New IO box has crazy high Mg readings

Cment · Oct 28, 2016

Ok guys...just got a new 200g box of IO and the Mg readings are 1860 @ 1.026 SG!!! Ive been using IO for 15 years now and had my numbers vary quite a bit but never like this. Alk and Ca come out fine at 9.6dkh and 360. This is a fairly new salifert test kit and I also double checked with a read sea test kit and my LFS, all get right around 1850. I typically keep my tank 1250-1350. I contact IO so lets see what they say. In the mean time any way I can bring down the Mg before my water change? Ive been feeding heavy with the new addition of a couple of fish and my nitrates/PO4 have jumped up so I was planning on doing a few 30% water changes.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 29, 2016

Did you mix up the whole bag? Salts can settle in shipping.

Magnesium cannot be lowered except by water change.

Cment · Oct 29, 2016

Hi randy...I did mix up the bag. I do this before every water change.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 29, 2016

Cment said:
Hi randy...I did mix up the bag. I do this before every water change.

OK, so it does sound like a salt mix issue.

Cment · Oct 29, 2016

So wait to see what IO has to say?

jason2459 · Oct 29, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Did you mix up the whole bag? Salts can settle in shipping.

Magnesium cannot be lowered except by water change.

He could lower the Mg through forcing it to precipitate with something like limewater right? But I wouldn't use the mix after that.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 30, 2016

jason2459 said:
He could lower the Mg through forcing it to precipitate with something like limewater right? But I wouldn't use the mix after that.

That will also mess with alkalinity and calcium. It would boost calcium by about 166 ppm for each 100 ppm drop in magnesium, if you kept alk constant.