Magnesium testing

Saltysteve · #1 09-18-2006, 03:23 AM

Interested in the numbers.........
Please do not vote if you are guessing.

Ruth · #2 09-18-2006, 03:42 AM

I test for magnesium at least once a month and dose as required. I have found it has made a difference in keeping calcium and alk in balance - also notice that I have more coraline growth which isn't always a good thing when it is on the glass/acrylic.

Edit: I also run magnesium chips in my calcium reactors so do not have to dose near as often as I did before.

surgeonfish · #3 09-18-2006, 03:55 AM

I do not test for calcium. I was told that if you get a white ring around your tank and/or sump at the water level your magnesium level is low. Has anyone noticed this? For those who test regulary do you find you also have to add Mg regularly? If so what kind of supplement are you using?
Tanks

Quagmire · #4 09-18-2006, 04:59 AM

I started to dose when I couldn't get my ca up.I had to dose weekly with water changes.Since Ive started useing a salt with higher mg,I dont think I'll have to dose as much,but I'll have to dose more ca as its lower in that.

The only white ring Ive ever gotten was salt creep

Johnny Reefer · #5 09-18-2006, 02:33 PM

I have been testing for Mg, and dosing....up to now....but I'm just now going to stop. It has been conveyed to me that it is not necessary because I do not keep any SPS. Just LPS, softies and I have 1 clam, plus a handful of other inverts. I will continue to test for Ca and maintain that at ~325, but for Mg I have to answer...."No. I don't bother".

Cheers

,

BMW Rider · #6 09-18-2006, 02:52 PM

I test MG, CA and alk regularly. I find I need to periodically dose a bit of MG to maintain the levels. The CA and alk usually stay where I want them within acceptable limits.

Aquattro · #7 09-18-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

... it is not necessary because I do not keep any SPS. Just LPS, softies and I have 1 clam, .

All of the above critters need Ca just like SPS, so this would be a bad reason to allow Ca to drop below ~350. Clams and LPS especially need Ca, just as much as SPS.

And while I don't test or need Mg, if you have to in order to keep levels right for your critters, then by all means you should do it. IMHO

danny zubot · #8 09-18-2006, 10:06 PM

Though I'm not as concerned with maintaining a specific level, I do test regulariliy and never let my levels drop below 1200ppm.

I notice right away that if my MG levels are low, I have a hard time keeping my Ca and Alk up too. Corals will usually become dull when MG is out of whack.

littlesilvermax · #9 09-18-2006, 10:09 PM

See post #2 for my experiences with magnesium:

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=26590

Chad · #10 09-18-2006, 11:55 PM

Everytime I have tested Mg its been pretty much spot on. I have the ring around my tank but I think its more from my dosing Kalk almost 24/7 that causes it.

View Poll Results: Have you recently started or do you test magnesium levels?
Yes I test magnesium levels, all is fine, no dosing ever needed.	8	8.79%
No I do not bother	51	56.04%
Yes I test and found that my levels were low,corrected once, no dosing.	5	5.49%
Yes I test and I have to dose continually to keep safe levels.	14	15.38%
Yes I test and dose and it has made a huge difference.	10	10.99%
Yes I test and dose and I see no difference.	3	3.30%
Voters: 91. You may not vote on this poll