Magnesium testing

[reeferaddict]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

Yes, I know they do.

Well, now I'm getting conflicting advice.
Hard to know what to go with.

Edit: I got clarification on the ~325 ppm Ca thing. Disregard. ~350 it is. Thanx Brad.

Hey Mark...

I don't understand what the conflicting advice is here....

ANYTHING that has a calcium carbonate skeleton or shell NEEDS Calcium and Magnesium... and more importantly... Carbonates... Alkalinity is consumed at a much higher rate than anything than anything else. Having said that, natural sea water values are what we have to shoot for for all these levels.... Mag is acceptable at 1250 - 1400 ppm... Cacium anywhere between 380 and 480... and Alk at 8 - 11 dKH... LPS may not demand as much as SPS... but they are still STONY corals... same with clams... Magnesium is used at a much slower rate than Calcium... but is important to keep the Calcium and Carbonate BIO available... I keep my Mag at around 1300 and only have to test monthly and dose every two weeks... all my make up water is run through my Kalkreactor... and using Kalk actually depletes the Magnesium... some people that use Calcium Reactors report not having to dose Mag at all, as is also the case with people with low calcification demands that do regular water changes. I've never read anything to the contrary of what I have just explained, but if anyone wants to butt in and correct me... please do.