Problems with maintaining magnesium it keeps dropping.
- Thread starter Hellybell80
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Floyd-
Well-Known Member
Ill check my new SW also. Just mixed a batch yesterday. I just use IO.
I’m using Red Sea blue bucket, let’s see what happens. My bet is that it’ll show perfect magnesium, fingers crossed.
I read somewhere that algae growth (such as a turf scrubber) can deplete magnesium. Not sure if that’s true or not.
Floyd-
Well-Known Member
If thats the case then it would make sense for me. I have a lot of turf algae on my rocks all of a sudden.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
The only algae that can appreciably impact calcium, alkalinity and magnesium are calcerous algae such as halimeda. Noncalcerous organisms have no where to put magnesium.
The internal concentration of dissolved magnesium inside of tissues (cells) is typically lower than in seawater. Noncalcerous organisms try to keep it out, not take it up.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
If the tank is low with the same kit that shows the salt mix is fine, just dose it up, then sit back and watch for an extended period and see what happens.
Floyd-
Well-Known Member
I thought it would be odd. That was the first I heard of that notion that Mag and algae are connected at all.It isn’t.
Ill test the main tank and my new SW batch of IO tonight and see what I have for Mag.
Last mag test was 1320 using Salifert. Was as low as 1200 ppm
Thanks Randy! I appreciate the knowledge, you are awesome. I’m almost up to temp in my 5g bucket, salt is next. I’m at work so it’ll be a bit more than a couple hours haha.
I don’t have any coralline algae either in my tank, so I’m wondering where its going.
I don’t have any coralline algae either in my tank, so I’m wondering where its going.
Randy you were right - salt is bad?
Just tested my 5g batch, 78 degrees, 1.026 salinity.
1140 magnesium o.o
I guess I’ll switch back to my prior salt mix. This is annoying - does it mean the whole bucket is lacking in magnesium? I’ll test calcium shortly to see if it’s the same thing..
Although the bucket does say 35 ppt to achieve 1280 magnesium, technically 1.026 is not 35 ppt right? It’s a little higher on the scale of the refractometer.
Just tested my 5g batch, 78 degrees, 1.026 salinity.
1140 magnesium o.o
I guess I’ll switch back to my prior salt mix. This is annoying - does it mean the whole bucket is lacking in magnesium? I’ll test calcium shortly to see if it’s the same thing..
Although the bucket does say 35 ppt to achieve 1280 magnesium, technically 1.026 is not 35 ppt right? It’s a little higher on the scale of the refractometer.
Floyd-
Well-Known Member
And for my testing...
The 150gallon display tested at 1320 and my fresh IO mixing since yesterday at 1.026 reads 1500+ with the same Salifert test.
I just did a 20 gallon change yesterday as part of my weekly change.
The 150gallon display tested at 1320 and my fresh IO mixing since yesterday at 1.026 reads 1500+ with the same Salifert test.
I just did a 20 gallon change yesterday as part of my weekly change.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Might be a bad batch, a bad magnesium test kit result, or lower salinity than you think.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
You two need to share salt mixes. lol
I’m raising it up to 35 ppt now to see if I get the advertised results. I may just switch back to my original salt mix, was just trying to save some money. I was using bio actif but not that one just that brand.
Just recalibrated and it’s perfect, 1.0264 and hits perfect at the 35 ppt right on using reagents calibration standard. I’m double checking my results on the Red Sea mix. If results are the same, I will add magnesium to the bucket to see if it goes up, that will determine if the test is accurate.
For fun I raised the SG in the sample batch to 1.028. The resulting magnesium test was 1290. Bad batch, maybe all the magnesium is stuck at the bottom, I don’t know. Overall still switching salts. Will work on supplementing display.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
You mentioned it's a bucket of salt. Have you heard of stratification? It's when the elements settle in a bucket. For this reason we always recommend to roll the bucket around before using for the first time.
Not saying this is your issue, but something to keep in mind.
Not saying this is your issue, but something to keep in mind.
Floyd-
Well-Known Member
Seems like it. Ive used Fritz, Red sea, IO Reef and now IO.
