Question about magnesium and stability

[elcapitan1993]

So I have been struggling for awhile to get my tank good enough to house soft corals, I have always had problems keeping soft corals until recently most of the new ones I have been adding are doing good for once, so I decided to test my parameters and they all look fine expect magnesium witch is at 1170, usually at 1350 but I have been slacking a bit on testing, my question is the lower magnesium levels be why soft corals are finally doing better In my tank? Should I raise my levels back to normal levels? I’m worried it’s going to effect my corals, or is it completely unrelated to magnesium entirely?

 

[Rmckoy]

What salt are you using ?
How often are you doing water changes ?

are you dosing much for calcium and alkalinity ?

 

[ReefRusty]

There is no normal level, try not chase numbers as corals will eventually get used to a stable level wheather it may be 1250,1350 or 1450 stability is key. Mine are happy at 1290-1350 so bit of room for magnesium to move but its not a big swing.

If you want to raise with chemicals try no more than 50ppm increase per day. Raise it over 5 days.
Even a simple water changes can increase your levels till your desired ppm and its less of a shock to corals ect.

 

[Reef.]

What salt are you using?

Unless your salt has low magnesium, then your reading of 1170 could be a testing error.

 

[Ghost25]

I've had magnesium down to 900 without noticing any problems. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring it back up to 1350 or so with some magnesium chloride but I really doubt it's the cause of your corals not doing well.

I've increased Mg 300ppm in one go with no problem.

 

[Rmckoy]

With low mag .
I thought there needs to be a specific range and min to maintain alkalinity and calcium ?

 

[MERKEY]

The higher the mag the higher the alk and cal can be stable without precipitating.

 

[Rmckoy]

The higher the mag the higher the alk and cal can be stable without precipitating.

Is there a chart stating at ex: 1300 ppm calcium and alkalinity can be at ?

 

[MERKEY]

Is there a chart stating at ex: 1300 ppm calcium and alkalinity can be at ?

Oh man I bet there is!

Now I'm on the hunt!!!!

 

[MERKEY]

How to Start Dosing Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium in Reef Tanks

Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium are some of the most important Reef Aquarium Water Parameters for coral growth. Balance them with these tricks to get the best coral growth.

reefstable.com

 

[Rmckoy]

How to Start Dosing Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium in Reef Tanks

Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium are some of the most important Reef Aquarium Water Parameters for coral growth. Balance them with these tricks to get the best coral growth.

reefstable.com

Thank you .
Now questioning why I maintain my alk at 7.5dkh ?

it’s suggested in that link to be between 9-10
But nsw is 7-7.5

my cal is 425 and everything is stable .
I might try increasing alk a little to see if anything is happier

 

[Reef.]

Thank you .
Now questioning why I maintain my alk at 7.5dkh ?

it’s suggested in that link to be between 9-10
But nsw is 7-7.5

my cal is 425 and everything is stable .
I might try increasing alk a little to see if anything is happier

Randy recommends 7-12, I can't see why the link would recommend such a high alk as a good few salts are lower than 9.

 

[Rmckoy]

Randy recommends 7-12, I can't see why the link would recommend such a high alk as a good few salts are lower than 9.

Sounds like another post ...
7.5 has always worked and stable .

 

[MERKEY]

I believe it gives more room for error.

If you can control a 7.5 alk reef then by all means do it

 

[elcapitan1993]

What salt are you using?

Unless your salt has low magnesium, then your reading of 1170 could be a testing error.

Red Sea blue bucket is what I am using, when I checked using check my batch from Red Sea it correlates with the readings of magnesium I am getting, should I retest to double check though?

 

[MERKEY]

Randy recommends 7-12, I can't see why the link would recommend such a high alk as a good few salts are lower than 9.

Link said 9-10 and is in Randy's recommended 7-12

 

[Rmckoy]

I believe it gives more room for error.

If you can control a 7.5 alk reef then by all means do it

What’s yours at ?

 

[elcapitan1993]

With low mag .
I thought there needs to be a specific range and min to maintain alkalinity and calcium ?

What salt are you using ?
How often are you doing water changes ?

are you dosing much for calcium and alkalinity ?

I’m using Red Sea blue bucket, I do a 5-10 gallon water change a week, I dose calcium maybe 1 time a month at the moment and alk is stable enough to where I don’t really have to dose it yet

 

[Reef.]

I believe it gives more room for error.

If you can control a 7.5 alk reef then by all means do it

I agree that's probably the reason for the recommendation.

 

[elcapitan1993]

Randy recommends 7-12, I can't see why the link would recommend such a high alk as a good few salts are lower than 9.

My alk is reading 143 ppm