Dosing Mg

e46er · #1 09-29-2013, 01:02 AM

Strange maybe your initial test was off?
I have used lots of seachem products (mainly my old planted tank) but a few for SW and Their magnesium is the single only product I haven't liked.
My mg was low and over like 2 weeks I had dumped the entire 600 g tub in with no increase.
I got some mag. From little silver max and his product rasied it exactly what he said it would with an online calculator.

My guess is your original testing was off

Reef Pilot · #2 09-29-2013, 04:48 PM

Tested again today, and it came in at 1290 which makes more sense. My guess is that yesterday I may not have pulled in the test solution to the top mark in the syringe. I have tested Mg many times before, and never had a bad test, so a little strange that it would happen right after adding Mg.

Anyway, will add more MG today, and keep tracking it.

Proteus · #3 09-29-2013, 05:03 PM

I had the same issue with seachem mag and there calculator. I ended up cutting the recommended dose in half and making sure the tanks water mixed for 2 hours before retest

Reef Pilot · #4 09-29-2013, 05:10 PM

Yeah, it definitely doesn't mix easily. Just added another 125 grams this morning, and will test again tomorrow to see if it brings up my Mg. I bought the 600 gram size, so I might as well use it up.

tang daddy · #5 09-29-2013, 06:22 PM

You should usually test 6 hrs after dosing... Ideally 12 hrs as it will stabilize.

I dosed alk before and tested 1 hr after a larger dose. It skewed the test as it was sitting at 10dkh from 7 originally, tested 24 hrs later and it was at 7.5....

Conclusion, It is best to test the next day after dosing.

Madreefer · #6 09-29-2013, 07:14 PM

A cheap easy alternative is
50lb bag of Easy Start brand icemelter for your driveway $40
4kg jug of Epsom Salts $5
Mix it 11-1
I use 1/2cup per 5gallons of freshwater in my top up resevoir.
Been using this for a couple of years now. You can't really argue that it's unsafe for reef tanks as I learned this from whatcaneydo and well, look at pics of his tank

Reef Pilot · #7 10-06-2013, 05:33 PM

Well, I used up my 600 g Mg from Seachem, and managed to raise it from 1260 to 1350. Didn't seem to make any difference to my alk or Ca consumption and parameters, and my corals were not at all affected.

So will leave it for now, and see where it goes from her.

Reef Pilot · #8 11-20-2013, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madreefer

A cheap easy alternative is
50lb bag of Easy Start brand icemelter for your driveway $40
4kg jug of Epsom Salts $5
Mix it 11-1
I use 1/2cup per 5gallons of freshwater in my top up resevoir.
Been using this for a couple of years now. You can't really argue that it's unsafe for reef tanks as I learned this from whatcaneydo and well, look at pics of his tank

Well, my Mg didn't stay up for very long, back down to 1260 now. So I think I am going to have to get serious about dosing.

Where do you buy this Easy Start ice melter? And where is a good place to get a 4 kg jug of Epsom salts?

I don't use a top off reservoir. After mixing the Easy Start and Epsom Salts (11:1), can I add that mixture (after figuring out the appropriate amount) to my Ca dosing? Or do I need to set up a 3rd dosing pump? And what time of day is it best to dose Mg? Currently I dose Ca during the day and Alk at night.