Magnesium supplement & test kit

[TriggerHappyDude]

What are some of the more popular and highly suggested Magnesium test kits and supplements?

I use SeaChem Reef Salt, if that matters to the chemistry at all?

[nemmy]

What are some of the more popular and highly suggested Magnesium test kits and supplements?

I use SeaChem Reef Salt, if that matters to the chemistry at all?

 

 

Salifert test kit for magnesium, its a bit pricey but is one of the best.

I use Brightwell Aquatics Magnesion for supplementing.

[TriggerHappyDude]

Liquid or Dry for the supplement, or does it really matter?

[disaster999]

liquid is easier when you just need to bump up the levels 10ppm or so...

 

dry (or usually bulk) is better of you need to bump it up 300ppm or so in a 100gal tank

 

oh..wait, who did you ask has that kind of problem

 

<-----this guy

[TriggerHappyDude]

liquid is easier when you just need to bump up the levels 10ppm or so...

 

dry (or usually bulk) is better of you need to bump it up 300ppm or so in a 100gal tank

 

oh..wait, who did you ask has that kind of problem

 

<-----this guy

 

Well, I have a small 34g Solana tank, and I haven't tested yet, but I'm going to buy the test kit and supplement at the same time, think I'll get the dry as it will last longer for me.

[TriggerHappyDude]

Anyone else care to chime in on their favorite mag test kits and supplements?

[cptbjorn]

I have a red sea magnesium test kit and I'm not happy with the end point of the titration. It is supposed to go pink->blue but I can always see a hint of purple left, I'm going with salifert when it runs out.

 

For supplementing I'm using epsom salt, works just like it should.

[32Bit_Fish]

what live stock consumes Mag in the tank? People normally dont dose that.

[SaltineSage]

what live stock consumes Mag in the tank? People normally dont dose that.

 

Heh... I'm about to nuke my cycling BC29 with Mag. Bryropsis hates Magnesium... and since I am growing a forest of it... time to do some clear cutting.

 

Also, it's my understanding magnesium helps with the formation of shells and skeletons.

 

And thanks for this post, I was about to buy the Red Sea test kit- looks like I'll be going for the Salifert. And I'm buying Kent M because it was used in this article:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1113109

[davenia7]

Salifert Test Kit... Tech M for Bryopsis mgmt. working great for me.

[timdanger]

Well, I have a small 34g Solana tank, and I haven't tested yet, but I'm going to buy the test kit and supplement at the same time, think I'll get the dry as it will last longer for me.

 

i've heard positive things about both salifert and elos Mg kits. having said that, there are a LOT of drops to count with the elos Mg. i will probably get that one anyway, as i've been reasonably satisfied with the accuracy of my elos Ca and Alk test kits.

 

dry always makes more sense from a financial perspective0 than liquid. bulk reef supply has a great deal on dry Mg, or you can buy it as a package with Ca and Alk 2-part. $12+shipping gets you pre-measured mixes for a gallon of Ca, a gallon of Alk and 20oz of magnesium (liquid). the upside to liquid is that you don't have to mix anything together. you pay a huge premium for that, unfortunately.

 

People normally dont dose that.

 

might depend on the salt, but this is false if you're talking about reefs with stony corals. or, i guess true for people who end up with Mg deficiencies. examples: disaster999, me.

 

Also, it's my understanding magnesium helps with the formation of shells and skeletons.

 

Yes

 

And thanks for this post, I was about to buy the Red Sea test kit- looks like I'll be going for the Salifert. And I'm buying Kent M because it was used in this article:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1113109

 

this makes sense -- there has been speculation that there is an impurity in the kent tech-m that kills the bryopsis that may not be present in other mag supplements.

[crs2k]

I am by no means a master at dosing yet, but I was in the same situation as you. I also use Seachem Reef Salt and a freshly made batch of water only has 1150ppm for me. I have begun to supplement using Kent Tech-M. At first I began adding to the tank and got it up to 1350, and now I've been dosing my mix,and it seems to be staying stable until my next weekly water change.

 

I have been using an elos test kit, and while it is a lot of drops like someone else mentioned, it is SUPER easy to use. At first I bought the Red Sea kit, and I hated it. Switched to the elos and will continue to use it.

 

Just my two cents.

[timdanger]

I also use Seachem Reef Salt and a freshly made batch of water only has 1150ppm for me.

 

my understanding is that the Seachem Salt is infamous for having that magnesium deficiency.

 

what live stock consumes Mag in the tank? People normally dont dose that.

 

This link gives a very good discussion about Magnesium use by livestock and other Mg sinks. I've found this very useful in understanding and dealing with my Mg deficiency.

[nemmy]

what live stock consumes Mag in the tank? People normally dont dose that.

 

 

In the past i dont think anyone dosed for it, now its pretty common.

[TriggerHappyDude]

Thanks guys for all this information. I'm guessing that Mg is my issue, as some of you mentioned that you were having Bryopsis issues, and I looked it up and thats the exact algae I'm having issue with, looks like this...

 

In my tank you can see in my tank I have similar stuff, so I'm guessing its bryopisis from comparing the two pictures?

 

 

I have since cleaned it up and added some SPS, to some already existing Zoa's, Softies and Leathers.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t&p=2652576

 

This is not the main reason I'm seeking my Mg information, I also have not seen any of my older corals the Zoa's, Softies and Leathers grow at all, and in fact most lost their colors. So I'm working on getting them back to good health. Sounds like Mg levels could solve my issues, but I have to test it first...

[TriggerHappyDude]

dry always makes more sense from a financial perspective0 than liquid. bulk reef supply has a great deal on dry Mg, or you can buy it as a package with Ca and Alk 2-part. $12+shipping gets you pre-measured mixes for a gallon of Ca, a gallon of Alk and 20oz of magnesium (liquid). the upside to liquid is that you don't have to mix anything together. you pay a huge premium for that, unfortunately.

 

Can you link to the $12 2-part kit you are speaking of here, I looked and can't find it?

Also, if I wanted to keep apistasia away, is there something to dose there? Kalk?

[Nano sapiens]

I bought (2) Red Sea MG kits at one time. My first kit would read around 1150, and my LFS's Salifert would show 1350. The second kit that I used today measured 1580 and the same LFS measured 1500. I too will be switching to a Salifert kit.

 

I use the Seachem 'Reef Advantage Magnesium' dry product. It has been reported on RC that prolonged use of this product can alter the ionic balance of the tank's water, but in over six months of use I haven't had any problems. I think that regular, weekly water changes help to keep the tank's chemistry balanced.

 

After I am done with this bottle, I may try the Kent magnesium product.

[cptbjorn]

The $12 two part kit is at bulkreefsupply.

 

You can also get a 7lb container of calcium chloride from them for $17 and use baking soda for the alkalinity part and make ~12 gallons of each solution for about 25 dollars. That's what I did and at my current consumption of my pico it will last me ~17 years

[jeffblly]

Thanks guys for all this information. I'm guessing that Mg is my issue, as some of you mentioned that you were having Bryopsis issues, and I looked it up and thats the exact algae I'm having issue with, looks like this...

 

In my tank you can see in my tank I have similar stuff, so I'm guessing its bryopisis from comparing the two pictures?

 

 

I have since cleaned it up and added some SPS, to some already existing Zoa's, Softies and Leathers.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t&p=2652576

 

This is not the main reason I'm seeking my Mg information, I also have not seen any of my older corals the Zoa's, Softies and Leathers grow at all, and in fact most lost their colors. So I'm working on getting them back to good health. Sounds like Mg levels could solve my issues, but I have to test it first...

Are you sure thats byropsis? It looks like some other type of macro algae thats creeping along the rock.

[cptbjorn]

Oh yeah I was going to say that too, looks like caulerpa not bryopsis. It can be a PITA to get rid of too though, if you don't like it you should carefully tear it out piece by piece trying to get as much of the roots up as you can.

[TriggerHappyDude]

Oh yeah I was going to say that too, looks like caulerpa not bryopsis. It can be a PITA to get rid of too though, if you don't like it you should carefully tear it out piece by piece trying to get as much of the roots up as you can.

 

Yes, thats why I was posting it, I wasn't sure, so I did the picture compare and you're right its not bryopsis.

I have pull that off that rock, I actually took that rook out and scrubbed it with a hard bristle brush and got it all off, when I see it creeping up in other please I pull it as best I can. What would cause that and bubble algae to grow in my tank, that I need to work on, chemistry wise?

 

The $12 two part kit is at bulkreefsupply.

 

You can also get a 7lb container of calcium chloride from them for $17 and use baking soda for the alkalinity part and make ~12 gallons of each solution for about 25 dollars. That's what I did and at my current consumption of my pico it will last me ~17 years

 

I'm not finding a $12 kit that has Mg, not a $12 kit...? I'm looking on the site. Maybe I don't know what it is that has Mg in it? On the two-part kit page there is nothing for $12?

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/produc...linity-solution

 

Can you post a link that is more specific to what you are talking about here?

 

Also, I've got my ATO about 98% setup, so I want something that I can dose into the ATO that will then allow it to be dosed into the tank via the ATO.

[bird]

I use the Salifert and it seems OK though a bit pricey.

 

One thing to watch for with the addition of magnesium chloride is the tank's salinity level.

I had been testing and adding magnesium chloride faithfully for a couple of weeks when one day it dawned on me 'chloride'.

I tested my tanks salinity and it was at 40ppt. I usually run it at 35ppt. I had been doing water changes as always but not checking tank levels since ATO keeps it where it should be and there is no salt creep.

Now I test the tank before a water change and adjust the new water accordingly.

Before I started using mag supplements the salinity stated dead on.

[amnesiak]

I don't have a test kit for Mg yet, and I would absolutely not recommend adding anything without testing (I'll probably get smacked for this) but I boosted my tank by +150ppm over the last few days with Epsom salt. My birdsnests and ricordeas are growing like crazy all of a sudden.

 

I also started using baking soda and calcium chloride. I got my calcium chloride from Home Depot in the form of Prestone Driveway Heat, it will probably last me for a really really long time. If you're thinking of doing it, look now as ice melt will be hard to find in the summer.

 

I also bought an ELOS alkalinity kit and I think it's awesome. I'll buy an ELOS Mg kit when I can swallow the $30 for a test kit.

[bird]

I don't have a test kit for Mg yet, and I would absolutely not recommend adding anything without testing (I'll probably get smacked for this) but I boosted my tank by +150ppm over the last few days with Epsom salt. My birdsnests and ricordeas are growing like crazy all of a sudden.

 

I also started using baking soda and calcium chloride. I got my calcium chloride from Home Depot in the form of Prestone Driveway Heat, it will probably last me for a really really long time. If you're thinking of doing it, look now as ice melt will be hard to find in the summer.

 

I also bought an ELOS alkalinity kit and I think it's awesome. I'll buy an ELOS Mg kit when I can swallow the $30 for a test kit.

I read some info on just using Epsom salt alone (mag. sulfide) over long period but do not quite remember why you should not use it as the sole ingredient for mag boosting. Maybe one of the experts can elaborate.

[cptbjorn]

The $12 kit is on the page you linked but they do quantity discounts so instead of saying 11.99 it says "from 9.60". While it doesn't show it in the pic it does include magnesium. Note that recipe 1 is twice as strong as recipe 2 but they sell them for the same price, make sure to get recipe 1.

 

$12 kit at BRS

 

 

Also epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, not sulfide (big difference). Sulfate is not a big deal and water changes will keep it from building up. Sulfide would nuke your tank and smells like ass.

 

edit: fixed link