Magnesium issue

byee · #1 12-13-2015, 01:22 AM

Interesting! I ran into something similar but in the opposite direction.....mag tested approx 2000.

Rolling the bucket didn't affect the readings for me.

Manufacturer did replace the bucket after I sent them a sample to test.

mike31154 · #2 12-13-2015, 01:38 AM

I'm in the why worry camp, although I don't have a lot of valuable sps either. I haven't been testing for anything for quite some time, something I did more regularly when I was new in the hobby & so was my tank. With the passing years, my best test is observing how the livestock & coral I have are doing on a daily basis. Haven't had a major crash, some critters including coral have died, but in my case, chasing numbers has never really solved anything in that regard. Every once in a while I will throw some baked baking soda, epsom salt or calcium into my top off container.

I understand testing for Potassium is the latest gig?

Aquattro · #3 12-13-2015, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike31154

I understand testing for Potassium is the latest gig?

I don't test, but take potassium every day. And MG. And Zn.

Madreefer · #4 12-13-2015, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike31154

I'm in the why worry camp, although I don't have a lot of valuable sps either. I haven't been testing for anything for quite some time, something I did more regularly when I was new in the hobby & so was my tank. With the passing years, my best test is observing how the livestock & coral I have are doing on a daily basis. Haven't had a major crash, some critters including coral have died, but in my case, chasing numbers has never really solved anything in that regard. Every once in a while I will throw some baked baking soda, epsom salt or calcium into my top off container.

I understand testing for Potassium is the latest gig?

I'm exactly same. I don't even have any test kits.

Rolling salt buckets has been talked/laughed about lots on here. Don't bother

Aquattro · #5 12-13-2015, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Rolling salt buckets has been talked/laughed about lots on here. Don't bother

Unless you're at the top of a very big hill

Could be fun!

Myka · #6 12-13-2015, 01:18 PM

You guys are dorks. For one, IO clumps up, so rolling it makes it easier to get it out. Usually, the chemicals don't separate out, but sometimes it is an issue. I test every single bucket top and bottom for the last 10 years or so. I've had a handful of buckets of IO with high Mg at the top and low Mg on the bottom - it's really happened! Furreals!

IO and IORC are the only ones I roll. H2Ocean and Tropic Marin are packed tightly in bags, and I've never tested a bucket with settling issues. I only test the "big three" though.

Aquattro · #7 12-13-2015, 02:41 PM

Never once in all my years have I had IO clump. Maybe you got counterfeit IO?? That's a thing.

Madreefer · #8 12-13-2015, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

You guys are dorks

Thank you.

inappropriate -b

Aquattro · #9 12-13-2015, 03:36 PM

Here's the thing. "IF" salt settled during transport over thousands of miles due to vibration in trucking, rolling it across the room still wouldn't mix it back up to any state worth the effort. The inside of the bucket is conducive to laminar flow and the entire mass of salt is simply going to slide around as mostly a single mass. If you got 5% mixing, you have a long room.

Next time I buy a bucket, I'll dump a pack of red powder on top, close it and roll it across the room. Betting the top of the bucket is still mostly red.

If you don't exercise much, you may get some extra calories burned rolling salt. Otherwise, it's just pointless.
If you want to mix it, drive it up to Home Depot and get them to throw it in the paint shaker for a few minutes.
There are so many other pointless things to worry about, like Mg levels, to worry about rolling salt.