New Instant Ocean Reef Crystals bucket has low magnesium

[rdriggett]

Hi all! I tested my tank's mag and its low, around 1200. I just tested the bucket I did a large WC with and it's mag is also low, below 1200. Reef Crystals is supposed to be 1450-1500ppm and that's usually what I test at. I will now test the rest of the buckets parameters to be safe. If they're acceptable besides mag, should I toss the bucket or bring mag up each WC?

 

[H2OPlayar]

Just toss the bucket over to me, I'll take it.

Or just add the right magnesium when you water change.

 

[rdriggett]

Instant Ocean wants a sample and will be sending out a new bucket. I ordered Kent magnesium supplement in the mean while. I dont want any torch bailout caused by sub 1200 mag! I like to keep mine at 1500.

 

[rdriggett]

Follow up question: How fast can I get my tank back up to 1500? Do I have to go slowly like alk or can I spike it from 1200 to 1500?

 

[H2OPlayar]

I've never heard of any negative effects of mag at 1200. You can come get some of the brs mag supplement from me in the meantime if you want.

I would add it over 3-4 days.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Fast. Look on the Brs calculator. They give specs there.
Low mag just affects the alk and cal bonding. Mag makes them better friends.

 

[rdriggett]

I ran to Neptune. $47 for ESV liquid mag. More than a new bucket of salt, ouch.

I've never heard of any negative effects of mag at 1200. You can come get some of the brs mag supplement from me in the meantime if you want.

I would add it over 3-4 days.

Next time I’m texting you first!

 

[Coral reefer]

Follow up question: How fast can I get my tank back up to 1500? Do I have to go slowly like alk or can I spike it from 1200 to 1500?

Go slow. 1200 is fine. Slow is almost always better unless it’s really wrong

 

[JVU]

It’s much harder to lower Mg than it is to raise it. Mg testing is sometimes inaccurate for whatever reason. Go slow and test as you go.

Then buy better salt for next time

 

[rdriggett]

I dosed 50ppm worth of esv mag. I’ll test in a few minutes. Thanks all!

 

[Turkeysammich]

For cheaper 2 part. Which is actually 3 part. You can go with Randy’s 2 part recipe.

 

[rdriggett]

After being a little overzealous with magnesium additive, I'm now at 1350. I didn't mean to spike it beyond 100ppm but life goes on. I will do the suggested 50ml/day for two more days.

 

[Coral reefer]

After being a little overzealous with magnesium additive, I'm now at 1350. I didn't mean to spike it beyond 100ppm but life goes on. I will do the suggested 50ml/day for two more days.

I believe esv mg also has trace elements so something to be wary of

 

[rdriggett]

I believe esv mg also has trace elements so something to be wary of

That's what I was worried about. Neptune recommended esv over others... I now have 0.75 gallons of mag that I have no need for lol.

 

[rdriggett]

I’m going back to Neptune tmr to pick up a Salifert test kit, just in case my redsea pro is lying to me.

 

[Meshmez]

Did you mix the salt bucket? Try rolling the bucket around, flipping end to end, etc to make sure the salt is not settled and separated out.

 

[rdriggett]

Did you mix the salt bucket? Try rolling the bucket around, flipping end to end, etc to make sure the salt is not settled and separated out.

I did mix it up as best as I could.

 

[richiev]

Have you confirmed with a secondary source that your test results are accurate?

Edit: Err, n/m, re reading the work scrollback I see your later message said that you were going to do so. That'd be my first check if I got a weird number. Possibly just test a secondary source if you have one.

 

[Chromis]

Slow? Red Sea says no more than 10ppm change in Mg per day… although I usually add 20-30ppm at a time.

Also check your salinity, could your salinity be low in either your tank or new salt mix?

 

[Darkxerox]

I believe esv mg also has trace elements so something to be wary of

Yeah there's always some impurities in these depending on the grade and they add quite a bit of sulfate to the tank since they typically don't use balanced ratios of MgCl and MgSO4 (mainly because epsom salts are way cheape than chloride).