Effects of low magnesium?

[X-37B]

It’s an AI 16hd and this is the schedule I’m running Same schedule since the beginning too

One 16hd running your level is pretty weak, imo.
I ran 2 16hds over my old 18" 20g nano cube with good results and my old 30g.
First 4 settings at 100% and the rest 50%.
1 hrs up/down 8 hrs peak.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

One 16hd running your level is pretty weak, imo.
I ran 2 16hds over my old 18" 20g nano cube with good results and my old 30g.
First 4 settings at 100% and the rest 50%.
1 hrs up/down 8 hrs peak.

FWIW, the op has presumably moved from this issue since the original question was from 5 years ago.

 

[X-37B]

FWIW, the op has presumably moved from this issue since the original question was from 5 years ago.

Thanks missed that.

 

[Miami Reef]

I do not know with any certainty, but I’d speculate that it is likely to be an issue.

It’s something a scientist would not bother to examine since it never happens in the ocean.

Certainly, magnesium use is critically important in many ways, including it being the central atom in chlorophyll. But that does not necessarily mean that corals do not get all they need at lower levels. Magnesium is one of the ions where internal concentrations are lower than external, and in many organisms, such as fish, the work is pumping it out, not taking it up. I do not know the details of magnesium balancing in corals.

In a reef tank, low mag may negatively impact other things, such as allowing more abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate.

Do you think it’s possible for coralline algae to slow down from magnesium levels at 1,210 ppm?

Also, magnesium doesn’t bind to calcium carbonate like phosphate does, right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you think it’s possible for coralline algae to slow down from magnesium levels at 1,210 ppm?

Also, magnesium doesn’t bind to calcium carbonate like phosphate does, right?

It may well deter coralline, but I do not know that for sure. Phosphate may as well.

It does bind to calcium carbonate, reducing precipitation potential. Most cations actually do, but since there is so much magnesium, a lot binds.

I discuss that exact process here, in Figures 8-10.

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Miami Reef]

It may well deter coralline, but I do not know that for sure. Phosphate may as well.

It does bind to calcium carbonate, reducing precipitation potential. Most cations actually do, but since there is so much magnesium, a lot binds.

I discuss that exact process here, in Figures 8-10.

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

That makes a lot of sense. I noticed my coralline algae has slowed a bit after keeping higher phosphate (>0.20 ppm), but I don’t know for certain it was the phosphate.

Thank you very much! I’ll read that article.