Found a couple problems today.

[vertical]

Well I did some more tests and such today. After I spent $10 in batteries for my $20 TDS meter I found my RO/DI TDS about 10 so I changed the resins and all the filters, back down to 0 now.

Also have had alot of problem keeping up Cal and Alk, and have had Alot of pecipitation events lately when adding BIonic and buffers. Well I basically stopped testing magnesium long ago due to the fact it never really changed. Then today I dug out the testkit and low and behold 960. Gonna take a 1/2 gallon of addatives to get it back up to acceptable levels.

Well if its not one thing its another.

Just thought I'd share some finding,

Casey

[clownfishcrazy]

What does magnesium really do for your corals? I think that I read somewhere that it was useless.

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I had no idea untill I started having problems with cal and alk levels. The jist of it that I got from searching RC chemistry forum is that if your mg is low (very low in my case) you cant keep up the levels of calcium and alk and they precipitate at alot lower levels. I'm no chemist but know something is wrong. I have went to doing my normal amount of Bionic in 2 doses rather than one and have been getting white precipitate on the glass the next morning. This stuff is like a full sheet of coraline and requires a razor blade to remove it, magnets wont even scratch it. And matters get worse because my levels are so low cal 350 alk 6-7dkh I am adding buffers everyday to no avail. So hope fully will get things back in line soon.


Heres a link to check out on mg.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

Casey

[redlion4]

Yes, the mg levels are important as they prevent early precipitation of calcium. We actually need to buy a MG test kit for our system, probably along with a MG additive. Haven't ever tested it, but we highly suspect our MG levels are low. We can never CA above 390 or alk above 5.0, provided they are balanced (can drive either one high individually, but not together).

The Salifert MG test kit seems to run about $28 or so, plus shipping. Does anyone know a LFS that carries the Salifert tests?

Anyone have other suggestions for MG test kits?

Ryan.

[polskp]

Good thread!

Maybe Mg is my problem as well. I have also dosed B Ionic for both calc and alk. In the last few weeks I have noticed that I have had a hard time keeping my alk at even normal levels (9-10). I have NEVER been able to even crack 400 for calcium. I was about to consider dosing Kalkwasser or other supplements, but perhaps I should ocnsider a magnesium test and supplement first. Any other suggestions?

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Well after checking the LFS down here in the sticks noone had mg addatives or at least not enough (needed almost 1/2g to bring levels back up). So back to the search engine I went then to the drugstore for a 4lb carton of epsom salts (yes I know this will also add sulfate Randy has suggested that its probable ok for a one time correction). Anyway according to this calculator.

http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.....uk/cacalc.htm

I needed a little more than half the box, whew. So after diluting only what I thought was 1/4 of the amount I needed, mixed with some tank water, and poured it in my sump. Coinicidence or not within minutes I had polyp extention on almost all my acros, I have had none for a couple months ( also less than a week ago caught a Pygmy angel that was nipping). But with the instant change I have to believe it was the salt. So after an hour I tested again and mg was 1140. This was a little more than planned, but 12 hrs later and all is still well. I plan to add 2 more smaller addations the next 2 days to get back to 1350ish. Also after this test I added my usuall BIonic and no precip and tested cal and alk and yup much better 390cal and 8.4dkh. After i get mg back in line will use some buffers to get them back where I want, but for now this these levels will work.

Sorry so long,
Casey

[vertical]

RC sponsor Globe Aquarium Supply has Salifert mg tests for 19.00.

http://www.globeaqua.com/testkits.html

Came to 27.83 shipped to my door.

HTH
Casey

[vertical]

Guess I should read all the replies before I ramble on. I use about 8oz of each part of BIonic aday in a 75g to keep cal and alk up, also drip 2tsp per gallon kalk around the clock (a little over 2 gallons a day). I still find I have to make small corrections with Turbo calc and washing soda to get back to my targets once a week. Hopefully now this will be less of a problem. Time will tell.

Casey

[Jive Turkey]

Redlion4, look into baking/washing for raising Alk in addition to using Bionic.

I had trouble with Alk and unstabe pH before I began maintaining Magnesium with ESV Mag and Sali kits. I like it at 1350, but w/o addition and just IO salt, I couldn't get it about 900.

[redlion4]

We used to drip kalk daily, just under 1/2 gallon worth (1.4 liters). Realize that our 55 has very little livestock that needs high Ca supply - a BTA, gsp, small zoo, toadstool leather, 2 tiny trumpet frags, and a small clam. Until two weeks ago, the trumpet frags were the only real Ca users. We just aquired the clam from JnS (Jns - what type clam is it again, we forgot!!! ).

Anyway, we stopped the daily kalk additions after finding our UV Sterilizer absolutely covered in major layers of Ca precipitation. We were able to clean it all of without damaging the tube, but it was quite a pain!

Casey - Thanks for the link to Global Aquarium. That is a good price for the Salifert Mg test!

Jive Turkey - I think you have about sealed it for us. We only use IO salt too! We have been able to get Ca/Alk balanced (using baking soda and a liquid Ca additive), but have NEVER been able to push it above 390/5.0 together! The kalk just causes precip on the UV Sterilizer tube before raising the levels. Now I'm sure the tank Mg level is too low! Time to order the kit and some supplement!
Ryan.

[clownfishcrazy]

To clean your UV just tank out the crystal and soak a cloth in a vinegar/water solution. Then take the cloth and rub down the crystal, its really easy this way, thats how we do it on the koi farm.

[JnS]

Ryan - ultra maxi clam

[redlion4]

Thanks Jerry. I will write it down this time...lol!