Getting my Mag levels up to par....finally got it!!l

The Grizz · #1 03-08-2011, 03:09 AM

So I did a water change on Saturday of 65 gals using Reef Crystals. Tested every bucket for Mag levels and they were all at 1150 & tank tested at 1050. So I bumped al the new water up to 1700 & today added another 4 cup of mag mix from ChemMasters. Retested after letting the water cycle for an hour and it tested out at only 1000.

Does anyone have it figured out how much mag mix it take to bump from 1000 to 1400 per gal of water. This is absolutely driving me crazy.

HELP!!!

Coleus · #2 03-08-2011, 03:25 AM

Hey Greg

First thing: make sure your test kit is still good.

I used this http://www.reeftime.com/reef-chemistry-calculator.asp to get the correct amount. His Mag is close to magnesium chloride hexahydrate i believe in the picklist

Do you have mangroves in your tank by any chance?

Also I am not sure Mg = 14000 will be safe. That is way too high and you need 132 cups to get there :-)

The Grizz · #3 03-08-2011, 03:40 AM

Hey Tai,

Test kit is brand new Elos kit & no to the mangroves. I will check out that link, thanks.

14000 would be a little high and expensive to maintain, thanks for catching that.

The Grizz · #4 03-08-2011, 03:51 AM

HOLY CRAP 14 cup to go from 1000 to 1400 I don't think I have enough mag mix. Might have to find some where to buy it local in bulk.

Delphinus · #5 03-08-2011, 03:59 AM

It takes a lot of Mg to raise the levels. 14 cups sounds about right.

The Grizz · #6 03-08-2011, 04:04 AM

I just might have to change brands of salt.

How much mag can I add daily safely?

Delphinus · #7 03-08-2011, 04:11 AM

Bah, there hasn't a single brand of salt I've tried that didn't need something added. Find a cheap source of bulk chems and adjust to needed it will be cheaper in he bigger picture.

I think 100 per day is a good target, or 50.

Thing is once it's up there it's up there. Adjust your w/c water so it's not dropping Mg at w/c time and you'll only have to dose for marginal bumps of Mg thereafter.

The Grizz · #8 03-08-2011, 04:23 AM

Good point Tony, what are you using now for salt? When you say 100, is that 100 ppm? And how do I figure that out, 1400-1000=400 then 14 cup / 4 = 3.5 cup a day?

I was told about a brand of salt that comes in a 5 gal bucket like IO Reef Crystals but makes 240 gals of saltwater @ 1.026 but can't remember the brand. I think it might have been _______ salinity.

I will have to source out bulk chem's locally and see what I can find

The Grizz · #9 03-08-2011, 04:25 AM

And how much RO water do you dissolve in per cup?

randallino · #10 03-08-2011, 04:35 AM

Greg, you know what I find is that Elos tests on the low side for Mg. In my situation I have about 1250 with Elos and Salifert has my Mg at 1400.