Calcium, dKh and Magnesium...

Calcium 440
Dkh - 6-7
Magnesium - ???

I have been trying to raise my dKh for a while now. I have put almost a 16oz bottle of Kent Pro Buffer Dkh in the tank and the number has never really gone up. I was at the lfs this past weekend talking about it and he explained the relationship between the three. I have ordered a Red Sea Magnesium test kit and Red Sea Reef Foundation Magnesium.

My question is... Once I know where my mag level is and start adding magnesium to the tank will my Dkh level go off the charts? Should I slowly add magnesium?

 

you slowly dose anything. mg is the controller if you will. hard if not impossible to affect the other two with out managing mg. If im wrong in my thinking im sure someone will correct me correct ? lol as i wana continue learning myself.

 

pretty much as antdizzle says

think of magnesium and a binding ion that helps to keep Calcium and Alkalinity in the solution

if your Mag level is not adequate to support your targets on Ca and Alk, then everytime you add one, it can possibly affect the other

or as in your case the additional Alkalinity ions just do not stay in solution thus you never get a measurable increase irrespective of what you add

a Mag level of 1380 - 1450 would be ideal IME

best to only increase by 100ppm of Magnesium in any 24 hour period

thus if after you test you find you are at 1200 for example
you can go from 1200 - 1300 in 24 hours, adding small portions a few times per day
then you could go from 1300 - 1400 the following day

Steve

 

I highly recommend using Bulk Reef Supplys 2part kit. Comes with everything needed~ca/alk/mag and also has an online dosing calculator for reaching your desired levels for all 3. Totally priced right and very easy to use. Takes the guessing out of the equation
I was using the ESV's 2part myself, then switched to the BRS. Very glad I did

 

I do agree bulk product would be most economical in the long term
but as Twelvebeer has already got the Red Sea Mag product I am certain it will be perfect until it is used up.

I believe the Red Sea Magnesium product will indicate how many ppm will be increased for every Mil added to 1 US gallon ( most commercial products do)

 

Ok, I finally got my test kit and haven't added anything since I started this post. Any suggestions on how to raise dkh?

Magnesium 1360
D KH 6.0
Calcium 380

 

How much and how quickly have you tried adding it? If you're adding too much and/or too fast, it might be precipitating out as quickly as you're pouring it in.

 

Did your Alk. test kit come with a reference sample?

 

Ive been slowly adding over a few weeks at about 75% the recommended dosage.

 

Nope.