Magnesium in ReefersBest salt?

RuGlu6 · #1 04-13-2009, 04:38 AM

Did any body tested Magnesium in a Reffers Best salt?
I was using Tropic Marine pro before and my Magn level was at 1200ppm.
LFS measured my Magn today and it is below 1000ppm
I am using reefers Best for about 4 month now.
Anybody have the same Mgn level in this salt, or its just a bad batch or test is wrong?
thx
Oh, and BTW what if Mangnesium level is higher say if test was wrong and i will add suplement raising levels above normal, what are the consiquences?

pterfloth · #2 04-13-2009, 04:57 AM

I have been doing 10% weekly water changes with RBS the past 3 weeks and my Mg has only changed from 1470 ppm to 1432 ppm. I am using the same test procedure I use for work and I know it is quite accurate. The Salifert test gives similar readings.

What procedure are you using?

Delphinus · #3 04-13-2009, 05:14 AM

I have not tested my new makeup water for Mg yet, but I have been using RBS also for about 4 months. I took a leap of faith and didn't test levels - which was a mistake. (I always test Ca and Alk every week, so Mg falls off my radar easily - because otherwise for multiple tanks I sit there and test for an hour which .. well, it's not a good excuse, but it is my excuse).

Anyhow.

Mg among 3 reef tanks was all in the 900-1000 range when I started testing Mg again. So I don't know what I'll find when I go to test my makeup water, but I'm not expecting to find it's very high.

I'll post back #'s if I do get around to testing a new batch of SW makeup water.. Now I'm catching up on all the Mg tests I didn't do because I'm testing every day whilst I try to raise Mg back to seawater levels .. ugh! Lesson learned, don't slip on testing if it's a parameter that's important to you.

RuGlu6 · #4 04-13-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pterfloth

I have been doing 10% weekly water changes with RBS the past 3 weeks and my Mg has only changed from 1470 ppm to 1432 ppm. I am using the same test procedure I use for work and I know it is quite accurate. The Salifert test gives similar readings.

What procedure are you using?

If you mean water change procedure i am changing 5% of water weekly.
For testing LFS used Elos test kit, it was 25 drops in first step,5 or 6 drops in second step. 25-5x50=1000. or 25-6x50=950 ppm Mg.

i wonder what test are you using. And did you test your fresh made salt water of RBS if yes what are the readings for Mg.?
thank you.
May be if your test is more accurate, then my water is fine as well?
If you are on RBS for only 3 weeks and RBS has lower Mg levels then may be that is why your levels slowly dropping?

RuGlu6 · #5 04-13-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I have not tested my new makeup water for Mg yet, but I have been using RBS also for about 4 months. I took a leap of faith and didn't test levels - which was a mistake. (I always test Ca and Alk every week, so Mg falls off my radar easily - because otherwise for multiple tanks I sit there and test for an hour which .. well, it's not a good excuse, but it is my excuse).

Anyhow.

Mg among 3 reef tanks was all in the 900-1000 range when I started testing Mg again. So I don't know what I'll find when I go to test my makeup water, but I'm not expecting to find it's very high.

I'll post back #'s if I do get around to testing a new batch of SW makeup water.. Now I'm catching up on all the Mg tests I didn't do because I'm testing every day whilst I try to raise Mg back to seawater levels .. ugh! Lesson learned, don't slip on testing if it's a parameter that's important to you.

Perhaps we need to use D-D Ocean Pro if we can trust their chem chart.?

pterfloth · #6 04-13-2009, 03:26 PM

Found this interesting comparison of salt mixtures. I will make-up a pail of RDS salt today for testing and let you know what my results are.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/s...d.php?t=246450

StirCrazy · #7 04-13-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pterfloth

Found this interesting comparison of salt mixtures. I will make-up a pail of RDS salt today for testing and let you know what my results are.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/s...d.php?t=246450

from that study, looks like I will stick with the old trusty IO.

Steve

sphelps · #8 04-13-2009, 05:26 PM

If you want accurate readings for testing salt you have to either mix up the whole box or record multiple tests from multiple samples and use stats, testing a cup here and there will always give different results. This means the results in the link are pretty useless since the guy only mixed up 500ml samples. I've been using RBS on my tank and others for quite some time and Mag levels have never been a problem so I'm sure it's fine.

Delphinus · #9 04-13-2009, 06:05 PM

But, Sphelps, you don't rely on the salt mix and waterchanges to maintain Mg, do you? I would have guessed you were manually dosing Mg anyhow.

RuGlu6 · #10 04-14-2009, 04:12 AM

Just calculated that i need 900grams of Mg to get my tank from 1000 to 1300ppm.
Well its sort of makes sence because ZEO sells Magnesium in small rocks and they recomend them in Calc reactor media about 30% of calc media volume to keep up the Mg levels.
So i guess my next salt will be a D-D ocean pro.