Magnesium Testing

[Condiman]

I have been doing alot of reading on using kaulk and vinegar. The thing is I have been hearing so much about testing your magnesium levels. I was wondering how the magnesium levels play a role in your home aquarium and how important is it to test for it?

[MikeS]

Magnesium helps the interaction between calcium and carbonates in the tank. I'm not a chemistry whiz, so my expanation will be pretty basic. Magnesium helps keep calcium and carbonate from forming calcium carbonate and precipitaing out of suspension.

Those of us who use kalk notice that magnesium drops because of this. If the magnesium levels are too low, you get elevated calcium carbonate precipitation in the tank and imbalances between the two.

Normal magnesium levels are around 1300ppm...I would try not to let it drop below 1000ppm...

Mike

Magnesium is very important. How many times have you read this question....."No matter how much Calcium I add, I can't get it above 325?"

Like Mike said....it stops the Calcium or Carbonates from falling out of solution.

All five of the following are extremely important and they also have relationships with or impact one or more of the other in this list.

Specific Gravity
Calcium
Alkalinity
pH
Magnesium

http://web.archive.org/web/20030217153646re_/www.animalnetwork.com/fish/library/articleview2.asp?Section=&RecordNo=2856

[Sugar Magnolia]

Those of us who use kalk notice that magnesium drops because of this.
This happened to me after starting the use of kalk a couple months ago. I noticed that I still couldn't maintain a decent Ca level...it stayed around 380-400. I started dosing Seachem's Reef Advantage Magnesium a couple weeks ago after testing my Mg and finding it to be 1170. I'm now up to 1230...still a bit low but my Ca levels are remaining stable around 460 now.

Hummm, guess I am slacking a bit as I dont test for this. I will have to put it on my to do list next time I am raiding the LFS again. (God how I need to stay away from that place :lol: )

I do drip Kalk on a daily basis and Ca levels are around 450-500. The PH is at 8.4 and steady, SG is at about 1.024 holding hard and fast, dont remember what my Alk was the last time I tested but it was well with in the norm for a reef tank.

I do add Magnisium on a regualr basis, due to my mangroves up take this and cause levels in a reef tank to drop pretty low if one doesnt suplement for all of the reseach I have done. The SPS and Clams are showing great growth rates so I am guessing I cant be too far off nromal parameters on things regarding water quality. Not sure how safe an assumption that would be...guess I better get on the bus and start checking things more often.....

[Condiman]

I only really focused on the main 4. I guess I will have to go and get a magnesium test kit. What is the best supplement for magnesium on the market?

[MikeS]

Brad...I use SeaChem....

You'll find that many commercial salts are low on magnesium, I use Red Sea and it usually tests around 1000-1100 ppm...so I adjust it up to 1300...

Imanexpat...be careful dosing magnesium without testing....an overdose can be pretty bad for the tank...On getting a test kit, most LFS's I've seen don't carry them, but you can order them. I use SeaChem...it's a decent test, but kind of a pain to perform...

Mike

Yeah MikeJS, I have used it very sparingly since I dont have a test kit for it. I realize thats still a bit of a gamble. I will definitely be getting one, although I would really rather not have one thats too much of a pain to use if one is available out there.

I am using SeaChem as well...not sure if its any better than other brands though. Guess its just a Brand thing though as just about everything else is SeaChem too :lol: ! As increadible as GARF's tanks are I figured I couldnt go too far wrong using them....

[Condiman]

What about the seafert test kit?

[MikeS]

selfert make good test kits....as do laMotte...


Mike

Okay...which one is the simplest to use thats reasonably accurate. I mean I aced chemistry class, but I cant says I really enjoy getting all that involved. I am not sure if its called getting older or lazier :lol: , maybe its a combo of the two....at least thats a little easier on my fragile little ego :)

[Sugar Magnolia]

I use the salifert kit...very easy to use. I too am rather lazy as far as testing goes so if it's easy I'll be more likely to use it.:)

six steps....I think you an handle that! Add water to test tube, add six drops indicator solution and swirl, add a spoon of powder, swirl again, measure out the reagent into the syringe and while swirling the test tube add drops of reagent into test tube till the contents fo the test tube changes to gray or blue. Viola...test done. now read the amount of reagent left in the syringe and compare it to the numbers on the chart given and you've got your mg level.