MG goes down faster

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/12/2018, 11:27 PM

I can dose and get my MG up but by the next day or two it's down. For example, two days ago I tested it at 1350ppm after some dosing. Today it was bellow 1280ppm. Is that normal? Essentially that would mean I need to dose everyday. I use Instant Ocean plain and tests are conducted at 1.025pptx. CA is 400ppm and Alk is 9dkh. PH is 8.3 if that matters. I use kalk in my ato at 1/2 tsp per 2 gallons.

homer1475 · 01/13/2018, 07:32 AM

I also use regular IO and mag ranges on every batch. Have you checked your mixed water?

Whats your consumption on ALK and CAL? Even though I have to dose 2 part, I make sure my WC water is at 1350 and have never needed to add MAG(I do 10G WC every week on an 80G system).

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/13/2018, 09:23 AM

I haven't checked my mixed water, I will do that. My Alk and CA stays solid. It was going down, CA 420 to 380 and ALK 9 to 7. Then I started using kalk and CA stays at 400 ALK goes from 9 to 8 in between weekly 4 gallon water changes in a 20 gallon tank.

homer1475 · 01/13/2018, 09:30 AM

I would definitely check your WC water. 4g in a 20G with MG at 1350 in your WC water should be more then sufficient to keep it in line.

homer1475 · 01/13/2018, 09:31 AM

Mods changed the title as well. lol

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/13/2018, 11:52 AM

Haha I know, I guess it was offensive. But I used the least offensive version I could think of. Oh well. That's exactly what I'm thinking. Water changes alone used to keep it in check but it has recently gone as low as 1200. Excuse my ignorance but why does mg go down in the first place? Just part of the coral building process? My LPS and Monti are growing pretty quickly under T5s.

bertoni · 01/13/2018, 05:36 PM

I am skeptical that the drop is real. If it is accurate, then it most likely would be going into coral and coralline skeletons, or some abiotic precipitation.

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/13/2018, 10:29 PM

What's abiotic precipitation? My corals grow very fast except my birdsnest. Which is strange because in my 10 gallon a frag off the same birds nest is huge! Major difference I think is my 20 gallon where the birds nest doesn't grow fast is T5s and the 10 gallon where it does is LED. LFS grows them under LED

Im using salifert test SG is always the same if that matters. And when I dose it goes up then drops.

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/14/2018, 08:11 AM

So I looked into abiotic precipitation and now I have 3 things to consider. 1. My salt is bringing MG down, however the levels are dropping after dosing with no WC. 2. Something funky with my alk and CA creating a precipitation condition. Or 3. My corals using it.

The issue I have with number 2 is that my CA stays between 420 and 400 and my alk goes from 9 to 8 between WC. I also don't see any white stuff accumulating anywhere to indicate precipitation. I do notice my corals growing steadily.

On another note, I notice that on my MG supplement there is a beginner instruction and advanced. The advanced seems to indicate that daily dosing of MG is ideal. I just hate math so hopefully the beginner version will suffice.

bertoni · 01/14/2018, 05:21 PM

Sorry for the slow response. I haven't been feeling well for a while.

There might be some testing issues involved, as well. Does the level keep dropping much from 1280 ppm or so if you don't dose for a bit?

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/14/2018, 10:53 PM

No problem. I'm doing research as well since in the past i only kept sof ties I never tested.

Yes. Recently it was as low as 1200. That's what spurred me into dosing. I'm fine with 1280+ but 1200 was getting too low. At that time my alk had dropped to 7.5 and CA to 380. I was able to bring alk back to 9 and CA to 400 then use kalk to stabilize it but MG keeps dropping.

Thanks for the help!

homer1475 · 01/15/2018, 05:06 AM

Just reread this thread....

Your using regular IO? Mag usually mixes up to around 1080 to 1100, CAl 430, and ALK of 9.8 @ 1.026. It's been pretty consistent over the course of 10 or 15 200G boxes for me.

I would start there, and double check your testing and what your using to test. I have never heard of MAG dropping that fast without a subsequent drop in ALK and CAL.

Timfish · 01/15/2018, 06:32 AM

In my maintenance business I've seen Alk, pH, calcium and mag each move independantly of each other and sometimes very quickly. It may not be "typical" but what you're seeing doesn't surprise me.

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/15/2018, 06:38 AM

I might suspect testing also, but when the tank wasn't as stocked I was getting consistent 1290 readings for 7 months. I test weekly.

bertoni · 01/15/2018, 06:01 PM

Well, I guess I wouldn't worry as long as the animals are doing well enough.

01/12/2018, 11:27 PM	#1
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	MG goes down faster I can dose and get my MG up but by the next day or two it's down. For example, two days ago I tested it at 1350ppm after some dosing. Today it was bellow 1280ppm. Is that normal? Essentially that would mean I need to dose everyday. I use Instant Ocean plain and tests are conducted at 1.025pptx. CA is 400ppm and Alk is 9dkh. PH is 8.3 if that matters. I use kalk in my ato at 1/2 tsp per 2 gallons. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/13/2018, 07:32 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I also use regular IO and mag ranges on every batch. Have you checked your mixed water? Whats your consumption on ALK and CAL? Even though I have to dose 2 part, I make sure my WC water is at 1350 and have never needed to add MAG(I do 10G WC every week on an 80G system). __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/13/2018, 09:23 AM	#3
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	I haven't checked my mixed water, I will do that. My Alk and CA stays solid. It was going down, CA 420 to 380 and ALK 9 to 7. Then I started using kalk and CA stays at 400 ALK goes from 9 to 8 in between weekly 4 gallon water changes in a 20 gallon tank. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/13/2018, 09:30 AM	#4
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I would definitely check your WC water. 4g in a 20G with MG at 1350 in your WC water should be more then sufficient to keep it in line. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/13/2018, 09:31 AM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Mods changed the title as well. lol __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/13/2018, 11:52 AM	#6
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	Haha I know, I guess it was offensive. But I used the least offensive version I could think of. Oh well. That's exactly what I'm thinking. Water changes alone used to keep it in check but it has recently gone as low as 1200. Excuse my ignorance but why does mg go down in the first place? Just part of the coral building process? My LPS and Monti are growing pretty quickly under T5s. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/13/2018, 05:36 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I am skeptical that the drop is real. If it is accurate, then it most likely would be going into coral and coralline skeletons, or some abiotic precipitation. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2018, 10:29 PM	#8
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	What's abiotic precipitation? My corals grow very fast except my birdsnest. Which is strange because in my 10 gallon a frag off the same birds nest is huge! Major difference I think is my 20 gallon where the birds nest doesn't grow fast is T5s and the 10 gallon where it does is LED. LFS grows them under LED Im using salifert test SG is always the same if that matters. And when I dose it goes up then drops. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/14/2018, 08:11 AM	#9
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	So I looked into abiotic precipitation and now I have 3 things to consider. 1. My salt is bringing MG down, however the levels are dropping after dosing with no WC. 2. Something funky with my alk and CA creating a precipitation condition. Or 3. My corals using it. The issue I have with number 2 is that my CA stays between 420 and 400 and my alk goes from 9 to 8 between WC. I also don't see any white stuff accumulating anywhere to indicate precipitation. I do notice my corals growing steadily. On another note, I notice that on my MG supplement there is a beginner instruction and advanced. The advanced seems to indicate that daily dosing of MG is ideal. I just hate math so hopefully the beginner version will suffice. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/14/2018, 05:21 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Sorry for the slow response. I haven't been feeling well for a while. There might be some testing issues involved, as well. Does the level keep dropping much from 1280 ppm or so if you don't dose for a bit? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/14/2018, 10:53 PM	#11
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	No problem. I'm doing research as well since in the past i only kept sof ties I never tested. Yes. Recently it was as low as 1200. That's what spurred me into dosing. I'm fine with 1280+ but 1200 was getting too low. At that time my alk had dropped to 7.5 and CA to 380. I was able to bring alk back to 9 and CA to 400 then use kalk to stabilize it but MG keeps dropping. Thanks for the help! __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin Last edited by ReeferNoob4ever; 01/14/2018 at 11:00 PM.

01/15/2018, 05:06 AM	#12
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Just reread this thread.... Your using regular IO? Mag usually mixes up to around 1080 to 1100, CAl 430, and ALK of 9.8 @ 1.026. It's been pretty consistent over the course of 10 or 15 200G boxes for me. I would start there, and double check your testing and what your using to test. I have never heard of MAG dropping that fast without a subsequent drop in ALK and CAL. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/15/2018, 06:32 AM	#13
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	In my maintenance business I've seen Alk, pH, calcium and mag each move independantly of each other and sometimes very quickly. It may not be "typical" but what you're seeing doesn't surprise me. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

01/15/2018, 06:38 AM	#14
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	I might suspect testing also, but when the tank wasn't as stocked I was getting consistent 1290 readings for 7 months. I test weekly. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/15/2018, 06:01 PM	#15
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, I guess I wouldn't worry as long as the animals are doing well enough. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni