Mg ?

[DKKA]

Hi Randy,

I understand that low Magnesium levels can affect Ca/alk levels.
I just wonder if I can extrapolate the converse.
ie: If my Ca/Alk levels are acceptable can I assume my Mg is also acceptable?

thanks,

Dan

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I just wonder if I can extrapolate the converse.

No, but you can conclude that you do not need to worry about it much.

These articles may help:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters (a summary general article)
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Magnesium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

Magnesium and Strontium in Limewater
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2003/chem.htm

from the first one:

"Magnesium

Magnesium's primary importance is its interaction with the calcium and alkalinity balance in reef aquaria. Seawater and reef aquarium water are always supersaturated with calcium carbonate. That is, the solution's calcium and carbonate levels exceed the amount that the water can hold at equilibrium. How can that be? Magnesium is a big part of the answer. Whenever calcium carbonate begins to precipitate, magnesium binds to the growing surface of the calcium carbonate crystals. The magnesium effectively clogs the crystals' surface so that they no longer look like calcium carbonate, making them unable to attract more calcium and carbonate, so the precipitation stops. Without the magnesium, the abiotic (nonbiological) precipitation of calcium carbonate would likely increase enough to prohibit the maintenance of calcium and alkalinity at natural levels.

For this reason, I suggest targeting the natural seawater concentration of magnesium: ~1285 ppm. For practical purposes, 1250-1350 ppm is fine, and levels slightly outside that range (1200-1400 ppm) are also likely acceptable. I would not suggest raising magnesium by more than 100 ppm per day, in case the magnesium supplement contains impurities. If you need to raise it by several hundred ppm, spreading the addition over several days will allow you to more accurately reach the target concentration, and might possibly allow the aquarium to handle any impurities that the supplement contains.

An aquarium's corals and coralline algae can deplete magnesium by incorporating it into their growing calcium carbonate skeletons. Many methods of supplementing calcium and alkalinity may not deliver enough magnesium to maintain it at a normal level. Settled limewater (kalkwasser), in particular, is quite deficient in magnesium. Consequently, magnesium should be measured occasionally, particularly if the aquarium's calcium and alkalinity levels seem difficult to maintain. Aquaria with excessive abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate on objects such as heaters and pumps might suffer from low magnesium levels (along with high pH, calcium, and alkalinity)."

[DKKA]

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley
No, but you can conclude that you do not need to worry about it much.


I never have in the past, but everyone else seems to so I thought I was missing something.:D SPS keeper in particular seem to fret about their Mg levels even when Ca/Alk are okay.

I guess I've noticed more than one poster report Mg levels in the 1100's without having Ca/alk probs. Do you think this is likely a function of false readings (test kit, low specific gravity) or is there a grey area where magnesium can be below NSW levels and still be a large enough pool to prevent precipitation.
The data that you mention from Spotte seems to address this, but only from a "no Mg" versus "NSW levels of Mg" perspective.

Thanks,

Dan

ps. Don't you know...everyone reads your articles the moment they hit cyberspace.

:)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do you think this is likely a function of false readings

It could be either, although I would not say that magnesium in the 1100's is a big problem. Below 1000 ppm, and I definitely would add some.

everyone reads your articles the moment they hit cyberspace.


:lol:

Thanks. :)