Seachem magnesium dosing ?

[JMM744]

having trouble getting mag to increase. Mixed 1 teaspoon to one cup water as instructions state. Mag is at 1200 and trying to get up around 1300-1350. Keep adding but very little movement. Had 1220 dosed 10oz. And 1 hour later had 260. Anyone have experience with this additive or suggestions as to what might be wrong? Been dosing almost every day for a week and it's just not advancing as I thought it would. I am using the calculator on seachems site. Everything else is where I want it . Corals look fine too.
Thanks, Jim

 

[reefmagic]

Takes a lot to boost it. Should say somewhere on the bottle how much you can raise it per mL/gal of water but it takes a lot.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What size tank are we talking about?

Don't over-interpret two magnesium test results. The uncertainty is probably as high as the amount you boosted it. How much did you expect it to rise?

 

[JMM744]

70 reef , 30 sump. I figure 60 gallon with live rock/ sump. I have dosed quite a bit over the past week without getting anywhere. Today I just threw some in to see if it moved after an hour. Usually dose according to the calculator. Usually do 1/2 two days so it doesn't change too much at one time. Dosing is new to me and I am trying to feel my way through knowing how much I can do with no ill affects. I will get the numbers up.

 

[JMM744]

Ok, here are my numbers ...test result/dose and next line is next day's test..24 hrs.
1215- dose 18 tsp.
1200-70ml. All test results are Salifert. Couple were with two different kits. Am not having any
1230-70ml. Trouble dosing calc. NO 3 and alk.
1200-75ml.
2days later
1210-150ml.
1200-180 ml.
1240-150ml.
2 days
1220-180ml.
1200-6 oz.
1230-210ml.
1260-300ml.
1245-8 oz.
1220-15 oz.
1200- nothing/ wonder about faulty test?
1230-10 oz.
1 hour later....1260

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Those numbers moving around are mostly testing noise. Anytime you see a drop in a day or two or three, that is purely noise.

Real consumption of magnesium is less than 2 ppm per day n mos tanks, and less than 0.2 ppm per day in many. It will be about 10% of the calcium consumption, or less.

 

[JMM744]

Should I dose a big amount then to get it around 1300 or above?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When you use the calculator, how many ppm have you typically been adding?

I'd boost it by 50 ppm per day over 2 days.

 

[JMM744]

I am dosing just what the post states. Have no idea what ppm is being added. I don't even know how to figure it out. It's really over my head. Chemistry and complex math are not something I am going to get easily, if at all.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am dosing just what the post states. Have no idea what ppm is being added. I don't even know how to figure it out. It's really over my head. Chemistry and complex math are not something I am going to get easily, if at all.

I thought you were using their calculator? How did you arrive at those doses?

 

[JMM744]

I am. I put the number I have and the number I want and dose the amount suggested.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am. I put the number I have and the number I want and dose the amount suggested.

OK, and how much of a boost were you doing?

 

[JMM744]

From 1200 to 1350 over two days.

 

[JMM744]

Tonight I had 1260 and the calculator called for 8 oz. To get to 1350. Hats what I dosed. Will check tommorow night.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You should be seeing a rise if you dosed an amount that would boost magnesium by 150 ppm (assuming you entered the correct product, etc.).

Don't keep adding it over and over.

 

[JMM744]

Ok. So just wait it out for a few days? I have put a lot of additive in the tank over the last couple weeks but the number has never reached 1300. I do appreciate the advice very much. Thank you!!

 

[GoVols]

having trouble getting mag to increase. Mixed 1 teaspoon to one cup water as instructions state. Mag is at 1200 and trying to get up around 1300-1350. Keep adding but very little movement. Had 1220 dosed 10oz. And 1 hour later had 260. Anyone have experience with this additive or suggestions as to what might be wrong? Been dosing almost every day for a week and it's just not advancing as I thought it would. I am using the calculator on seachems site. Everything else is where I want it . Corals look fine too.
Thanks, Jim

Are you using the Reef Advantage crystals?

 

[BrettMallette]

Which seachem magnesium are you using? Liquid or crystals?

 

[JMM744]

Crystals. Fully dissolved in ro/RI water.

 

[BrettMallette]

If using crystals every tsp per 20g will raise your mg 5ppm... so if you wanted to raise it by 150 for your system you would need 30 tsp/20 so in your case you would need to add 90 tsps of the mg. Or 450g of crystals. If liquid. I can figure it out for you...