REDSEA blue bucket parameters, should I switch ?

slayerhellfire · Jul 8, 2019

So I been going back and fourth now on this subject wether or not to switch salts. My tank is sps dominated and stuff seems to be fine for the most part, but my parameters are always low primarily MG. After mixing a new bucket of saltwater at 1.026 of redsea blue bucket my parameters come in at ALK 7.7, CAL 400, MG 1200. My tank parameters pretty much match that or atleast after a water change, I two part dose cal and mag because I want it higher but I am constantly adding mag its at 1240 right now. My question is why is the MAG always mix low in this salt, I know its what they advertise but if natural seawater is 1280 if I am not mistaken why would they make a salt that is lower than normal. Should I just match what I am putting in my tank or should I switch salts to higher levels. Seems when I add mag it gets eaten up quick or depleted after a water change and I am back to square one.

JustAnotherNanoTank · Jul 8, 2019

Wow! That’s odd! I’ve heard a lot of people using blue bucket are getting extremely high mag!! Did you mix your salt really well when you got it? Once you get your tank up to your desired mag level, you should dose your fresh made saltwater up to the matching level of the tank. This has worked great for me for stability. Also, you said sps dominant. Do you have a lot of montipora? I’ve heard montis love magnesium.

Ktran350 · Jul 9, 2019

slayerhellfire said:
So I been going back and fourth now on this subject wether or not to switch salts. My tank is sps dominated and stuff seems to be fine for the most part, but my parameters are always low primarily MG. After mixing a new bucket of saltwater at 1.026 of redsea blue bucket my parameters come in at ALK 7.7, CAL 400, MG 1200. My tank parameters pretty much match that or atleast after a water change, I two part dose cal and mag because I want it higher but I am constantly adding mag its at 1240 right now. My question is why is the MAG always mix low in this salt, I know its what they advertise but if natural seawater is 1280 if I am not mistaken why would they make a salt that is lower than normal. Should I just match what I am putting in my tank or should I switch salts to higher levels. Seems when I add mag it gets eaten up quick or depleted after a water change and I am back to square one.

I usually test and dose my WC levels to match my display. Having said that I switched from blue bucket to TM Bio-Actif and couldn’t be happier. It wasn’t due to the Mag, Alk or Cal. Just the way RS is harvested and possible biological contamination vs TM synthetic salt mix.

JustAnotherNanoTank · Jul 9, 2019

Ktran350 said:
I usually test and dose my WC levels to match my display. Having said that I switched from blue bucket to TM Bio-Actif and couldn’t be happier. It was due to the Mag, Alk or Cal. Just the way RS is harvested and possible biological contamination vs TM synthetic salt mix.

I’m right there with you! I used CP and my params would wack out then I went to TM pro reef and adjust and I’m much happier.

slayerhellfire · Jul 9, 2019

yeah I mixed up the salt prior, and that what it tested at, I am trying to reach out to redsea so far no luck. I dont like having a mag level of 1200 to me thats low but I am literally dumping mag into my tank every week which is going get expensive. I can have my tank match my new mixed salt no problem but low levels like a mag of 1200 which I think is just too low

slayerhellfire · Jul 9, 2019

not to mention that the blue bucket normally mixes at 1250 so they say on the bucket so its not far off but I am trying to understand why the mag is so low in this formula what is the reason, still cant find a answer

dwest · Jul 9, 2019

slayerhellfire said:
not to mention that the blue bucket normally mixes at 1250 so they say on the bucket so its not far off but I am trying to understand why the mag is so low in this formula what is the reason, still cant find a answer

Our Mg test kits can easily be off by 50 ppm. If you are having good luck with the salt, I personally wouldn’t change.

slayerhellfire · Jul 9, 2019

dwest said:
Our Mg test kits can easily be off by 50 ppm. If you are having good luck with the salt, I personally wouldn’t change.

so should I just match my parameters to my new mixed saltwater, we were always beat in our heads of MAG 1350 lol 1200 is low or should stick with it.

Ktran350 · Jul 9, 2019

slayerhellfire said:
so should I just match my parameters to my new mixed saltwater, we were always beat in our heads of MAG 1350 lol 1200 is low or should stick with it.

You would want Mag to be 3x your calcium

slayerhellfire · Jul 9, 2019

Ktran350 said:
You would want Mag to be 3x your calcium

ok so its right on then if its 1200, i just took a reading and its 1245

JustAnotherNanoTank · Jul 9, 2019

slayerhellfire said:
ok so its right on then if its 1200, i just took a reading and its 1245

Yeah it’s right on but I’m with you that it seems low. Start giving a little extra mag dose to your water changes and that will bring them up slowly but surely. Bring the calcium up too lol

slayerhellfire · Jul 9, 2019

JustAnotherNanoTank said:
Yeah it’s right on but I’m with you that it seems low. Start giving a little extra mag dose to your water changes and that will bring them up slowly but surely. Bring the calcium up too lol

every time i do that everything gets thrown off trust me I did do that for awhile and it was like chasing a tiger

slayerhellfire · Jul 9, 2019

I think i am going keep my mag at 1250 atleast I am not dumping tons in every week. The calcium I think is fine at 400 but I will keep a eye on it i guess I did have it two part dosing to keep it at 420 not sure what happened

JustAnotherNanoTank · Jul 9, 2019

slayerhellfire said:
every time i do that everything gets thrown off trust me I did do that for awhile and it was like chasing a tiger

Well I hear you on that. It’s that deal where if your tank is doing well then don’t change anything. If you’re going to switch salts you can do it very slowly. Like they all say in reefing, stability is king.