getting right. I fear I am under dosing.

Currently my Mg level is 1000 in a 55 gallon system (including sump, calculating for water displacement with rock etc.) I am trying to get it to 1350 - and I can't do much with water changes right now, because I am still fighting dinos.

My question for anyone who knows, is this: What is the max # of ml I can dose of Mg per day?

Thanks!

R.

 

[reefah]

i mean with a tank that size I wouldnt dose more than 5ml per day IMO. even after hitting 1350 I wouldn't push more 3ml per day. if euphillia dominate i would recommend upwards 1500+. but really it all depends whats currently in the tank, the needs and water param. etc

 

[SaltLife77]

Thank you!

It's Ostreopsis dinos.

My inhabitants include:
-Maxima Clam
-Hammer Coral
-Zoas
-Rock Flower Men's
-Montipora (this is struggling hard due to Dino outbreak)
-Black candlelabra Gorgonian
-Trumpet (candy cane)
-cleanup crew

Parameters are:
-Mg at 1000
-Ca at 379
-Alk at 8.8
-Ph at 8.2
-SG at 1.025
-NO3 at 7
-PO4 at .08

Thanks again!

 

[Garf]

Thank you!

It's Ostreopsis dinos.

My inhabitants include:
-Maxima Clam
-Hammer Coral
-Zoas
-Rock Flower Men's
-Montipora (this is struggling hard due to Dino outbreak)
-Black candlelabra Gorgonian
-Trumpet (candy cane)
-cleanup crew

Parameters are:
-Mg at 1000
-Ca at 379
-Alk at 8.8
-Ph at 8.2
-SG at 1.025
-NO3 at 7
-PO4 at .08

Thanks again!

You sure your salinity is correct? Calibrated to 35ppt?
You sure your mag test is right (they are prone to problems).
That’s a heck of a lot of depletion, as long as your fresh made saltwater is good. Can you test some fresh stuff.

 

[SaltLife77]

You sure your salinity is correct? Calibrated to 35ppt?
You sure your mag test is right (they are prone to problems).
That’s a heck of a lot of depletion, as long as your fresh made saltwater is good. Can you test some fresh stuff.

Yes, I am sure. Not able to do water changes due to dinos at moment, which is why I have to dose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would frankly be surprised if tank water at 35 ppt could be driven down to 1000 ppm without a long time dosing only calcium and alk at fairly high levels.

That said, you can certainly raise mag by 25 ppm per day, and how much liquid volume that means depends on the product used. the reason to not go faster is fear of impurities in the magnesium (including ammonia).

This calculator will help determine the needed volume for different products:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[SaltLife77]

Thank you for the response!


I wish there was an explanation that I could point to that made it make sense.

I am using Red Sea liquid. I will use the calculator. Thank you!

 

[cmoore806]

I hate my mag test and based on reviews it is a good test. I use the red sea test kit but doing a drip titration to get the color change to tell the level is just plain difficult. I consider myself above average as it relates to lab technique, but the color changing in the mag kit is subtle at first and then if you keep dripping the reagent it goes from pink to blue but the levels of Mag would be off the chart high. very difficult to trust. Now, I have a trident =)

 

[SaltLife77]

Agreed. I read a link somewhere that Hanna Checker is releasing a Mg checker for saltwater end of May/beginning of June.

 

[cmoore806]

Agreed. I read a link somewhere that Hanna Checker is releasing a Mg checker for saltwater end of May/beginning of June.

I’ve bought so many Hanna checkers. After my trident purchase the checkers sit on a shelf collecting dust. Not only has reagent been in short supply at times but it’s just one more regular expense. I still like the Hanna nitrate and phos tests but still if my tank looks good I’m not inclined to run regular testing

 

[SaltLife77]

I’ve bought so many Hanna checkers. After my trident purchase the checkers sit on a shelf collecting dust. Not only has reagent been in short supply at times but it’s just one more regular expense. I still like the Hanna nitrate and phos tests but still if my tank looks good I’m not inclined to run regular testing

I am looking forward to the day I have balance back.....but for now with the frequency with which I am testing, I am loving those checkers.