Off the charts magnesium

roadrashpaul · Sep 10, 2015

Check my params tonight and they are as follows:

SG. 1.025-1.026
Alk. 8.7
Cal 400
Mag over 1800

Checked twice. I don't regurally dose although I use Epsom salt per Randy's instructions after a gallon of diy 2 part. I haven't used any of that in probably 1.5-2 months. The only reason I checked is because I am about to use up another gallon of 2 part and was going to get more Epsom salt. I just changed to a brand new tank but used all rock and sand from current setup. I did about a 40 gallon water change when I swapped tanks. New tank is 93 cube with 100 gallon stock tank for sump. Total volume is roughly 160ish best I can figure. Any thoughts? All critters and coral look fine so I'm not to concerned.

spspirate · Sep 10, 2015

1800ppm is high no doubt but I don't feel it's ridiculously high. I keep mine between 1400-1600ppm. I don't think anyone really knows what the "magic number" is for magnesium to become a problem but I would imagine too much can cause a negative effect. Maybe do a small water change and then test but I wouldn't be in any panic at 1800ppm.

cloak · Sep 10, 2015

Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. What are your parameters from week to week with water changes alone? Nature will take it's course.. KISS, GL.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

JimWelsh · Sep 10, 2015

How are your snails doing? I've noticed snails get sluggish (pun not intended) and even die with higher Mg. Since you haven't dosed it lately, do you have any idea where it came from? I did have one batch of salt that had crazy high Mg once.

Downbeach · Sep 11, 2015

What is the level of Mg in your make up water? With regular WC's at a SG of 1.026(35ppt), I've never had to dose Mg. Are you sure you need to dose? Suggestes level should be between 1200-1400ppm, and most salt mixes are within those numbers if mixed to a SG of ~ 1.026(35ppt).

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 11, 2015

If that's all you've dosed and the salinity is not super excessive, I think it most likely the value is testing error. Many of the magnesium complaints folks have are testing error.

roadrashpaul · Sep 11, 2015

JimWelsh said:
How are your snails doing? I've noticed snails get sluggish (pun not intended) and even die with higher Mg. Since you haven't dosed it lately, do you have any idea where it came from? I did have one batch of salt that had crazy high Mg once.

They all seem fine. I will check make up water.

roadrashpaul · Sep 11, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If that's all you've dosed and the salinity is not super excessive, I think it most likely the value is testing error. Many of the magnesium complaints folks have are testing error.

You are probably correct but I checked twice. This is a fairly new red sea pro kit. I will check again tonight. That's the only mag I have dosed.

Downbeach · Sep 11, 2015

The Red Sea Pro kit is reasonably accurate, but can be a little tricky with having to mix each of the five drops of reagen A for 15 seconds between each drop, while trying to keep track of the number of drops. Here is a demo of the test proceedure if you haven't already seen it: