magnesium and strontium

[Anthony.Luciano710]

ok so is magnesium and strontium truly necessary to have a reef tank because i maintain the calcium levels but my lps seem to be dying so i was wondering if i need to do this stuff.

 

[scapone]

magnesium is very improtant thats something that must be tested on a regular basis as well as calcium,phosphates,and nitrates. If your using a good salt those should be replenished when you do a water change. magnesium should be between 1350-1400ppm

 

[Anthony.Luciano710]

i am using instant ocean reef crystals and my nitrate levels stay pretty low so i only do a change of 10 gallons every 2 weeks. should i do more then that because i really hate going through salt buckets so fast.

 

[scapone]

how big is the tank example i do 10-15 gallon each week i have a 150 with a thirty gallon sump. Have you ever tested your mag?

 

[Anthony.Luciano710]

its a 125 gallon with a sump thats only about 5-10 gallons it was a wet dry filter i just took out the bio balls and put a skimmer instead.

 

[batt600]

Yes mag is very important . Mag keeps in line your cal and alk if mag is low cal and alk wont be stable . Whats your dkh at and what do you dose ?. Your best bet is to use ESV salt and you well never have to worry about mag again

 

[Anthony.Luciano710]

my dkh is 10 and i dont dose anything because my cal is already above 500ppm and im just waiting for the coral to absorb it because i have never had to add caclium it just gets that high from the reef crystals salt.

 

[DJYoshi]

mag serves as the catalyst for calcium to be used I believe. so like scapone said 1350 - 1400 = bien

 

[InfernoST]

my dkh is 10 and i dont dose anything because my cal is already above 500ppm and im just waiting for the coral to absorb it because i have never had to add caclium it just gets that high from the reef crystals salt.

The highest readings I ever got from batch of RC is 1350 Mag and 375 cal.

 

[DJYoshi]

my dkh is 10 and i dont dose anything because my cal is already above 500ppm and im just waiting for the coral to absorb it because i have never had to add caclium it just gets that high from the reef crystals salt.

probably b/c you haven't started using magnesium. Magnesium is used for calcification and to help stabilize carbonate
go get a test kit for Magnesium
test, and if you're under 1350, then dose according to the ppm calculator to bring it up to the desired level. you'll quickly see the calcium being used up