up graded/ very low magnesium

saltydiamond

saltydiamond

New Member
I had a 29 gallon cube salt tank. fish and coral. for 2 years, decided to go bigger up to a 90 gallon. alkalinity is high waiting for nature to doits cource on bringing it down.. calcium is 440 plan on bringing it up to 500. But My magnesium is so low its not even on the chart .32 ml started with epsom salt "researched" they recomend not raising over 100 ppm daily. is thier any thing else i can do to bring it up quickly without stressing coral and fish
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Change 50% of your water.
Why do you want Calcium at 500ppm?
Epsom Salt is fine to raise Magnesium 100ppm or so but after that your sulphur level will start to get high. Start with some large water changes. If Magnesium is still low use some Epsom Salt but the rest should be Magnesium chloride.
Do you know how your Alkalinity got high? That could be why your Magnesium is low.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yup. Water changes is the safest way. A 50/50 blend of MgCl and MgSO4 is safer than just epsom salt.
Before you dose anything, make sure you have a decent titration style test kit.
 
zeroc

zeroc

Member
500 would be unnecessarily high for calcium. 440 is perfect. Do a water change (obviously with RO/DI water) and make sure you have a good quality test kit for mag. What exactly are your alk and PH numbers?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
500ppm Ca is a bit excessive... anywhere from 420ppm to 460ppm is pretty good. You're not increasing coral growth at all really by playing around with high values for calcium and alkalinity.
 
deton8it

deton8it

Member
How do you have low Mag and normal Ca? I didn't think that Ca could be that high with low Mag. I actually dose Mag so that I can increase my Ca. If I don't dose Mag I cant get Ca above 320. LOL
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deton8it http:///t/395188/up-graded-very-low-magnesium#post_3518058
How do you have low Mag and normal Ca? I didn't think that Ca could be that high with low Mag. I actually dose Mag so that I can increase my Ca. If I don't dose Mag I cant get Ca above 320. LOL
You're right. I'm not sure why I didn't see that too. High ALK & normal Ca would seem impossible with low Mg unless PH is also very low.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
After a few years of operation my old 55g was at 700-800ppm magnesium.
Just as several people in our local club discovered also.
mainly instant ocean salt (I think).
Anyrate in my case it took almost all of a 5 pound bag of epsom salts to get it up to 1400ppm. I did about 3 pounds which got it up to 1100-1200 or so then another pound or two a few days later.
Magnesium chloride or a mix with epsom salts would have been better but at the time I only knew about epsom salts.
Several other club member commented on how much it took to do the initial ajustments on their tanks as well.
Then with the diy 2 part calcium, alk as well as magnesium were really easy to maintain.
my .02
Edited to change calcium chloride to magnesium chloride per sharp eyed Guy below.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by beaslbob http:///t/395188/up-graded-very-low-magnesium#post_3518116
After a few years of operation my old 55g was at 700-800ppm magnesium.
Just as several people in our local club discovered also.
mainly instant ocean salt (I think).
Anyrate in my case it took almost all of a 5 pound bag of epsom salts to get it up to 1400ppm. I did about 3 pounds which got it up to 1100-1200 or so then another pound or two a few days later.
Calcium chloride or a mix with epsom salts would have been better but at the time I only knew about epsom salts.
Several other club member commented on how much it took to do the initial ajustments on their tanks as well.
Then with the diy 2 part calcium, alk as well as magnesium were really easy to maintain.
my .02
I just want to make it clear to any new hobbiests reading this thread - Calcium chloride will not increase Magnesium levels.
 
saltydiamond

saltydiamond

New Member
Just did more testing
mag .34 ml.
calcium is down to 440 ml
and yes alkalinity is now at .15
and ph is 8.2
i hope i use good testing kits I use sthe testing kits by red sea such as magnesium pro test kit by red sea.
regarding the calcium it just happen to go to 500 i will not go under 440 would like to maintain 460. But i can say at 500 all corals and fish look very happy. the comment on how can you have low mag and good calcium ? I dont know. Thats why im on these blogs trying to figure things out.
Hopping friday ill beable to do a water change. thanks for everyones help it's very much appreciated!
 
saltydiamond

saltydiamond

New Member
Bang guy, yes i just did another test mag is .34 ml calcium is now 440 and i use the testing kit by red sea alkalinity still high to high .15 and the ph is 8.2 i guess playing and learning it's my hobby i have not added calcium in awhile like 3 weeks to a month just a gallon of water here and their while to top off i do have magnesium it it to get my magnesium up thanks for the question any help would be appreciated
 
saltydiamond

saltydiamond

New Member
1.028 for salinity i know it's a little high, i really think the temp effects salinity. I like to keep my temp at 82 my flower pot likes it warm but my salinity is going up with temp so im gonna lower temp to 80 and see if salinity goes down does this sound odd? but really i do beleive temp effects salinity
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deton8it http:///t/395188/up-graded-very-low-magnesium#post_3518158
You are correct, the temp does effect the salinity.
John
Temperature does not significantly affect salinity.
But since the stated reading is 1.028 I assume it's the specific gravity reading. If that's actually the salinity then we're talking fresh water. Temperature definately affects Specific Gravity.
 
deton8it

deton8it

Member
You are correct. I was thinking specific gravity when I said that salinity. It is easy to get those two confused since they are side by side on most basic hydrometers.
 
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