Mag dose with ATO?

[Austinchap]

My magnesium is at 300. I use reef crystals with my weekly 5gal water change on my biocube hqi. I tested the reef crystal mix and it read 0 mag levels :|.
could I dose my 5 gallon jug for my ato to 1000 mag to get my mag levels up?
Or is there a better way? Also should I switch salts?

Thanks!

[Asureef]

Obviously something wrong with your test kit or you are doing it wrong. What brand are you using?

[Austinchap]

I use salifert tests on everything. I'll buy another and see. These things arnt cheap. Is there away to test the tests lol

[bertoni]

Maybe the level is 1200 ppm? How much titrant was left in the syringe? Are you using the wrong number for the final step? Or something's wrong with the kit. I'd get a second opinion before doing anything.

[Austinchap]

Yea when reading the test due you read the the amount left as the final number or the amount put in? As in if I put .80 ml or if there is only.20ml left. The test vial turns blue when the plunger reaches .20ml?

[bertoni]

So that should be 1200 ppm, if your kit is like mine. 1200 ppm is fine. :)

[Austinchap]

I see so if you add .80 ml and have .20 left you read what you have left... Not what you put in.

[bertoni]

Yes, I think you've inverted the look up table. It's easy to do.

[Austinchap]

Appreciate the help I was freaking out. Now to get my alkalinity and calcium up a little more and I'll be good to go.

[bertoni]

You're welcome! Good luck!

[mkart]

Calcium and Alk kits are read the same way as the Mag. Don't increase your levels until you are sure what your current values are.

[Austinchap]

Test are as follows today.

Temp: 76.2
Salt: 1.021 " I'm slowly raising this to 1.024"
PH: 8.1
Alk: 3.19
KH: 8.9
Nh3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
PO4: 0
Ca: 420
Mg: 1230


Should I dose kalk in my ATO? Or just keep track of the levels and dose 1&2 to keep them consistent?

I've never used kalk before.

[bertoni]

Kalk is fine to run, but I'd wait to see how the tank shapes up when the SG hits something more normal. It's a personal choice, in the end. Either approach (two-part or kalk, or even both) are common approaches.

[Austinchap]

Yea right now I'm topping off with salt till my sg gets up to around 024

Thanks!

[bertoni]

You're welcome!