Magnesium questions

[Sea Turtle]

I am starting to dose magnesium to my tank now and don't know a whole lot about it. I am currently using epsom salts but I understand that this is not that good as a build up of sulfate will happen. I went onto bulk reef supply and they have magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate. Which one should I be using. Also, what is the best way for me to dose my tank with magnesium? Should I put some in daily? My letermeter III is completely occupied so I have to do it by hand.

 

[Ben1]

I use the bulk reef supply product, you use both types and mix in a certain ratio it gives in their directions. I use my LM3 for top off, ca, and alk so the mg I just use on of the BRS 1 gal jugs with pump on top and pump some in every day. I test once every few weeks to make sure I am on target.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I use the bulk reef supply product, you use both types and mix in a certain ratio it gives in their directions. I use my LM3 for top off, ca, and alk so the mg I just use on of the BRS 1 gal jugs with pump on top and pump some in every day. I test once every few weeks to make sure I am on target.

Thanks Ben. Sounds good. While we are on the topic of magnesium, do you feel IYO that a 1100 ppm Mg level could make stony corals lose their color (a skin tone color) but still grow?

 

[Anonymous]

I use the bulk reef supply product, you use both types and mix in a certain ratio it gives in their directions. I use my LM3 for top off, ca, and alk so the mg I just use on of the BRS 1 gal jugs with pump on top and pump some in every day. I test once every few weeks to make sure I am on target.

Thanks Ben. Sounds good. While we are on the topic of magnesium, do you feel IYO that a 1100 ppm Mg level could make stony corals lose their color (a skin tone color) but still grow?

Yes. Montis in particular seem prone to this. Shoot for 1300-1400 ppm. Don't raise it more than 50 ppm per day to be safe, but even 100 ppm per day can be okay. The weight ratio of MgCl2 to MgSO4 is supposed to be something like 8:1, but it's not super critical. I do 8 or 9 cups of the first to every 1 cup of epsom salts. Once you bring it up you shouldn't need to add it very often. Just test weekly.

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

The diy 2 part uses 5 cups magnesium chloride and 3 cups magnesium sulfate dissolved in a gallon of water. When you use up a gallon of the calcium and alk dosing you add 300 ml of the magnesium solution.

You can simply add the magnesium to the calcium dosing but the magnesium sulfide will precipitate calcium sulfate. (as reported by Dr. Holmes Farley). But you could just use the 8 cups magnesium chloride then use 300 ml of that mixture when making up the calcium solution. That way your Litermeter calcium dose would be adding magnesium also.


my .02