You pick the change poll

[kien]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Let's expand on this. What is "very low" and what would the problem be? Mine is about 1150ppm and I don't really see any problems. Looks like a lot of work to chase a number without understanding the problem.

In my experience, a result of low mag is that it makes it more difficult or challenging to maintain higher alkalinity levels. There's a whole chemistry lesson you can read up on regarding the relationships but what I took away was simply, low mag will bugger up alkalinity. To me low is below 1200 is when things start to get interesting.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by kien

To me low is below 1200 is when things start to get interesting.

Hmm. Mine is (being generous) ~1170. I'll test alk, pretty sure I have a kit for that

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Hmm. Mine is (being generous) ~1170. I'll test alk, pretty sure I have a kit for that

Alk is 8dKh. Sounds good to me?

[kien]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Alk is 8dKh. Sounds good to me?

If your Alk is fine and you're not finding it difficult then I personally would not worry about mag. I use Alk as my indicator for potential mag issues. My mag as been as low as 1100 and the only thing I noticed when I had it that low as that it was more challenging for me to maintain my Alk higher. It certainly wasn't the end of the world. I have never dosed mag and have only tested for it once in the past 3 years.