Tanks based on Aquaforest Products:

hpimichael02 · Mar 7, 2017

Everything came in today so I gotta fill my brute with rodi water then rock n roll

domination2580 · Mar 7, 2017

120reefkeeper said:
How I started the switch over was I did 15% water changes and then started dosing the pro bio s and np pro. Then i balanced the big 3 parameters and started dosing the components 1,2,3

[emoji4]

How did you balance the big three

120reefkeeper · Mar 7, 2017

domination2580 said:
How did you balance the big three

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

That's what the calculator is for. You input your numbers on your test along with the gallons in your tank. Then you choose from the drop down menu and pick the product your going to dose.

It will tell you how much to dose and what the balancing parameters are.

ken77 · Mar 7, 2017

If I am using the aquaforest kh buffer what do i chose on the dosing calculatorhttp://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
Aquaforest is not listed?

120reefkeeper · Mar 7, 2017

ken77 said:
If I am using the aquaforest kh buffer what do i chose on the dosing calculatorhttp://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
Aquaforest is not listed?

Dissolve 80g of the product in 1000ml of deionized water. To maintain ion stability, it is recommended to use with Aquaforest Calcium, Magnesium and Reef Mineral Salt.

US: Dissolve 1.28 cups of the product in 1 US gal. of deionized water. The recommended KH level in coral reef aquaria is 6.5°- 8.0°dKH. Contains NaHCO3. 10g KH Bu er increases by about 3,3 dKH (Alk. 1,18meg/l) in 100L. 100ml KH Bu er solu on increases by about 1,60 dKH in 100L (27 US gal) of water.

These are the directions from the guide on making your own solution.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/brsinstructions/brsAquaforest/Aquaforest_Products-Guide_EN_RGB.pdf

domination2580 · Mar 8, 2017

I'm getting really sick of the high mag in af reef salt....this is the third box that I've tested fresh made sw at 1.025 with over 1600 mg on both red sea and salifert test kits....questioning on switching to their full line

domination2580 · Mar 8, 2017

@120reefkeeper

hpimichael02 · Mar 8, 2017

Interesting because they advertise 1300-1360. How are the other parameters

120reefkeeper · Mar 8, 2017

Can't say I've ever had that problem.

The things I would check first before automatically blaming the salt.

1. Did I properly mix the salt when I got it.

2. Am I doing the test absolutely correctly. " I've done this test wrong before" lol

3 . Are my test kits up to date.

4. Have I had someone else verify the results.

5. Am I adding anything else that could cause the magnesium to be that high or even climb higher.

@domination2580

Brewman1987 · Mar 8, 2017

domination2580 said:
I'm getting really sick of the high mag in af reef salt....this is the third box that I've tested fresh made sw at 1.025 with over 1600 mg on both red sea and salifert test kits....questioning on switching to their full line

I too have been getting a high mg of at least 1500 or higher on my latest batch of reef salt. I used 2 different test kits (nyos & red sea). The dkh and ca is spot on for me though. Hopefully the next batch is going to within the stated parameters. Other than the high mg my tank looks great.

hpimichael02 · Mar 8, 2017

What temp are you testing at, there website states there params at 75.*F .I wonder if the params change with higher temps

Brewman1987 · Mar 8, 2017

Im testing at 76-77*

HolisticBear · Mar 8, 2017

domination2580 said:
I'm getting really sick of the high mag in af reef salt....this is the third box that I've tested fresh made sw at 1.025 with over 1600 mg on both red sea and salifert test kits....questioning on switching to their full line

I've been seeing these complaints occasionally on both FB and R2R. You can only read about something so much before there is probably a hint of truth.

At the same time, there have been many threads disowning the Red Sea Mg test because of false high readings. A recent test-kit shootout on R2R for example.

They are probably unrelated, but it's unfortunate.

I'm hoping the AF salt problems are in the past and I just ordered a Salifert Mg test based off previous threads.

Since I have a brand new RODI and a new box of AF salt, I may get a triton report on freshly mixed saltwater.

jsker · Mar 8, 2017

I guess I am on the bad side, I use Red Sea test kits, and AF salt without issue. In fact I could not be happier since I switch over a year ago.

domination2580 · Mar 8, 2017

120reefkeeper said:
Can't say I've ever had that problem.

The things I would check first before automatically blaming the salt.

1. Did I properly mix the salt when I got it.

2. Am I doing the test absolutely correctly. " I've done this test wrong before" lol

3 . Are my test kits up to date.

4. Have I had someone else verify the results.

5. Am I adding anything else that could cause the magnesium to be that high or even climb higher.

@domination2580

I checked all of that. I tested multiple times, different test kits, even had my friend test it and then we both tested his water to see, I mixed water using pump, checked with calibration calibrated atc refractometer at 1.025
And app test kits brand new
@120reefkeeper

jhatfield · Mar 8, 2017

I'm just at the end of a new tank cycle so have only tested Mg twice just out of curiosity but both times have tested well over 1500 with salifert. If I recall correctly, the batch was from June 2016.

With that said... what is the effect of high Mg? If I weren't testing would I be able to tell by looking at the corals whether Mg was an issue? Or, does it change how Alk, can Cal interact? I'm still really new at this and trying to figure out the chemistry.

domination2580 · Mar 8, 2017

120reefkeeper said:
Can't say I've ever had that problem.

The things I would check first before automatically blaming the salt.

1. Did I properly mix the salt when I got it.

2. Am I doing the test absolutely correctly. " I've done this test wrong before" lol

3 . Are my test kits up to date.

4. Have I had someone else verify the results.

5. Am I adding anything else that could cause the magnesium to be that high or even climb higher.

@domination2580

Ok so just had a curious thought...what if the mg in the salt was all at the top and everything else on bottom hence giving me high mag....so I took the bag completely out of the box and mixed the salt as best I could and then made new sw and tested again and again it's at 1600....on both test kits!

jsker · Mar 8, 2017

domination2580 said:
Ok so just had a curious thought...what if the mg in the salt was all at the top and everything else on bottom hence giving me high mag....so I took the bag completely out of the box and mixed the salt as best I could and then made new sw and tested again and again it's at 1600....on both test kits!

I would like to test a theory for me please. Test our RO/DI water with your kits. Just the RO/DI please

120reefkeeper · Mar 8, 2017

jhatfield said:
I'm just at the end of a new tank cycle so have only tested Mg twice just out of curiosity but both times have tested well over 1500 with salifert. If I recall correctly, the batch was from June 2016.

With that said... what is the effect of high Mg? If I weren't testing would I be able to tell by looking at the corals whether Mg was an issue? Or, does it change how Alk, can Cal interact? I'm still really new at this and trying to figure out the chemistry.

Well you won't have bryopsis issues lol [emoji23]

I'm not a chemist either but if you are concerned about elevated magnesium the guy who's got all that covered is Randy Holmes Farley in the chemistry form here on R2R. Here is an article he has written on the subject.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry

120reefkeeper · Mar 8, 2017

domination2580 said:
Ok so just had a curious thought...what if the mg in the salt was all at the top and everything else on bottom hence giving me high mag....so I took the bag completely out of the box and mixed the salt as best I could and then made new sw and tested again and again it's at 1600....on both test kits!

I personally have never ran into this issue but I suppose if I had it I would just worry about the calcium and alkalinity and not do a water change until my magnesium level dropped enough to warrant a water change.

The only time I've ever had a true magnesium problem was self induced. I dosed magnesium itself by hand and over shot the amount that I put in due to my own boneheaded mistake by not doing the test right.

On the Red Sea kit when it tells you to add the 5 drops and mix for 15 seconds I did just that.

Your supposed to add 1 drop and mix for 15 seconds, then another drop 15 seconds.... etc.... etc...

That's what I did wrong.