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Unread 04/26/2012, 07:14 AM   #1
reefnewbie83177
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Really high Magnesium

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


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Unread 04/26/2012, 08:34 AM   #2
pakirri
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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


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Unread 04/26/2012, 08:45 AM   #3
reefnewbie83177
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakirri View Post
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


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Unread 04/26/2012, 10:11 AM   #4
reefnewbie83177
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Anyone else have any ideas? Randy? Thanks


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Unread 04/26/2012, 10:22 AM   #5
Mikez1207
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Are you dosing mag?


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Unread 04/26/2012, 10:26 AM   #6
reefnewbie83177
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Quote:
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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.


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Unread 04/26/2012, 10:57 AM   #7
shiladitya1991
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reefnewbie83177 View Post
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


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Unread 04/26/2012, 09:47 PM   #8
bertoni
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The only reasonably fast way to lower the level is through water changes. I agree with checking the level in some freshly-mixed saltwater.


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Unread 04/26/2012, 10:40 PM   #9
bugs713
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I had the same mag levels when using Purpleup; went back to normal after 3 weeks of not using it and weekly WC.


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Unread 04/27/2012, 06:32 AM   #10
reefnewbie83177
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Quote:
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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.


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Unread 04/27/2012, 06:41 AM   #11
Randy Holmes-Farley
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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.


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Unread 04/27/2012, 08:06 AM   #12
reefnewbie83177
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Quote:
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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.


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Unread 11/19/2014, 08:46 PM   #13
custom58hd
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I know I late to the thread but I want to know how it turned out.
I just upgraded from a 55 with a 10 gallon sump to a 90 with a 30 gallon sump/fuge.
I have never tested for mag until yesterday. I am using a Red Sea Pro test kit and I am getting unusually high readings. using the scale on the card I figure I am getting somewhere in the vicinity of 4000!! I am using two full syringes +0.2 ml of titrant. I havnn't tested it against a fresh mix of Red Sea salt yet though.
while I am here and asking for advice on testing. I also test calcium and Alk daily trying to establish a depletion rates to set up my doser. Using Red Sea pro kits for each, I gett a calcium reading of 450 foAcar a couple days in a row. My Alk reading does drop about 1 dkh a day.

I have have
3 Acans (about 6 polys each)
1 fairly large hammer
1 toadstool
2 small candy canes
2 small torches
a few small zoa colonies
1 large Paly colony
6 mushrooms

2 clowns
1 flasher wrasse
1 watchman goby

6 hermits
1 coral banded shrimp
1 pistol shrimp

I figure its faily small bioload


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Unread 11/19/2014, 10:01 PM   #14
bertoni
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I would try measuring some freshly-mixed saltwater. 4000 ppm sounds like a testing problem to me.


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Unread 11/19/2014, 10:46 PM   #15
Djturna4thakidz
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What mg test kit are you using?


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Unread 11/22/2014, 10:43 AM   #16
custom58hd
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I figured out my problem....I can't read instructions
I was using the full 5ml syringe....not the 2ml the intrustions say to use.

mag is 1480


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Unread 11/22/2014, 11:55 AM   #17
DasCamel
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Salinity.

My refractometer had been slowly drifting, showing the salinity lower than it should be. After recalibration to two different sources, I was at 1.030. The giveaway, the Haddoni was looking healthy but hiding in the sand every few days.

My Mg was testing high, with the same kit that was showing normal a few months earlier. After I lowered the salinity mystery solved. Off the chart to 1480...


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Unread 11/22/2014, 06:11 PM   #18
bertoni
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Okay, 1480 ppm seems reasonable to me.


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Unread 03/13/2016, 02:24 PM   #19
Unholy666
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Mine is 1800 no matter what I do. Only thing I think it could be in the Red Sea CP I use.


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