Mg? Anyone have trouble keeping mg down?

Discussion in 'Chemistry' started by Botheboss, Feb 3, 2017.

  1. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Every time I test my water my mg is high even though I haven't added any. I'm about to test my ro before I mix it. lol I wonder if it could also be the lack of mature coral in my tank at the moment as well.
     
  2. jonwright

    jonwright RRMAS Supporter

    What salt are you using? IO Reef Crystals are typically pretty high in Mg. I wouldn't worry too much if Mg is rather high.

    What is it now?
     
  3. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Yes I been using instant ocean. It's was around 1600 last time I checked. Maybe that my problem. Lol corals seem fine though.
     
  4. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    As Jon said, what salt and how high is it? Also what test kit are you using?

    Plain IO is lower in Mg than I keep my tank. My Mg goes down with a water change if I don't dose. LOL.
     
  5. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Red Sea test kit
     
  6. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    Are you using IO Reef Crystals or the plain purple bucket? 1600 isn't gonna hurt anything IMO. Reef Crystals runs pretty high Mg but I don't think it's that high. Bad box/bucket of salt? That is kind of weird.
     
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  7. Deton8it

    Deton8it President Staff Member

    I wouldn't be concerned. I actually dosed up to that a few months ago to kill some Briopsis Algae.

    John
     
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  8. Agree with above statements. Mg should not be increasing simply from performing water changes with a cumulative effect. That is, if the Mg level of salt is 1500 performing three water changes won't give you a Mg of 1600. If someone was using salt mix for water top-off.......this would certainly explain. What was the Mg in your freshly made mix? Using RODI almost eliminates water source issues, provided you change filters. ;) I have used reef crystals for years and never had Mg of that level.
     
  9. LJC6780

    LJC6780 Grouper

    I wonder if it's your test. Mine keeps reading low no matter what I do and I use reef crystals. I feel like I have a bad test. I need to get another to confirm. I use Salifert.
     
  10. franklypre

    franklypre Plankton

    shake the salt before you mix it, IO is typically that high but now days they don't seem to have the quality control they once did. It's much higher in Iron than it used to be, hence algae blooms typically occur after WCs for me. I'm making the switch to Fritz hoping for more consistent levels
     
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