What would cause magnesium to rise?

[tobster]

I’m using reef crystals salt mix. Mixed at 1.026 and my display tank has consistently shown magnesium around 1560 for several weeks.
I just tested a new batch of freshly mixed water and it shows 1360.
What would cause it to raise in the tank with weekly water changes?
I’m only dosing Alk and Ca- Red Sea liquid.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salinity differences, test error, or dosing are the only explanations possible. It cannot rise on its own, and it would take a huge amount of dosing for that rise.

 

[tobster]

I’m not dosing it so maybe a test error but I did test 3 times with same result.
Is it anything to to worry about being that high?
I also used a refractometer and a hydrometer to confirm salinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not dosing it so maybe a test error but I did test 3 times with same result.
Is it anything to to worry about being that high?
I also used a refractometer and a hydrometer to confirm salinity.

If you have not added any, and the salinity is what you say, then it almost certainly is not that high unless the tank water came from a different source than the new salt water.

maybe try testing the new salt water and tank water side by side so you are doing everything the same at the same time, etc.

That said, RMM might be a better way to go:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/
Signs of high magnesium seem to include lethargic snails, but that level is probably not high enough to show a problem.

 

[UMALUM]

You are dosing it. It's in your calcium. Are you keeping an eye on your tank salinity?

 

[tobster]

If you have not added any, and the salinity is what you say, then it almost certainly is not that high unless the tank water came from a different source than the new salt water.

maybe try testing the new salt water and tank water side by side so you are doing everything the same at the same time, etc.

That said, RMM might be a better way to go:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/
Signs of high magnesium seem to include lethargic snails, but that level is probably not high enough to show a problem.

Thanks Randy, I’ll give it a read.

 

[tobster]

You are dosing it. It's in your calcium. Are you keeping an eye on your tank salinity?

Yes, I just double checked with hydrometer and it reads 1.026. Same as refractometer.
I did start dosing Ca and Alk about 2 months ago.
If I keep dosing Ca will that continue to make mag rise?

 

[jermzisurmom]

Not enough gonis

 

[tobster]

Not enough gonis

lol I do want to get one- those are cool

 

[jermzisurmom]

lol I do want to get one- those are cool

They like mag. I was more just being funny Idk if that will help... Lol

 

[tobster]

They like mag. I was more just being funny Idk if that will help... Lol

Good to know and yes I figured

 

[Miami Reef]

They like mag. I was more just being funny Idk if that will help... Lol

Goniopora are associated with Manganese, not Magnesium.

 

[UMALUM]

Yes, I just double checked with hydrometer and it reads 1.026. Same as refractometer.
I did start dosing Ca and Alk about 2 months ago.
If I keep dosing Ca will that continue to make mag rise?

I've always used Randy's recipes so I can't speak to the levels in red sea. I would think if you don't have a wacky test kit that your calcium level is approaching 500 with a reading of 1500. Maybe double check your consumption?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You are dosing it. It's in your calcium. Are you keeping an eye on your tank salinity?

Why do you say that?

 

[UMALUM]

Why do you say that?

I seem to remember when researching what approach I wanted to take on this build that RSA contained magnesium and strontium. Once again at what levels I'm unaware. Am I wrong?

 

[tobster]

I seem to remember when researching what approach I wanted to take on this build that RSA contained magnesium and strontium. Once again at what levels I'm unaware. Am I wrong?

It says it contains stronium and barium complex. I don’t see magnesium listed on the bottle?

 

[UMALUM]

It says it contains stronium and barium complex. I don’t see magnesium listed on the bottle?

I assumed you were using the A.