Almost no magnesium??

[nanogal]

Hi all,

I have a nearly 2 year old nano reef (24 gal) and i use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.

I’ve tested my magnesium so many times with two different test kits (salifert and red sea) and i have to use two of the vials of solution to get it to change colour at all. i’ve read and re-read the instructions on both and followed them. And after being convinced i’m doing it wrong somehow i got my fiancé to read them and try both, and same results.

I’m at a bit of a loss here and not sure what’s going on.

also i know that many say don’t bother testing for magnesium but my lps aren’t doing so well so i want to make sure this isn’t why.

any advice is appreciated. thanks!

 

[Jasc]

Hi all,

I have a nearly 2 year old nano reef (24 gal) and i use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.

I’ve tested my magnesium so many times with two different test kits (salifert and red sea) and i have to use two of the vials of solution to get it to change colour at all. i’ve read and re-read the instructions on both and followed them. And after being convinced i’m doing it wrong somehow i got my fiancé to read them and try both, and same results.

I’m at a bit of a loss here and not sure what’s going on.

also i know that many say don’t bother testing for magnesium but my lps aren’t doing so well so i want to make sure this isn’t why.

any advice is appreciated. thanks!

Whats the last water change you've done?

 

[nanogal]

Whats the last water change you've done?

just did one on wednesday, 20%. I’ve been testing this for a few months and still have this problem.

 

[nanogal]

just did one on wednesday, 20%. I’ve been testing this for a few months and still have this problem.

also to add, i dosed magnesium and still didn’t see the numbers rise.

 

[Jasc]

also to add, i dosed magnesium and still didn’t see the numbers rise.

Maybe kits expired. Doesn't make sense even when dosed/

 

[nanogal]

Maybe kits expired. Doesn't make sense even when dosed/

that’s what i thought. the red sea one had just expired so that’s why i went and got the salifert one last week! but same issue with it and it doesn’t expire until 2026

 

[Jasc]

that’s what i thought. the red sea one had just expired so that’s why i went and got the salifert one last week! but same issue with it and it doesn’t expire until 2026

Are corals/ Fish All alive? All thriving/

 

[nanogal]

Are corals/ Fish All alive? All thriving/

fish are alive and well, i have a kenya tree that was big and now won’t extend, and a duncan that hasn’t opened up in a very long time now.

 

[Jasc]

fish are alive and well, i have a kenya tree that was big and now won’t extend, and a duncan that hasn’t opened up in a very long time now.

Pictures Please

 

[nanogal]

Pictures Please

 

[Jasc]

Whole tank.

 

[nanogal]

Whole tank.

 

[Garf]

Hi all,

I have a nearly 2 year old nano reef (24 gal) and i use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.

I’ve tested my magnesium so many times with two different test kits (salifert and red sea) and i have to use two of the vials of solution to get it to change colour at all. i’ve read and re-read the instructions on both and followed them. And after being convinced i’m doing it wrong somehow i got my fiancé to read them and try both, and same results.

I’m at a bit of a loss here and not sure what’s going on.

also i know that many say don’t bother testing for magnesium but my lps aren’t doing so well so i want to make sure this isn’t why.

any advice is appreciated. thanks!

Stop adding mag. Sounds too high, not too low.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi all,

I have a nearly 2 year old nano reef (24 gal) and i use Red Sea Coral Pro salt.

I’ve tested my magnesium so many times with two different test kits (salifert and red sea) and i have to use two of the vials of solution to get it to change colour at all. i’ve read and re-read the instructions on both and followed them. And after being convinced i’m doing it wrong somehow i got my fiancé to read them and try both, and same results.

I’m at a bit of a loss here and not sure what’s going on.

also i know that many say don’t bother testing for magnesium but my lps aren’t doing so well so i want to make sure this isn’t why.

any advice is appreciated. thanks!

As folks have noted, two syringes of fluid is high magnesium, not low. Add the two values together.

 

[nanogal]

Stop adding mag. Sounds too high, not too low.

i have stopped adding it since i wasn’t sure it was even doing anything, i dosed a few months back for at least a month and then stopped when i didn’t notice a change.

I thought if it was high the colour change would happen almost right away?

 

[nanogal]

As folks have noted, two syringes of fluid is high magnesium, not low. Add the two values together.

okay interesting. by values which are you referring to?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

i have stopped adding it since i wasn’t sure it was even doing anything, i dosed a few months back for at least a month and then stopped when i didn’t notice a change.

I thought if it was high the colour change would happen almost right away?

Nope. As with any titration, more fluid required means a higher value.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

okay interesting. by values which are you referring to?

One full syringe of titrant has a mag value associated with it. Depends on the kit, but often 1500-1600 ppm. Adding a bit more (say, 0.1 mL) also has a value associated with it, such as 100 ppm. Add the full syringe value to the partial syringe value to get a number like 1600 + 100 = 1700 ppm.

 

[slingfox]

i have stopped adding it since i wasn’t sure it was even doing anything, i dosed a few months back for at least a month and then stopped when i didn’t notice a change.

I thought if it was high the colour change would happen almost right away?

Given how the Salifert titration test works if there is no color than the mag level is too high. To test if your test kit works test out freshly mixed saltwater.

 

[nanogal]

Given how the Salifert titration test works if there is no color than the mag level is too high. To test if your test kit works test out freshly mixed saltwater.

See i did this as well and was still puzzled cause the reference solution in the red sea kit says it is 1300 and i had to use two vials for that as well, and i tried my own fresh salt (not from my DT) and still had to use two vials.