Magnesium is low

[verynewatthis]

I just tested my Magnesium and it is at 950 or so. I know it is supposed to be around 1300-1500 and I want to raise it up. I've heard you can use Epson Salt and RO water but I don't know how much to start with. I have an 80 gal tank + 20 gal in the sump. Can anyone recommend a good starting amount? Thank y'all very much.

rich

[RobertG]

I have heard the same thing. Gary was giving me hell about spending 12$ on the kent stuff. Epson salt I would of never thought.

[jaded]

I checked my notes from the convesation with gary but I dont have the actual amount to mix per gallon of the magnesium sulphate (epson salt). GaryP is the expert, maybe he will chime in

[CD]

I'd say Gary would definitely be the man to talk to - he's the chemistry expert.
Amazingly enough, our magnesium has stayed at around 1365 without ever having to add anything...what kind of salt are you using?

W. :)

[GaryP]

Mix up 1 lb. per gal. of RO water, shake, and allow it to dissolve. Add about 16 oz. of this mixture to your tank and retest. Subtract 950 from the new reading and divide by 16.

This will tell you how much of an increase you get per oz. of epsom solution. Continue adding it daily until you get it where you need it to be. I recommend 1400-1500 ppm as a goal.

After you get it to your goal concentration, test again after a week and see how much it has fallen over the period of one week. This will tell you what your weekly magnesium useage is. The rate that you dose per week should equal the demand. Continue testing for a few weeks to confirm that your dosing schedule is keeping it where it needs to be. After that, test occasionally to make any needed adjustments in your dosing schedule to fine tune and compensate for changes in demand.

[jaded]

Joshua... that was a great link!!! I'd say that guys pretty serious about his tank automation

thanks Gary... I was wondering about that recipe myself

[verynewatthis]

wow you guys are so great....thank everyone....i would be so lost without maast....rich

[captexas]

Rich - As no one asked, how often are you doing water changes? Also, what salt are you using? I usually only did 30% water changes once a month and still never had problems with the mag getting too low in my 75g SPS tank.

[GaryP]

wow you guys are so great....thank everyone....i would be so lost without maast....rich

If we could just get you transferred back to Texas we could be even more help.

[verynewatthis]

water changes are every two weeks 10% and the salt is instant ocean...rich