In a series of articles by Alf Nilsen, the relationship between alkalinity and calcium was explored in the 1980s. I wish I had taken the time to learn them better because all I learned from them was that we needed calcium in our tanks in order to provide the corals with what they needed to produce skeletons. As a result, I, like many of my fellow hobbyists at the time, rely solely on kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide dissolved in water) to provide all the calcium that was needed by my corals.
What Should Magnesium Level Be In Reef Tank?
Magnesium has a direct correlation with how well organisms will be able to take in calcium in the first place.
Low magnesium can have a negative effect on an animal’s ability to absorb calcium.
Magnes is present at 53 mm in full strength seawater (s=35), giving an indication of the actual number of ions present as opposed to ppm. I considered going to the balling or individual dosing technique, in which a set amount of buffer, calcium, and magnesium are added throughout the day via dossant pumps, but this would keep the tank full.
Does High Magnesium Affect Corals?
Magnesium is the stifled ally of calcium and alkalinity.
It is one of the most important parts of a reef tank.
It is a basic component of several chemical reactions on land, sea, and inside the human body.
It is the third most abundant component of seawater after sodium and chlorine.
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What Causes High Phosphates In Saltwater Aquarium?
Overfeeding is the most common cause of phosphate problems, and if your tank holds more fish than filtration can handle, phosphorus and neonitrates will quickly become a problem.
In most tanks, phosphates are added at a much faster rate than what if removing effectively from contaminated water change schedules.
Even a weekly 20% water change will not be enough to maintain phosphate levels in the majority of reef tanks that contain fish.
The fish simply need too much food to thrive, so alternative phosphate control techniques must be used.
Organics will be stripped from a good protein skimmer before they can release phosphate into the water.
What Happens To Corals If Magnesium Is Too High?
Simply changing the water is the easiest way to control the magnesium levels in your reef tank.
If the amounts are low, you may need to dose with a safe drug.
Low magnesium levels, among other things, could lead to coral bleaching and tissue loss. While elevated magnesium levels do not tend to cause problems, poor magnesium stains can cause tissue loss and bleaching.
To remain on top of what is going wrong with your tank’s magnesium levels, make sure you’re checking your water often.
Remember that depending on your system, your tank will use up the magnesium in the water faster than you are replacing it.
What Does High Phosphate Do To A Reef Tank?
Coral growth is stifled by elevated phosphate levels.
Allow phosphates to grow in new tanks, and your shiny, pristine reef tank will turn into a slimy, algae-filled mess.
The key sources of phosphate in our aquariums are found in the water, our decor (if it was ever alive), and our fish and coral dishes because they are also made up of food sources that were once alive.
Excess phosphate drains into rivers and is then returned to us by our tapwater.
Phosphotes are present in the soil, in water, and in food and decoration.
What Does Phosphates Do In A Reef Tank?
Phosphates promote brown algae growth in coral tissue, masking the coral’s natural color pigments and causing the Corals to turn brown.
It also limits the calcium carbonate uptake that is required for the coral skeleton to develop.
A good, reliable phosphate test kit is vital, and FINS recommends Hach and LaMotte brands as good choices.
It is also recommended that you prepare tap or other freshwater source and new products used in your aquarium for phosphates as well as nitrates.
FINS: 0. A 05 ppm-mg/l rating is acceptable, with a maximum of 0. 1 ppm cited as well.
How Do You Reduce Phosphates?
The most effective way to get rid of phosphate is to “vacuum” the substrate (as with a Fluval Edge gravel cleaner). This helps prevent phosphorus stockpiling by settled particulate organic matter.
Certain chemical filtrants absorb and hold onto phosphate.
Both ferric iron granules and aluminum oxide beads (such as Seachem PhosGuard phosphate and silicate remover in marine and freshwater aquariums) can be used effectively for this purpose.
Vaping the substrate is the most efficient way to remove phosphate in refugia.
Why Is My Magnesium Low In Reef Tank?
Low magnesium deficiency is a common reason for low magnesium levels in reef tanks.
Low levels as well as low ones can be caused by a lack of regular water changes to replenish consumed magnesium.
The solution is to make regular changes with a salt that was specifically designed for reef tanks with the right amount of magnesium.
The salt is not being used properly by reef tankers, and the amount of magnesium consumed isn’t sufficient to fill the tank with enough water to maintain the required amount per reef gallon.
At home, it is vital to have the salt in the tank.
Can You Overdose Magnesium In A Reef Tank?
Snails and clams can become lethargic to being eaten IME due to Mg overdoses. It’s likely that you’re doingsing magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, or a mixture of the two water chemistry that will go wrong.
How Do I Increase Magnesium In My Reef Tank?
If you’re experiencing a drastic decrease in magnesium, changing the water will be the most effective way to restore the correct magnesium level.
You can start by changing 20% of the aquarium water per week.
Select the salt mixes that are intended for reef tanks that contain the right amount of alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium.
It’s also a very effective way to raise the magnesium content in the water changes.
According to the supplement’s manufacturer, the tablets come in powdered form and contain little ammonia and low ammona.