WMAS Discussion Forum : Low magnesium http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:08:55 +0000 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 12:38:07 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=45866 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Low magnesium : I did some more testing today,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393373&title=low-magnesium#393373 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 12:38pm

I did some more testing today, and I am not sure I am using my test kit correctly.  I am using the red sea magnesium kit.  After adding the A, and the B, you add the C until it changes from pink to blue (there is a color chart).  When I get to about 850 it changes from pink to a blue/purple (but not as blue as the chart).  After adding a few more drops it stays that color, so I thought that must be it.  But today I tried adding more, and it went back to pink, then back to blue/purple (bluer than the first time, but it never gets all the way to the blue on the chart).  The second change happens at about 1300,  It may get slightly darker after adding more, but it never gets to the blue on the chart.

So I guess I really have no idea what my magnesium is, so I am not going to add anymore until I figure this out.  I have gone through the test 3 times following the instructions exactly, with the same results.
]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 12:38:07 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393373&title=low-magnesium#393373 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393357&title=low-magnesium#393357 Author: tileman
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 11:34am

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

This is a good read.
]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:34:06 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393357&title=low-magnesium#393357 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : The calculator says not to increase...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393353&title=low-magnesium#393353 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 11:13am

The calculator says not to increase the magnesium by more than 100 ppm per day, which comes to about 3/4 cup per day of epsom salt.  If I could find some magnesium chloride locally I would use it.  I will look again next time I am at lowes, home depot, or walmart.

Once I get my mag, calcium, and alk where I want it I can use my c-balance (which has calcium, magnesium, strontium, etc).




Edited by Davidwillis - January 08 2011 at 11:14am]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:13:51 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393353&title=low-magnesium#393353 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : And I also wanted to add that...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393352&title=low-magnesium#393352 Author: badfinger
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 11:11am

And I also wanted to add that when salt (reef crystals, aquavitro salinity, h20) or any reef salt... if made to like a level of 1.026 basically puts all your levels cal/alk/mag/strontium at correct levels for that batch. And so if you are only doing a 20% water change.. you are only replacing 20% of trace elements.(in this case hopefully your tank is only using up 20% of trace elements inbetween every water change)

Brad syphus quoted sombody once saying.... to keep your levels correct you would have to do a 100% water change every day]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:11:19 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393352&title=low-magnesium#393352 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : Do not add in all 3 3/4 cups all...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393351&title=low-magnesium#393351 Author: badfinger
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 11:02am

Do not add in all 3 3/4 cups all at once that needs to be done over a week or two...also instant ocean is not high in cal,alk,mag,strontium so waterchanges with instant ocean will not help your levels too much.... for an alk/cal supplement I use kalkwasser(aka pickling lime,aka calcium hydroxide) and I love it... I just use kalk in with all my top off water.

Cal/alk/mag are your 3 major elements in your water that you need to make sure are pretty stable(stable being more important then precise numbers)... so to me I would not just add in epsom salt or known as magnesium sulfate... sulfate is sulfur.. chloride is always the better "transporter" of anything cal/mag/strontium etc etc etc... so to get a "perfect balance" you need to use both mag chloride(in a lot higher of quantity then mag sulfate) and mag sulfate.]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:02:54 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393351&title=low-magnesium#393351 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : found a calculator...http:...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393341&title=low-magnesium#393341 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 10:04am

found a calculator...http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

Looks like it will take about 3 3/4 cups to raise it to 1300


Edited by Davidwillis - January 08 2011 at 10:07am]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 10:04:27 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393341&title=low-magnesium#393341 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : I use instant ocean salt, although...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393340&title=low-magnesium#393340 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 08 2011 at 10:01am

I use instant ocean salt, although I do very few water changes.  My goal is to figure out how to maintain water quality without water changes (or at least very few).

Is there a formula to figure out how much epsom salt to add?  I added a table spoon disolved in ro water to my sump last night, but this morning I did not see any increase in magnesium.  So I figure I probably should calculate how much I will need to add.

I guess Ideally I would add 9 parts magnesium chloride to 1 part epsom salt.  But I don't have magnesium chloride, so I will just use epsom salt for now.
]]> Sat, 08 Jan 2011 10:01:10 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393340&title=low-magnesium#393340 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : What kind of salt are you using...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393296&title=low-magnesium#393296 Author: badfinger
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 07 2011 at 7:00pm

What kind of salt are you using in your water changes?..... I would use both mag chloride, and epsom salt. Both are required to make it balanced... you could probably find like a chemical company that sells or could order you in mag chloride (if you can't find it in a ice melt).. or just order it from bulk reef supply still pretty cheap]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:00:52 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393296&title=low-magnesium#393296 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : Slow is best. Mark would know...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393295&title=low-magnesium#393295 Author: Lewy
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 07 2011 at 6:51pm

Slow is best. Mark would know how fast you can increase it daily. I use 'safe step' brand. it's called, I believe, 'extreem 8500']]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:51:57 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393295&title=low-magnesium#393295 <![CDATA[Low magnesium : How do you know which ice melt...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393278&title=low-magnesium#393278 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 45866
Posted: January 07 2011 at 4:55pm

How do you know which ice melt is pure magnesium chloride?  I have to go get some epsom salt anyway, so if I can find an ice melt that is magnesium chloride I will get that too.

Also, do I have to be careful and not raise my magnesium too fast?


]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:55:39 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45866&PID=393278&title=low-magnesium#393278