Wich salt has the highest mag?

jjmcat · 11/25/2007, 05:12 PM

I was needing some info on wich salt had the highest mag levels.I have the worst time keeping my mag levels up.I even add Saliferts liquid mag with 10% weekly water changes.I have been trying different salts but I always get the same results LOW MAG. I use the Salifert mag test kit.

Bri Guy · 11/25/2007, 05:41 PM

Id get a second opinion on your Mag level before changing anything.

Mix up a batch of salt to 1.026 and test the mag. What salt did you use, and what level was the mag at, we may be able to see if you test is off.

Otherwise back to the question, ive read alot about Oceanic having outrageously high mag.

jjmcat · 11/25/2007, 05:44 PM

I have had a second and a third opinion.

USC-fan · 11/25/2007, 06:10 PM

oceanic is really high.

jjmcat · 11/25/2007, 06:17 PM

I did try oceanic once.I didnt care for it at all.Ive never had so much saltcreep in my life.I wonder if the limewater I top off with could be depleting the mag faster?I top off over 2 gallons a day via pump.

USC-fan · 11/25/2007, 07:38 PM

limewater is most likely the cause.

Sinks for Magnesium in Marine Aquaria

The primary sink for magnesium in aquaria is coprecipitation with calcium carbonate. This occurs in organisms, as shown in Table 1, and also during the abiotic (non-biologically driven) precipitation of calcium carbonate (such as on heaters).

A potential sink that has been described by some hobbyists is the precipitation of magnesium by limewater (kalkwasser). Both magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate have been suggested. I do not believe that either is an important process in most aquaria. Adding any high pH additive, including limewater, results in the transient formation of magnesium hydroxide. This material quickly redissolves on mixing such that the local pH drops below about 8.6.-9.0. Magnesium carbonate is a more complicated issue, as it is near its solubility limit in seawater and may quickly get coated with a less soluble magnesium calcite. These issues have been dealt with by Bingman20 in much greater detail, and his conclusion is that neither of these precipitates is a likely sink for magnesium.

I would suggest that an alternative way that aquaria using only limewater might become deficient in magnesium over time is that the limewater is simply not delivering magnesium to the aquarium even though it is present in the solid lime. How and why this might happen was discussed above involving the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide in the limewater reservoir. This lack of addition coupled to the ongoing removal of magnesium in calcification could lead to deficiencies in magnesium. Such deficiencies have not become extensive in my aquarium, but it does not have an especially high rate of calcification, and perhaps water changes have eliminated the problem. In any case, those using only limewater (or other systems that do not deliver magnesium) may want to occasionally check magnesium.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

jjmcat · 11/25/2007, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the info.I am going to stop the lime water for awhile.How about adding the mag to my topoff until I get my mag up to par?I add my topoff via pump to the system so it will be added slowly @295 cc per hour.

918ReefCpl · 11/25/2007, 08:45 PM

Could you blend Oceanic with IO RC? been doing that for awhile on our 125 and limited Saltcreep - we have more on our 55 w/ straight IO than the blended mix and seem to have more 'life' happening in the 125 than in the 55... thoughts?

sditch · 11/25/2007, 08:56 PM

I mixed TM Pro-Reef and the Mag. came out to about 1490 at 1.027.

bertoni · 11/26/2007, 03:38 PM

What is the Mg level? Instant Ocean should mix to about 1100 ppm, for example. Raising Mg requires huge amounts of supplement. This calculator will help you get an idea of how much needs to be added:

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

calkrog · 11/26/2007, 05:15 PM

ocean pure pro has high magnesium.. typically around 1600 ppm. but i just has a batch that had 2300 ppm.. very high.

jjmcat · 11/26/2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
What is the Mg level? Instant Ocean should mix to about 1100 ppm, for example. Raising Mg requires huge amounts of supplement. This calculator will help you get an idea of how much needs to be added:

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

Right now its at 1100.Id like to get it up to at least 1350.By looking at what ill need to raise it up would I be better off using epsom salts to get it up to my desired amout then follow up with my liquid mag?

jjmcat · 11/26/2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by calkrog
ocean pure pro has high magnesium.. typically around 1600 ppm. but i just has a batch that had 2300 ppm.. very high.

Ive herd of alot of salts but not this one.Ill check it out.

lecher · 11/26/2007, 07:09 PM

SeaChem Reef salt has good mag levels. I get 1300-1350 ppm at 1.025 SG.

JACOXVIII · 11/27/2007, 05:57 PM

i used the SeaChem Reef salt and loved it but as fast as the
loca fs started to sell it they stoped and boy my tanke was not happy

Billybeau1 · 11/28/2007, 01:03 AM

Jarrod,

Oceanic has the most by far. Unfortunately, it is unbalanced with low alk and high calcium.

You may want to give Coralife a look. It has good calcium and pretty high mag but not as unbalanced as Oceanic.

Coralife numbers mixed at 1.0264 come in around 560 Calcium, 1400 mag and 9 dkh alk. I know the calcium number is high, but, if your tank consumes a lot, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Some tanks thrive on this stuff. Your tank may be just right for this mixture.

If you don't care for this then I would try Seachems Reef Salt next.

pscheel · 11/28/2007, 11:36 AM

A lot of people knock Coralife (Some even call it Coraldeath), but I used it for 7 plus years and all corals (LPS,SPS) are thriving. I recently switched to Reef Crystals and noticed less growth on my SPS. Using RC definitely dropped my Ca and Mg and I have recently raised my dosing on 2 part and supplement with Mg (which I never did before). After this bucket I think I might switch back to Coralife.

JACOXVIII · 11/28/2007, 12:56 PM

after the SeaChem Reef salt
i went back to mixing Oceanic and IO

ginger7286 · 11/28/2007, 07:10 PM

I use the SeaChem Reef Salt and I tried many before that, for my tank with my water nothing comes close to the performance of SeaChem.

m2434 · 11/28/2007, 09:48 PM

I started using Coralife a little over a month ago and so far it's been great.

Billybeau1 · 11/29/2007, 01:04 AM

There is nothing wrong with Coralife salt............. as long as your tank can consume the extra calcium.

11/25/2007, 05:12 PM	#1
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	Wich salt has the highest mag? I was needing some info on wich salt had the highest mag levels.I have the worst time keeping my mag levels up.I even add Saliferts liquid mag with 10% weekly water changes.I have been trying different salts but I always get the same results LOW MAG. I use the Salifert mag test kit. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

11/25/2007, 05:41 PM	#2
Bri Guy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin Posts: 2,995	Id get a second opinion on your Mag level before changing anything. Mix up a batch of salt to 1.026 and test the mag. What salt did you use, and what level was the mag at, we may be able to see if you test is off. Otherwise back to the question, ive read alot about Oceanic having outrageously high mag. __________________ For my birthday i got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. (Steven Wright) Current Tank Info: 40BR w/ 250w 14K Phoenix + 192w PC, 10g fuge w/ 55w PC, 10g sump, Eheim 1250 return w/ SCWD, ASM Mini G skimmer, Gravity fed ATO, Kalk doser, 1/10 HP chiller, 1 Vortec + 3MJs, all on an AC Jr. - Born on date 8-06 Pics in gallery! + 55g FOWLR w/ macro

11/25/2007, 05:44 PM	#3
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	I have had a second and a third opinion. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

11/25/2007, 06:17 PM	#5
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	I did try oceanic once.I didnt care for it at all.Ive never had so much saltcreep in my life.I wonder if the limewater I top off with could be depleting the mag faster?I top off over 2 gallons a day via pump. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

11/25/2007, 08:36 PM	#7
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	Thanks for the info.I am going to stop the lime water for awhile.How about adding the mag to my topoff until I get my mag up to par?I add my topoff via pump to the system so it will be added slowly @295 cc per hour. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

11/25/2007, 06:10 PM	#4
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	oceanic is really high.

11/25/2007, 07:38 PM	#6
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	limewater is most likely the cause. Sinks for Magnesium in Marine Aquaria The primary sink for magnesium in aquaria is coprecipitation with calcium carbonate. This occurs in organisms, as shown in Table 1, and also during the abiotic (non-biologically driven) precipitation of calcium carbonate (such as on heaters). A potential sink that has been described by some hobbyists is the precipitation of magnesium by limewater (kalkwasser). Both magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate have been suggested. I do not believe that either is an important process in most aquaria. Adding any high pH additive, including limewater, results in the transient formation of magnesium hydroxide. This material quickly redissolves on mixing such that the local pH drops below about 8.6.-9.0. Magnesium carbonate is a more complicated issue, as it is near its solubility limit in seawater and may quickly get coated with a less soluble magnesium calcite. These issues have been dealt with by Bingman20 in much greater detail, and his conclusion is that neither of these precipitates is a likely sink for magnesium. I would suggest that an alternative way that aquaria using only limewater might become deficient in magnesium over time is that the limewater is simply not delivering magnesium to the aquarium even though it is present in the solid lime. How and why this might happen was discussed above involving the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide in the limewater reservoir. This lack of addition coupled to the ongoing removal of magnesium in calcification could lead to deficiencies in magnesium. Such deficiencies have not become extensive in my aquarium, but it does not have an especially high rate of calcification, and perhaps water changes have eliminated the problem. In any case, those using only limewater (or other systems that do not deliver magnesium) may want to occasionally check magnesium. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

11/25/2007, 08:45 PM	#8
918ReefCpl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 736	Could you blend Oceanic with IO RC? been doing that for awhile on our 125 and limited Saltcreep - we have more on our 55 w/ straight IO than the blended mix and seem to have more 'life' happening in the 125 than in the 55... thoughts?

11/25/2007, 08:56 PM	#9
sditch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston,Texas (USA) Posts: 750	I mixed TM Pro-Reef and the Mag. came out to about 1490 at 1.027.

11/26/2007, 03:38 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	What is the Mg level? Instant Ocean should mix to about 1100 ppm, for example. Raising Mg requires huge amounts of supplement. This calculator will help you get an idea of how much needs to be added: http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/26/2007, 05:15 PM	#11
calkrog Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 18	ocean pure pro has high magnesium.. typically around 1600 ppm. but i just has a batch that had 2300 ppm.. very high.

11/26/2007, 07:09 PM	#14
lecher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 676	SeaChem Reef salt has good mag levels. I get 1300-1350 ppm at 1.025 SG.

11/27/2007, 05:57 PM	#15
JACOXVIII Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KC MO Posts: 248	i used the SeaChem Reef salt and loved it but as fast as the loca fs started to sell it they stoped and boy my tanke was not happy

11/28/2007, 01:03 AM	#16
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	Jarrod, Oceanic has the most by far. Unfortunately, it is unbalanced with low alk and high calcium. You may want to give Coralife a look. It has good calcium and pretty high mag but not as unbalanced as Oceanic. Coralife numbers mixed at 1.0264 come in around 560 Calcium, 1400 mag and 9 dkh alk. I know the calcium number is high, but, if your tank consumes a lot, then it shouldn't be a problem. Some tanks thrive on this stuff. Your tank may be just right for this mixture. If you don't care for this then I would try Seachems Reef Salt next.

11/28/2007, 11:36 AM	#17
pscheel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 889	A lot of people knock Coralife (Some even call it Coraldeath), but I used it for 7 plus years and all corals (LPS,SPS) are thriving. I recently switched to Reef Crystals and noticed less growth on my SPS. Using RC definitely dropped my Ca and Mg and I have recently raised my dosing on 2 part and supplement with Mg (which I never did before). After this bucket I think I might switch back to Coralife. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon

11/28/2007, 12:56 PM	#18
JACOXVIII Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KC MO Posts: 248	after the SeaChem Reef salt i went back to mixing Oceanic and IO

11/28/2007, 07:10 PM	#19
ginger7286 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Florida Posts: 728	I use the SeaChem Reef Salt and I tried many before that, for my tank with my water nothing comes close to the performance of SeaChem. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting "Holy crap...what a ride!" Current Tank Info: 125 Reef Tank, Precision Marine equipment with a live rock/sand filtration. 30G. Nano with 2 percs and a beautiful little Flaming Prawn Goby.

11/28/2007, 09:48 PM	#20
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	I started using Coralife a little over a month ago and so far it's been great. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

11/29/2007, 01:04 AM	#21
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	There is nothing wrong with Coralife salt............. as long as your tank can consume the extra calcium.