Magnesium!

Bernardhny · Jan 18, 2014

I am not sure to laugh or cry. After reading a bunch of posts I finally decided to test my magnesium levels. I religiously test alk, pH, nitrates, phosphate, and calcium and have had issues with pH and alk. Can you guess how low my magnesium was? 780!

I have started the process of raising it. I hope it has positive results!

Reefing Madness · Jan 18, 2014

Oh, it will have positive results alright.

bknapp · Jan 18, 2014

Magnesium is more important than most will lead you to believe. It's very difficult to keep your alkalinity and calcium in range if your magnesium levels are out of whack, 780 is whack. LOL. Try to keep it three times your calcium.

Bernardhny · Jan 18, 2014

Checked all my stats:

PH 7.80 (calibrated my pH strobe today)
AlK 10.3
Calcium 480
Phosphate .03
Salinity 1.027
Temp 78.8
Nitrate10 Ppm
Ammonia 0 ppm
Dosed magnesium to 1350 (tested 1 hour after dosing)

I like everything but the pH

Bernard

mike007 · Jan 18, 2014

You should never raise your levels that quickly. You should make changes slowly so everything in your tank can acclimate. As far as dosing alkalinty and calcium they have to be balanced. You have to dose in equal amounts and your magnesium needs to be 1300-1400. The magnesium will help keep these elements from dropping.

jcollinsks · Jan 18, 2014

Might want to slow down on raising it so quickly, if you went from 780 to 1350 that quickly it may have negative results, I would say start dosing trying to raise it by maybe 20 each day to protect everything.

Bernardhny · Jan 18, 2014

It wasn't my goal to double the magnesium! I fear I read the test results incorrectly because the dose I gave it was equivalent to only raising the water by 250 ppm. I expected the result to be around 900. I am going to test it again tomorrow to see what it reads. I am not sure I like the Magnesium test kit I bought. I agree with everyone about raising it fast, my goal of going up to 900 was too extreme much less going up 700+

dave9905 · Jan 18, 2014

I have raised magnesium by 100 ppm per day to get it where I needed it in the past with no ill effects, but wouldnt raise it by any more than that at once.... Slow it down a little

ReddyW · Jan 18, 2014

What magnesium test are you using?

Bernardhny · Jan 18, 2014

Red Sea Magnesium Pro

ReddyW · Jan 19, 2014

Bernardhny said:
Red Sea Magnesium Pro

That's a good test, and easy to do. To get an accurate reading you do need to follow the directions closely for reagent A, one drop then mix for 15 seconds x 5. This step precipitates out calcium that can interfere with reading the magnesium level. You'll also want to clean the test vial occasionally with vinegar and a bottle brush because the calcium precipitate will build up.

If you have any issues with the test, watch the Red Sea test videos.

Don't sweat the low PH too much. It's hard to keep up in the winter because of elevated indoor CO2 levels. If you can, run an air hose to the outdoors and hook to an airstone or your skimmer intake. Low PH can stunt coral growth, but there isn't much other than fresh air that will raise it without throwing your other levels off.

JMSKI333 · Jan 19, 2014

I would start with a good water change and test again. Then start raising it. What salt are you using?

Bernardhny · Jan 19, 2014

Re: magnesium

Right before I did the original test I did a 10g water change (55g tank). That is when the original magnesium level I reported was 780. In hindsight I believe the more accurate number was 1000. I added a dose of magnesium equivalent to raise the mag by 250 (I realize now it was too large of a jump).

I have tried numerous salts: tropic Marin, Coralife marine salt mix, salinity, and now I am using Red Sea Coral Pro. Why do you think I should do another water change 24 hours after my first? So I can dilute the magnesium I dosed? Wouldn't that just shock the system again?

Everything in the tank is looking good, I have full coral extension. I am going to test the magnesium later today (24 hours after the mag dose) and see where I stand

Bernardhny · Jan 19, 2014

I just tested mag again and the numbers have not dropped.

Reefing Madness · Jan 19, 2014

Bernardhny said:
Checked all my stats:

PH 7.80 (calibrated my pH strobe today)
AlK 10.3
Calcium 480
Phosphate .03
Salinity 1.027
Temp 78.8
Nitrate10 Ppm
Ammonia 0 ppm
Dosed magnesium to 1350 (tested 1 hour after dosing)

I like everything but the pH

Bernard

PH- Got lids on the tank? Powerheads breaking the water surface? You can possibly run the airline from the skimmer to outside, that will get in some fresh air, and help.

JMSKI333 · Jan 19, 2014

+1 to what Reefing Madness said. I found that when I sleep with my bedroom door closed, that my tank PH drops to the 7.8-7.9 range compared to 8.0-8.1 range when my bedroom door is left open. Co2 (me snoozing) lowers the PH of our tanks.