Owning a reef tank comes with a massive responsibility, if you don’t get the balance just right in the water, this can be disastrous for your marine life. Many would say that a saltwater aquarium of any type is something that only an experienced aquarist should take on. While there is some truth in this, it’s not an out-and-out rule. If you are just beginning your fish-keeping journey, you will be able to take on a reef tank, but there is a lot to learn.
Trace elements in the water need to remain below a certain level and while some of these can be extremely dangerous when they rise beyond the normal levels, magnesium doesn’t tend to cause too many problems.
The magnesium levels in a saltwater reef tank need to remain below 1350ppm which is equivalent to what would be found in the ocean. And while a lot of people worry when the levels creep towards this, in reality, there are a lot of benefits to having a good amount of magnesium in your tank. However, if they do go too high, the best way to counteract the problem is regular water changes and a lot of patience.
That said, if you do want to lower the level of magnesium in your reef tank, there are ways that you can achieve this.
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Is Magnesium Good For A Reef Tank
Many hobby aquarists panic at the thought of having too much magnesium in their tanks but in truth, this may not be the worst thing that could happen to your setup. You see, when you look at the level of magnesium found in ocean water, you realise that it is an important element. In the ocean, the most prevalent elements in the water are sodium and chloride but next in line is magnesium so it should be considered a major element and certainly not a trace element.
If you have a lot of corals in your reef tank then magnesium plays an important role for these species. It is an essential element for any living thing but corals and other skeleton-building organisms especially.
While many people are asking how to lower magnesium in a reef tank, not enough people are questioning whether there is enough! You see, in order to maintain the perfect balance between alkalinity levels and calcium within the tank, one must also place a significant focus on the level of magnesium in the water. Without this, it can be very difficult to otherwise maintain a healthy balance.
When we look at ocean water, we see that it has anywhere between 1280 and 1350 parts per million of magnesium. When you are running an aquarium at home, it is important to keep the magnesium levels between these parameters in order to avoid precipitation of other elements like calcium and carbonates. This can wreak havoc for your corals but a lot of people don’t keep an eye on their magnesium levels and then notice coral problems. If this sounds familiar, be sure to check the level of magnesium before trying anything else.
One of the important parts of taking care of your saltwater reef aquarium is to ensure you add a good quality saltwater mix. What’s surprising is that many of the mixes designed for reef tanks have a much higher concentration of magnesium as well as a series of other elements. But this isn’t always the best method of increasing the level of magnesium in your tank since there are standalone supplements which are far easier to use as you can better monitor what you’re putting in.
If you are running a reef tank, you are going to need a much higher concentration of magnesium in order to help your corals thrive. This is particularly true of soft corals especially when you compare this to the needs of a fish-only aquarium.
How Can I Lower The Magnesium In My Reef Tank?
As we have learned, magnesium should never be just a trace element and if you want your reef tank to be breathtaking, you will need to make sure that there is as much as 1350ppm magnesium. However, there may be times when the level exceeds this and this can also cause problems. We told you that it was all about balance!
One of the biggest problems that aquarists face when including too much magnesium is that, while the corals might like it, other species do not. There have been a lot of reports on various fishkeeping forums that rising levels of magnesium past around 2000/2100ppm can cause invertebrates like starfish and snails to quickly perish.
There are certain brands of magnesium supplements that tend to cause more problems than others with Tech M being a particular culprit. While this is excellent to use in a coral-only tank, if you are keeping invertebrates then it might not do such an impressive job.
So, the question remains; can you lower the magnesium level in your tank? Yes, it is possible, but you will need to keep your patience as this is not something that you will be able to change overnight.
The most effective method is to make sure that you perform regular water changes. Most would agree that you will need to change out between 15 – 20 % of the water every week. When you add new water, be sure to use a mix with a lower magnesium content. Over time, things will balance out and your magnesium level will plateau. However, you should keep in mind that this can take a long time and there are enthusiasts that end up waiting months before they see a marked difference.
There is another method which involves running the water from the tank through a reactor with calcium hydroxide. This would cause the magnesium to precipitate but this is a delicate approach that isn’t largely recommended as it can cause more harm than good. Therefore, we would have to recommend staying with regular water changes.
As you go through the process of attempting to lower the magnesium in your tank, it is a good idea to take more frequent readings so that you can ensure the balance doesn’t fall too low. If you are at all unsure, you should take a sample of the tank water to your local aquatic specialist who will be able to run tests and offer you the best advice and solution for your unique situation.
Conclusion
When you are managing a reef tank, it is vital that there is a good level of magnesium in the water as this is one of the most important major elements, especially for corals. However, should you notice that the magnesium levels creep up a little too much then the best way to handle the problem is to perform more frequent water changes and wait it out.
