Test results.

[Angel 0249]

Well after the big upgrade last weekend from my 3ft tank to my 5ft everything went well,apart from loosing one of my corals.

Been testing my water stats every other day and all is well.
Tested again this morning and results are as follows...........

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
PH 8.2
Temp 79
Salinity 1.025
Phosphate 0.1
Calcium 440
Magnesium 960..... which is on the low side.
Alkalinity 8.5dKH

What is the best way to bring up my Magnesium levels?

Thanks.
Liz.

 

[Amphiprion]

Unfortunately, no matter what you use, it is going to take quite a bit of it to raise your magnesium concentration that much. My recommendation is either Kent's Tech M or Mag flake/epsom salt mixture. Your phosphate level is also a bit on the high side. You may want to look into a refugium or maybe some ferric oxide based phosphate adsorption media, like phosban. This isn't an absolute requirement, but you will get better calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium solubility/levels if you raise your salinity to NSW (between 1.026 and 1.027 or 35 ppt).

 

[Angel 0249]

Thanks for the reply Amphiprion.

I am using Rowaphos,but my test kit only seems to read 0.1 each time i test.

Do i raise my salinity slowly or could i just raise it up at the next water change?

 

[Amphiprion]

The best way to raise it is to simply top off with saltwater for a few days--it will get it there. What test kit are you using? It may be inaccurate or you may not have enough RowaPhos (or running it efficiently enough). Do you have a refugium? Since you live in the UK, I am not sure how readily some of the items I listed are available. Basically what you want is a balanced supplement--look for any kind of magnesium supplement that uses both magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate salts. If you have to make a compromise and a particular supplement only contains one, then go with magnesium chloride.