Mag Levels

I can't keep it up...The mag level that is. ;D

I dose with Salfiert liquid mag and test mag with a Salfiert test but have never been able to top out at anything more than 1240. More importantly, as soon as I skip a dosing it drops into the mid 1100's. Any suggestions? What am I doing wrong? My other params are alk: 11-12, calc: 420-440

 

Use about 1 cup of Epson Salt or some Mg chloride.

 

Is that one cup for 55 gallons? Is that a weekly dosing or as needed to get to my desired range? One last thing, I'm assuming I dillute it in some tank water first? Thanks so much Otty.

 

Are you doing water changes also? most salt mixes will bring your mg. down, I use coralife and don't raise it higher than 1300ppm and that's per new batch, is there a lot of coralline algae in your tank?

 

approx 7-8gals every other week. I'm using instant ocean. i test the mag in the change water annd it is around 1140 and I dose mag up to 1280 before I put it in. After 3& 1/2 months I'm just seeing now small pink specks on the glass. Coralline algae is very slow progressing. The rocks that are encrusted are however holding thier growth.

 

Alright! I hate to say anything about IO salt, but I switch..lol the mg. concentration in coralife is between 1280 and 1350 I think, i've always try the cheapest before and you spend more in all the additives than you would spend if you get good quality salt to begin
with. every time I change water the ca. goes up and the mg. goes down, try adding some mg. supplement to your new water before wc's, mine can be at 1680 today and by tomorrow will drop from 20-40ppm, never a problem with the ca. though

 

I'd change salt. I use Reef Crystals (same manufacturer as IO) and the Magnesium is always around 1300ppm when I use a SG of 1.024. Very little additional Magnesium is needed, as I keep Magnesium between 1320 and 1400. I also find that I hardly ever have to dose additional Magnesium once I have it where i want it (a couple of capfuls of Tech-M each week is all I add). Coralife is also a good salt. I used to use it, but DrsFostersmith.com had a sale on Reef Crystals that was too good to pass on.

 

Thanks guys. I suspected that was the culprit. I'll buy some reef crystals (I was leaning that way based on another thread here) and post my results. I know I'm dosing waaay too much mag for my liking.

 

I use red sea coral pro salt. The mag level is 1300 right out of the box. Cal is 380 with a sg of 1.024. Dose once a week with a cup of epsom salts to raise mag levels to 1400 and a 1/4 cup of baking soda to raise cal to 450.

 

I think that's a typo. Isn't baking soda Sodium Bicarbonate (used for alkalinity)? How would that raise Cal to 450?