Magnesium update

[jdpeters]

my magnesium was at 1215 yesterday at 5pm. I dosed 20ml of Brightwell magnesion and just tested now. It’s now at 1180. Is that possible? Could it be a testing error. Less than a week ago it was 1290 and I had never dosed it before and only done weekly 10 percent water changes.

 

[jdpeters]

I think i added too much mg 3 now it’s showing 1275. Is going up 60ppm in 24 hours too much?

 

[jdpeters]

I forgot to finish topping off beforehand ‍

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Magnesium appears to be , in most test kits , the most inaccurate and prone to error.

If alkalinity and calcium are not depleting rapidly , it’s most likely magnesium is not either.

You can dose quite a bit of magnesium at once.
Randy’s articles and others generally state “most organisms” will not be effected by rapid increases.
Vague , I know. Lol.

 

[jdpeters]

Magnesium appears to be , in most test kits , the most inaccurate and prone to error.

If alkalinity and calcium are not depleting rapidly , it’s most likely magnesium is not either.

You can dose quite a bit of magnesium at once.
Randy’s articles and others generally state “most organisms” will not be effected by rapid increases.
Vague , I know. Lol.

Ok no that’s very helpful. Thank you. I mixed part b earlier in a jar slowly but it didn’t totally dissolve, do you have much experience with that?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Part b. Is that your alk?

 

[jdpeters]

Part b. Is that your alk?

Yes it is. It’s brightwell code b p. I skook and stirred vigorously. It still has small chunks and some of it is settling

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Set it in a dish bowl or pan of hot water. Not boiling but.
Let it warm up and shake the heck out of it.

 

[erk]

I used to test my Mg religiously along with alk and Ca. But I once read a post by Randy that a typical reef tank consumes ~3ppm Mg per day. From that figure, I calculated how much ESV B-Ionic Mg I have to dose to keep it stable and it's been right on ever since.

 

[jdpeters]

Set it in a dish bowl or pan of hot water. Not boiling but.
Let it warm up and shake the heck out of it.

Ok I will give that a shot,thank you again!

 

[jdpeters]

I used to test my Mg religiously along with alk and Ca. But I once read a post by Randy that a typical reef tank consumes ~3ppm Mg per day. From that figure, I calculated how much ESV B-Ionic Mg I have to dose to keep it stable and it's been right on ever since.

Typical? What size tank we talking?

 

[erk]

My understanding is it is 3ppm regardless of size. I'm not sure what situations would result in more or less. Maybe if it is predominantly softies, you would see less? In my ~70gal system, I dose 21mL of ESV Mg to keep up with the 3ppm uptake.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

My understanding is it is 3ppm regardless of size. I'm not sure what situations would result in more or less. Maybe if it is predominantly softies, you would see less? In my ~70gal system, I dose 21mL of ESV Mg to keep up with the 3ppm uptake.

The consumption estimates that exist are all based on incorporation into calcium carbonate skeleton. If you're interested in seeing the math, Jim Welsh does a good job explaining it here. To summarize in one sentence, the more calcification you have, the more consumption of Mg you will have. If you have almost no calcium and alkalinity consumption, you will have almost no magnesium consumption, and vice versa.

The consumption rate in a tank is about 1.2 ppm magnesium for every 2.8 dKh of alkalinity and 18 ppm calcium consumed. Or, in other words, about 0.43 ppm magnesium for every 1 dKh of alkalinity consumed daily. This assumes average rates of incorporation into a calcium carbonate skeleton. Organisms that use more magnesium, like coralline algae, will consume more, while abiotic precipitation might consume less.

 

[jdpeters]

The consumption estimates that exist are all based on incorporation into calcium carbonate skeleton. If you're interested in seeing the math, Jim Welsh does a good job explaining it here. To summarize in one sentence, the more calcification you have, the more consumption of Mg you will have. If you have almost no calcium and alkalinity consumption, you will have almost no magnesium consumption, and vice versa.

The consumption rate in a tank is about 1.2 ppm magnesium for every 2.8 dKh of alkalinity and 18 ppm calcium consumed. Or, in other words, about 0.43 ppm magnesium for every 1 dKh of alkalinity consumed daily. This assumes average rates of incorporation into a calcium carbonate skeleton. Organisms that use more magnesium, like coralline algae, will consume more, while abiotic precipitation might consume less.

Wow thank you. That gives me a much better idea on possible daily consumption

 

[jdpeters]

Set it in a dish bowl or pan of hot water. Not boiling but.
Let it warm up and shake the heck out of it.

I tried that method and a considerable amount of residue still ends up at the bottom of my container? Is there a acceptable amount of product that doesn’t dissolve or don’t have a bad batch?