Really high Magnesium

[reefnewbie83177]

Hi all,
So I have been having really high magnesium in my reef tank. Here are my Params:
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
Phosphate: undetectable
SG: 1.025-1.026
Temp: 78.6 - 78.8
Alk: 8.7 - 9.5
Ca: 450 - 490
Mg: 1700

I feed once a day with frozen mysis/krill/etc and one strip of Garlic Soaked Nori. I use Instant Ocean Sea Salt. I used Purple a while back, and I know that does contain Mg.

I have a low bioload. In my 90 gallon + 30gallon sump I have the following stock:

Yellow tang
Sailfin tang
Coral beauty Angel
Dragonet
Two Clowns

3 Acros (small frags)
2 montis (small frags)
Frogspawn
Hammerhead
green star polyp
button coral

RBTA Anemone
A lot of other inverts (hermits,snails, shrimp)

Everything looks just fine and I am not too worried about it, but just odd. I dose 20mL of BRS 2-part solutions. I am using a red sea pro test kit. I just don't know where all this Mg is coming from. I plan on getting a salafert test kit, and I will be testing my Instant Ocean salt as soon as it is ready.

Any other ideas? Should I be worried? I am getting great growth on my SPS and the coraline algae is growing nicely.

Thanks

[pakirri]

whats your ph? I have experienced high magnesium on high ph.. I am not sure if its related my guess that it is not but who knows? maybe Randy

[reefnewbie83177]

Originally Posted by pakirri

whats your ph? I have experienced high magnesium on high ph.. I am not sure if its related my guess that it is not but who knows? maybe Randy

sorry, i knew i would miss something. my pH is always b/w 8.0 and 8.3 depending on the time of day

[reefnewbie83177]

Anyone else have any ideas? Randy? Thanks

[Mikez1207]

Are you dosing mag?

[reefnewbie83177]

Originally Posted by Mikez1207

Are you dosing mag?

Nope. This tank is going on 5 months. The first two months I used purple up, and I know that that does have some mag in it, but I always used according to manufacturers directions so that shouldn't have done it. I also use the BRS 2 part, but have not used any of the Mg that comes with it.

[shiladitya1991]

Originally Posted by reefnewbie83177

Nope. This tank is going on 5 months. The first two months I used purple up, and I know that that does have some mag in it, but I always used according to manufacturers directions so that shouldn't have done it. I also use the BRS 2 part, but have not used any of the Mg that comes with it.

Purple up got you into trouble..mag levels can never be more than the salt mix levels,unless u use any additives... Try Kalk.. Make sure your test kit is perfect

[bertoni]

The only reasonably fast way to lower the level is through water changes. I agree with checking the level in some freshly-mixed saltwater.

[bugs713]

I had the same mag levels when using Purpleup; went back to normal after 3 weeks of not using it and weekly WC.

[reefnewbie83177]

Originally Posted by bugs713

I had the same mag levels when using Purpleup; went back to normal after 3 weeks of not using it and weekly WC.

That's the thing, It has been at least 2 months since I used it. Still waiting on a salafert test kit for Mg.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

i do not think magnesium is that high due to Purple Up unless you added massive amounts. In 100 gallons of water, you need to add 3 liters of a pure magnesium supplement (like B-ionic Magnesium) to boost magnesium by 300 ppm.

[reefnewbie83177]

Originally Posted by Randy Holmes-Farley

i do not think magnesium is that high due to Purple Up unless you added massive amounts. In 100 gallons of water, you need to add 3 liters of a pure magnesium supplement (like B-ionic Magnesium) to boost magnesium by 300 ppm.

That's exactly what I thought Randy. I will be testing a pre-mixed batch of saltwater later this afternoon. If it shows really high Mg then I will assume that it is either a bad batch of Instant Ocean or my test kit is severely off. I just don't know what else it could be. It's not like Mg can just spontaneously enter my water.