Need to rise Alk!

[juanmanuelsanchez]

I was dosing calcium and magnesium only. Only 25 ml of this calcium product (attached)

My calcium is around 400 so it's not super high.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I was dosing calcium and magnesium only. Only 25 ml of this calcium product (attached)

My calcium is around 400 so it's not super high.

If you never dosed any alkalinity, the magnesium is approximately the same as in the salt mix you are using.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

If you never dosed any alkalinity, the magnesium is approximately the same as in the salt mix you are using.

So why is my reading so low? Or how do I balance the whole thing now?

 

[WWIII]

I did that and the reading is correct. So the problem seems to be the product I'm using.

I'm raising the Alk using a baking soda solution little by little. It should be up and stable in a week.

But the main question remains... Which product should I use to raise mag? I would prefer aquaforest because it's what I can find here... Otherwise I have to order from the US directly.

Also while using the calculator I was wondering it does tell you how much of a product to use, but it doesn't tell you how much you have to dose daily to make the change, or am I missing something here?

Thanks everybody for the help. I really appreciate it.

You could dose more of the aquaforest until you see magnesium raising. Or just do waterchanges since your salt is testing high magnesium. Not sure why you are getting the low reading? If you dose 200ml of the aquaforest product at once and test 30 mins or so later see if magnesium goes up. Or if you can get magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate you can make your own and we have a calculator for that. Or you could try to get a hold of someone from aquaforest and ask how much of their product to mix/dose to raise your magnesium from 1200 ppm to 1300 ppm over a few days.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

You could dose more of the aquaforest until you see magnesium raising. Or just do waterchanges since your salt is testing high magnesium. Not sure why you are getting the low reading? If you dose 200ml of the aquaforest product at once and test 30 mins or so later see if magnesium goes up. Or if you can get magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate you can make your own and we have a calculator for that. Or you could try to get a hold of someone from aquaforest and ask how much of their product to mix/dose to raise your magnesium from 1200 ppm to 1300 ppm over a few days.

According to Randy it seems to be a problem with balance more than consumption. So I'm trying to figure that out first

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s certainly fine to boost magnesium and almost any magnesium product is suitable if you dose the right amount.

My only concern is that magnesium testing issues are very common, especially with that kit, and that it’s hard to understand how it would actually be low.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

Well... I still don't know. If the Alk it's to low would it be a explanation on why is the mag is also low?

I used a expansive foam structure as part of the decoration. I don't know if that's absorbing the Mag. I don't think so...

 

[WWIII]

Have you always used Coral Pro salt?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well... I still don't know. If the Alk it's to low would it be a explanation on why is the mag is also low?

I used a expansive foam structure as part of the decoration. I don't know if that's absorbing the Mag. I don't think so...

Assuming I understand the facts correctly:

1. You always used Coral Pro salt
2. The tank specific gravity is thought to be 1.026
3. You have not added large amounts of alkalinity over time
4. The magnesium in the tank currently measures 1200 ppm with the kit you are using

Then there are ONLY three possible explanations:

1. The tank salinity is much lower than you think
2. The test kit result on the tank is in error
3. You have used one or more batches of coral pro salt where the magnesium level is far below where Red Sea claims it should be

 

[aquadog]

Have you checked the mg level of a freshly mixed batch of salt? Maybe your salt is low in mg? Also, maybe you should consider picking up some of the brs mg supplement. It definitely works! The other thing you can do is put your values into the brs calculator and you'll probably find out (like WWIII points out) that you're going to have to add quite a bit (1800ml/60oz) of mg to raise your mg level from 1200 to 1300.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

Assuming I understand the facts correctly:

1. You always used Coral Pro salt
2. The tank specific gravity is thought to be 1.026
3. You have not added large amounts of alkalinity over time
4. The magnesium in the tank currently measures 1200 ppm with the kit you are using

Then there are ONLY three possible explanations:

1. The tank salinity is much lower than you think
2. The test kit result on the tank is in error
3. You have used one or more batches of coral pro salt where the magnesium level is far below where Red Sea claims it should be

Hi Randy.

So according to your questions.

1) yes always the same salt

2) the salinity is 1.025 this according to the apex and my refractometer.

3) I started to dose Alk or baking soda after I started this thread. So no...

4) I will retest with a fresh batch of saltwater. I will let you know the result.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK. Sounds good.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

Well I really like when someone insist on something and they end up being right.

Randy the red Sea test kit is at fault. The new water batch is still reading 1200 and also I bough a aquaforest test kit and its reading 1500.

So, what should I do now? I stopped dosing mag days ago when I started this thread in case you were right.

Thanks a lot for your help man.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

I'd just resume normal calcium and alkalinity dosing, normal water changes (whatever you normally choose) and don't bother measuring magnesium for a while.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

Well... I'm worried because some of my corals are not happy (montis are not showing sully extended polyps and some are also loosing color).

So I wonder what could be causing this... I have no ammonia, high nitrates or phosphates.

Thanks again for the help

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

You're welcome.

I'd just resume normal calcium and alkalinity dosing, normal water changes (whatever you normally choose) and don't bother measuring magnesium for a while.

BTW Randy. Which test would you recommend? Not only for reef chemistry but in general.

Thanks again for the help

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salifert kits and certain Hanna checkers seem like good choices.

 

[juanmanuelsanchez]

Well I'm really hoping that the neptune trident will release soon. I know it's sounds lazy but he'll it will be a great addition to the Hobbie.