Red Sea Mg powder suppliment help

[radecatur]

I apologize in advance for the confusing nature of what is about to be stated, but i need to get this multi-part problem worked out.
1. I'm not sure that the stock solution mixed to the proper concentration.
2. I have no idea what a typical consumption is for a 75g (300L)tank (understanding that all tanks are different) but there should be a range that would be considered norm.
It would appear that my tank is using close to 25ppm per day. (live stock minimal; 1 small hammer, tiny gonio frag, a small seriatopora, a tiny acro, a small hydno, med xenia, small gsp)
So daily consumption of the holy trinity:
Alk 1.36 dkh (confirmed)
CA 29 (confirmed)
Mg 25 (ughhh maybe)

These ratios dont even come close to the 1dkh/18ca/2mg ive seen posted. (but this is just a trivial concern)

I created a stock solution of part c from the powder. I started with a small batch first to test.
Instead of 600gr to 1 liter of water, i did 60gr to 100ml of water. same same. No biggie there. (famous last words)
According to the destructions, 1ml of solution should raise mag in 100L of water by 1 ppm. However when i dose based on the instructions im seeing almost a 30ppm increase per ml per 300 liters, or 90ppm per 100L.
How can that mix to 90X strength and not have a ton of undissolved solids?

For instance tonight i tested, and it was 1185, i added 5ml of the stock solution to 300 liters, waited an hour tested again, and it was at 1335.
They are bouncing between 1185 and 1440. I simply cannot get a handle on them.

My gut is pointing to the mag powder, but i want/need a sanity check from others that may use Red Sea part C powder.

[Martin Kuhn]

- first you should dose in a way that you adjust ca, Alk and Mg separately to something like 420 / 8 / 1250.
In case mg is lower than 1200 start here first

- if you achieved this target THEN it is time to dose according your tanks consumption. the consumption you describe is "high" for Ca and KH but several tanks have this. Mg with 25 mg/l per would be ultra Ultra High

- in general it does not matter if you change the concentration of your stock solutions to lower then recommended (what you described anyhow is 1:1 what Red Sea said )

- the values you measured did not get u where you described just by your dosing I think you should improve your testing capabilities, your test kit, etc

- my Software tool AquaCalculator describes you very accurately what you have to mix/dose with the redSea and much other 2/3 part products. As I'm asking for a premium update for some expert functions like this normally .... I offer you to try it out. just let me know if you're interested (PN)

Best reds
Martin


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[radecatur]

Originally Posted by Martin Kuhn

- first you should dose in a way that you adjust ca, Alk and Mg separately to something like 420 / 8 / 1250.
In case mg is lower than 1200 start here first

I do currently. Ca and Alk are stable at 400-440, and Alk solid at 9.5
Hence why there is a (confirmed) after the daily consumption of these elements.
My test kits are salifert tested daily at the same time +/- 2 hours, for these 3 elements.
In regards to use of a calculator, i appreciate it. Though i currently have a spreadsheet that takes care of that for me. It has worked fine for calcium and alk.

[SPR1968]

I have a similar issue with the Mg powder.

I have a Max S 650 (reef) and aiming for 465, 12.6 and 1390 for Ca Alk Mg being the accelerated growth parameters.

I am dosing Ca and Alk at around 14ppm and 1.5dkh daily and this is stable with minor weekly adjustments

I am dosing 2ppm daily of Mg and although I'm aiming at 1390 I'm currently around 1440 according to the Red Sea test kit and it sometimes varies quiet a lot. I have had readings as low as 1200 and as high as 1600!

I am not critising the test kit at all as it's probably user error (me!) but I think it's maybe very sensitive and accurate and requires a little more care to make sure the results are correct.

[radecatur]

Originally Posted by SPR1968

maybe very sensitive and accurate and requires a little more care to make sure the results are correct.

Thanks for this little nugget.
That thought had not even occurred to me.
And i guess that is what Martin was trying to politely say in paragraph 4.
Sometime i need a good kick in the noggin' (Kopf).

If there is a better test than salifert, im all ears.
In the meantime ill work on my technique

[SPR1968]

Originally Posted by radecatur

Thanks for this little nugget.
That thought had not even occurred to me.
And i guess that is what Martin was trying to politely say in paragraph 4.
Sometime i need a good kick in the noggin' (Kopf).

If there is a better test than salifert, im all ears.
In the meantime ill work on my technique

I use the Red Sea one as part of the reef foundation combined kit.

it's easy to,do when you get used to it, and there is a video on their web site. You just have to make sure you don't try and rush the first stages and make sure everything is clean. Any mistake can lead to a wrong result and hence I've had wild variations sometimes (ie my fault not the kit!)