Magnesium at 1260...

[20 20]

per my Salifert test kit. Is that OK, or should I raise it? Alk is currently at 9.0 dKH, and tends to drift down.

[Avi]

Take a look here for reference as to maintaining water quality:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

Then, when you want to adjust levels, here's a good tool:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

[20 20]

Thanks, looks like the level is on the low side of OK, so I'm going to leave it alone for now.

[Avi]

That would be all right unless you have clams and or SPS in your reef. If you do, then it's better to keep the magnesium levels a bit higher so that you don't run into any calcium limitations.

[20 20]

No, no clams or SPS yet. Sometime in the next year I'll upgrade my lighting so I can keep a clam or two (at least I HOPE I'll be upgrading ;) ).

[Avi]

Oh...if you're like any other reefer, you'll be upgrading. Start saving your money.

[20 20]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6828541#post6828541 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Avi
Oh...if you're like any other reefer, you'll be upgrading. Start saving your money.

Heh, no doubt. I'm under no illusion that I'm immune.:p

[vessxpress1]

I think the water can only hold so much before it would precipitate out. I was trying and trying to get my Mg above 1260 to more like 1300 to 1400 range and I can't do it. I use the salifert test too. I'd dump in the max. of my Reef Adv. Mg to raise 25 mg/L per day and I couldn't do it. Then i talked to a pretty knowledgeable guy, or so it seemed and he said with my alk at 11 and calcium at 460+ that you're only going to be able to get the magnesium so high without starting to deplete your calcium and alk. Eventually, you have to have a balance. He told me not to worry until it would drop to 1000 and then you'd want to get it back up there. As you can see I do keep some hard corals too. I just don't worry about it quite as much. Just my .02.