stromium magnesium supplements

[brownguy]

Does anyone use these two supplements in there reef tank? how important is it and will the mag. mess with the coraline algae growth?

 

[dannybradley]

Magnesium is very important. It should be tested and maintained between 1300-1400ppm. It allows you to maintain calcium and alkalinity and is also used in building skeletons.

Strontium is not as important, and usually doesn't need dosing if you're using a good salt. It should be at 8ppm and is hard to test for. It helps make a coral's skeleton less brittle and acts as a glue to hold tissue to skeleton.

 

[brownguy]

how often do you dose magnesium? or do i need to test first to see if i'm low? i've only had a reef for 9mths. and as of now have only used reef advantage calcium , itech iodine and kent pytoplanton. is there anything else i should be adding?

 

[ralph atl]

here you go:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php</a>

[IMG]http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php</a>

[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm</a>

 

[ralph atl]

you'll need to dose mag slowly until it's where you want it, then every once in a while as it doesn't deplete quickly. It's hard to get it there, but once you do, it's easy to maintain.

 

[brownguy]

thanks for the helpful info.

 

[ralph atl]

you're welcome!

 

[brownguy]

thanks for the helpful info.

 

[tomphot]

Appaloosa1224;230287 wrote: whats a good magnesium test and supplement?

I use the Seachem test kit for Mag.
Also use the Kent Tech M for supplement.
I've seen a lot of talk about using Dow Flake - For the cost difference, I just don't trust using an industrial de-icer.

 

[ralph atl]

Appaloosa1224;230287 wrote: whats a good magnesium test and supplement?

elos kit is just great

EVC mag or
Bulkreefsupply.com mag

 

[dannybradley]

I use Seachem Mangesium and Borate Alkalinity to test magnesium. I use http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/</a> for Magnisum chloride. You'll save a lot buying it that way.

Your next question is, 'Okay, so how much do I dose?'. I gotcha covered there, too:
[IMG]http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html">http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html</a>

As far as how fast should you raise magnesium- It's always best to take it slow, especially if you're new to this, but I've raised it 600ppm in 30min before for a specific reason. However, I did significant water testing before doing this and have a good working knowledge of reef chemistry backed by 8 years of marine and 14 years of freshwater experience. Try to not raise it more than 100ppm a day.

 

[ralph atl]

oops, I used to use EVC, but I changed to Warner Marine or as Danny also said bulkreefsupply.com is the way to go on just about any suppliments, gfo, etc.