Low Mg?

[drew2005]

Just tested my tank. For the past couple tests ive noticed a drop in magnesium. Here are my parameters...
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 10
ph - 8.2
sg - 1.026
ca - 420
phos - 0.03
kh - 9.0
mg - 1170
Temp - 79
Mg used to be 1320 and was steady there for a long time. Now its dropped within the past 2 months. I dont understand why. Everything else has been stable. Only thing i dose is Purple Up. How much of an effect does low Mg have on soft corals? I have yellow polyps which are doing great. They are spreading to other rocks. Hairy mushrooms that look very healthy. My button polyps dont open fully like they used to. Any suggestions is much appreciated.

 

[drew2005]

bump

 

[drew2005]

Still no help?

I just started adding Kent Tech M magnesium supplement. Hopefully that should help raise it some. I have a feeling the low Mg is whats causing my polyps not to open fully anymore.

 

[tizzo]

You should test it with another kit also. Low magnesium has a bigger effect on your calcium level. Low mag usually means low calcium and the calcium will not go up til the mag level is raised, but sinse your calcium level is good then I wonder if your mag level is testing wrong...

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
You should test it with another kit also. Low magnesium has a bigger effect on your calcium level. Low mag usually means low calcium and the calcium will not go up til the mag level is raised, but sinse your calcium level is good then I wonder if your mag level is testing wrong...

I guess i could test with a different one. But its a Salifert test and its only like 4 months old.

 

[tizzo]

Oh, well Salifert's are usually pretty accurate. But I did a test side by side with a friend and my Salifert said his calcium was 380 his said 500!! Of course he believed his own. But then again, I believed my own.
Salifert's are the best kits, but it's not unheard of that one misreads... And if it's accurate, then dose a little magnesium.

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
Oh, well Salifert's are usually pretty accurate. But I did a test side by side with a friend and my Salifert said his calcium was 380 his said 500!! Of course he believed his own. But then again, I believed my own.
Salifert's are the best kits, but it's not unheard of that one misreads... And if it's accurate, then dose a little magnesium.
Yea im dosing the recommended amount for now. Ill check it in 2 days and see if theres any change. If not, then ill try another test. Thanks for the help Tizzo. :joy: