Can anyone explain magnesium in a reef tank

[pdnyc69]

........

 

[Deanos]

I can't, but this article can:

Magnesium in Reef Aquaria

Conclusion:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Magnesium is an important ion for reef aquarists. In addition to its many biological functions, it serves to prevent the excessive precipitation of calcium carbonate from both seawater and aquarium water. Since both calcium and alkalinity are very important to organisms that we keep, making sure that they are not lost to excessive precipitation is an important part of aquarium husbandry. [/FONT]

 

[SevTT]

........

As the above article states, basically, Ca and Carbonate ions tend to want to get together and fall out of solution as calcium carbonate. Mg poisons this reaction. Basically, all you really -need- to know is keep it at about 1250-1350, and it may be the problem if you have problems maintaining Ca or Alk.

 

[Avi]

Yeah, I'd agree...If you add calcium and yet the calcium levels don't go up to where you want them to be, you'd more than likely find that your magnesium levels are low. So, get the magnesium levels up to the level that SevTT says, and then dose the calcium to get that to where you want it.

 

[isgon26]

My magnesium is at 1600. What could have cause it to be so high? How can I lower It?

 

[Avi]

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that your magnesium test kit may be faulty. That's a possibility because it's unlikely that if you haven't been dosing magnesium and your calcium and alkalinity levels are where they should be, it's not likely that the level would go that high. Take your water sample to a reliable fish store and have them test. If it is as high as that after all, though, do water changes using a good RO/DI water source and you can bring it down to the 1350ppm or so where it should be.

 

[nyc reefer]

Mag

I've been dosing two part which came with Magnesium also which they say to dose all at once. Do you think this sounds right?

 

[Avi]

do you test your water for calcium and alkalinity before dosing with the two-part additive?

 

[FaviaFreak]

Proper Magnesium levels keep Alk and Cal in solution so you can maintain a proper balance of the two. Reef buliding corals take up some magnesium into their skeletons as well

 

[peteyp923]

interesting i just thought that mag is used to bind cal and alk and stabilize them. didnt know corals absorbs some too...

 

[Avi]

In addition to the relationship that magnesium has with the calcium issue, it's also a trace element that coral require.