lgerold
Active Member
Hi everyone!
I'm having trouble with my magnesium.
Tank description in signature.
Water params are below:
Sal: 1.0265
Calc: 440 ppm
Alk: 10.8 dKH, 3.88 meq/l
Nitrates: 4.4 ppm
Phos: .10 to .25 ppm
Iodine: .03 ppm iodide
PH: 7.98
Magnesium:
1/26: 1080 Dosed with 8 ounces Kent's Tech-M (what I had on hand)
1/27: 1140 Dosed with remaining 8 ounces of Kent's Tech-M
We upgraded this tank using 150 pounds of new branch live rock on 1/7. Some of this branch rock had a minor smell to it, so I expect that the phos and trAtes are due to the breakdown of the remaining debris on the rock.
Used Reef Crystals as water for nearly the entire tank. Only about 20 gallons from the old tank was clean enough to use.
At the same time, we added 100 pounds of live sand, from the Jamaica, not a bag, that's very rich in minerals (white cloud when stirred even a bit.)
Tech-M directions follow:
So, I need to bring 276 gallons from 1080 ppm to 1350 ppm -
1350-1080 = 270 ppm x 276 gallons = 74,520 ppm magnesium
I figured I would need to add the full bottle, to bring us up close to 1350 ppm.
So, after dosing with the entire bottle (16 ounces) on Friday and Saturday, I checked the mag level again this morning. Back to 1080 ppm.
I can think of three possiblities for this:
1. Something is tying up the magnesium
2. The bottle of Tech-M is at fault
3. My test kit is wrong.
Suggestions?
The corals were really stressed after the upgrade. Most are back to their old selves. Xenia is struggling a bit. Yuma's are not happy. Others are happy.
I'm having trouble with my magnesium.
Tank description in signature.
Water params are below:
Sal: 1.0265
Calc: 440 ppm
Alk: 10.8 dKH, 3.88 meq/l
Nitrates: 4.4 ppm
Phos: .10 to .25 ppm
Iodine: .03 ppm iodide
PH: 7.98
Magnesium:
1/26: 1080 Dosed with 8 ounces Kent's Tech-M (what I had on hand)
1/27: 1140 Dosed with remaining 8 ounces of Kent's Tech-M
We upgraded this tank using 150 pounds of new branch live rock on 1/7. Some of this branch rock had a minor smell to it, so I expect that the phos and trAtes are due to the breakdown of the remaining debris on the rock.
Used Reef Crystals as water for nearly the entire tank. Only about 20 gallons from the old tank was clean enough to use.
At the same time, we added 100 pounds of live sand, from the Jamaica, not a bag, that's very rich in minerals (white cloud when stirred even a bit.)
Tech-M directions follow:
Important: Shake vigorously immediately prior to use! The preferred method is to test the magnesium level in your aquarium, then add Tech•M at the rate of 1 ml per gallon aquarium capacity per day to bring the level to between 1250 and 1350 ppm. This will raise the level by 18.4 ppm per day. As a routine supplement, if not testing, add two teaspoons (2 capfuls or 10 ml) per 50 gallons tank capacity every week in all marine systems.
So, I need to bring 276 gallons from 1080 ppm to 1350 ppm -
1350-1080 = 270 ppm x 276 gallons = 74,520 ppm magnesium
Tech•M is very concentrated, containing over 70,000 ppm of cationic magnesium
I figured I would need to add the full bottle, to bring us up close to 1350 ppm.
So, after dosing with the entire bottle (16 ounces) on Friday and Saturday, I checked the mag level again this morning. Back to 1080 ppm.
I can think of three possiblities for this:
1. Something is tying up the magnesium
2. The bottle of Tech-M is at fault
3. My test kit is wrong.
Suggestions?
The corals were really stressed after the upgrade. Most are back to their old selves. Xenia is struggling a bit. Yuma's are not happy. Others are happy.