Aquaforest Reef Salt Salifert Mg Test Kit

Martin B · Jan 24, 2022

Hi all

just had ICP test done on tank water it flagged magnesium at high level of 1699.82 mg/l...

I am using Aquaforest reef salt, now using the Salifert Magnesium, test fresh mix gives me 1410 and tank at 1350 so working on the assumption the ICP test is accurate that puts the salt mix way out on their spec for salt and the test kit way off!

Has anybody else had this issue either with Aquaforest or Salifert Mg?

I should also say that I have never dosed any magnesium to the tank!

GillMeister · Jan 26, 2022

Magnesium test kits in general aren't very reliable. I wouldn't freak out if I were you. Having said that, does ANYONE know of a decent Mg test kit?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 26, 2022

Martin B said:
Hi all

just had ICP test done on tank water it flagged magnesium at high level of 1699.82 mg/l...

I am using Aquaforest reef salt, now using the Salifert Magnesium, test fresh mix gives me 1410 and tank at 1350 so working on the assumption the ICP test is accurate that puts the salt mix way out on their spec for salt and the test kit way off!

Has anybody else had this issue either with Aquaforest or Salifert Mg?

I should also say that I have never dosed any magnesium to the tank!

Can you post the ICP test results?

Cantusaurus · Jan 26, 2022

I'd say to use the Aquaforest Magnesium test kit especially since they give a reference solution to ensure accuracy.

Martin B · Jan 26, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Can you post the ICP test results?

Element	Analysis Value	Calculated value at 35 PSU of Salinity	Desired Level	Acceptable range/level min - max	Element Health
Basic Element
Salinity (NaCl)	35.07 PSU	35.00 PSU
Macro Elements

B ( Boron )	4.09 mg/l	4.09 mg/l	4.5 mg/l	4 - 10 mg/l
Br ( Bromine )	66.65 mg/l	66.52 mg/l	62 mg/l	62 - 90 mg/l
Ca( Calcium )	439.92 mg/l	439.07 mg/l	440 mg/l	380.00 - 500.00 mg/l
K( Potassium )	439.18 mg/l	438.32 mg/l	400 mg/l	380 - 500 mg/l
Mg( Magnesium)	1699.82 mg/l	1696.52 mg/l	1400 mg/l	1280 - 1600 mg/l
Na ( Sodium)	10521.33 mg/l	10500.88 mg/l	10700 mg/l	10000 - 11300 mg/l
S(Sulphur)	794.21 mg/l	792.67 mg/l	900 mg/l	810 - 1000 mg/l
Sr( Strontium )	9.13 mg/l	9.11 mg/l	9.5 mg/l	8 - 12 mg/l
Trace Element

Ba( Barium)	72.55 µg/l	72.41 µg/l	10 µg/l	10 - 100 µg/l
Be( Beryllium)	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 10 µg/l
Co( Cobalt)	< LOD	< LOD	0.2 µg/l	0 - 1 µg/l
Cr( Chromium)	< LOD	< LOD	0.5 µg/l	0 - 1 µg/l
Cu( Copper)	< LOD	< LOD	2 µg/l	0 - 10 µg/l
Fe( Iron)	4.49 µg/l	4.48 µg/l	0.4 µg/l	0 - 5 µg/l
I( Iodine)	< LOD	< LOD	60 µg/l	55 - 100 µg/l
Li( Lithium)	208.83 µg/l	208.43 µg/l	180 µg/l	180 - 500 µg/l
Mn( Manganese)	< LOD	< LOD	2 µg/l	0.4 - 5 µg/l
Mo( Molybdenum )	0.51 µg/l	0.51 µg/l	12 µg/l	10 - 14 µg/l
Ni( Nickel)	< LOD	< LOD	2.5 µg/l	0 - 5 µg/l
Se( Selenium)	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 20 µg/l
Si( Silicon)	220.31 µg/l	219.88 µg/l	100 µg/l	0 - 200 µg/l
Sn( Tin)	< LOD	< LOD	2 µg/l	0 - 10 µg/l
V( Vanadium)	< LOD	< LOD	1.8 µg/l	0 - 10 µg/l
Zn( Zinc )	4.86 µg/l	4.85 µg/l	2.5 µg/l	0 - 6 µg/l
Nutrients

P( Phosphorus )	18.75 µg/l	18.71 µg/l	13 µg/l	7 - 27.5 µg/l
PO4 (Phosphate)	0.06 µg/l	0.057 µg/l	0.04 µg/l	0.021 - 0.09 µg/l
Pollutants

Ag( Silver )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 µg/l
AI( Aluminium )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 50 µg/l
Cd( Cadmium )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 1 µg/l
Hg( Mercury )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 µg/l
Pb( Lead )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 3 µg/l
Sb( Antimony )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 10 µg/l
Ti( Titanium )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 5 µg/l
Tl (Thallium)	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 10 µg/l
Zr( Zirconium )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 5 µg/l
W( Tungsten )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 20 µg/l
Bi ( Bismuth )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 µg/l
Ge ( Germanium )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 µg/l
La ( Lanthanum )	< LOD	< LOD	0 µg/l	0 - 15 µg/l

Martin B · Jan 26, 2022

I brought another Salifert test kit to see if the one i have is faulty but just the same..

Reluctant to try aquaforest kit as its their salt that seems to be the problem, i have purchased some Tropic Marine Pro Reef to see what that tests out at

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 26, 2022

Martin B said:
Element
Analysis Value
Calculated value at 35 PSU of Salinity
Desired Level
Acceptable range/level min - max
Element Health
Basic Element
Salinity (NaCl) 35.07 PSU 35.00 PSU
Macro Elements
B ( Boron ) 4.09 mg/l 4.09 mg/l 4.5 mg/l 4 - 10 mg/l
Br ( Bromine ) 66.65 mg/l 66.52 mg/l 62 mg/l 62 - 90 mg/l
Ca( Calcium ) 439.92 mg/l 439.07 mg/l 440 mg/l 380.00 - 500.00 mg/l
K( Potassium ) 439.18 mg/l 438.32 mg/l 400 mg/l 380 - 500 mg/l
Mg( Magnesium) 1699.82 mg/l 1696.52 mg/l 1400 mg/l 1280 - 1600 mg/l
Na ( Sodium) 10521.33 mg/l 10500.88 mg/l 10700 mg/l 10000 - 11300 mg/l
S(Sulphur) 794.21 mg/l 792.67 mg/l 900 mg/l 810 - 1000 mg/l
Sr( Strontium ) 9.13 mg/l 9.11 mg/l 9.5 mg/l 8 - 12 mg/l
Trace Element
Ba( Barium) 72.55 µg/l 72.41 µg/l 10 µg/l 10 - 100 µg/l
Be( Beryllium) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 10 µg/l
Co( Cobalt) < LOD < LOD 0.2 µg/l 0 - 1 µg/l
Cr( Chromium) < LOD < LOD 0.5 µg/l 0 - 1 µg/l
Cu( Copper) < LOD < LOD 2 µg/l 0 - 10 µg/l
Fe( Iron) 4.49 µg/l 4.48 µg/l 0.4 µg/l 0 - 5 µg/l
I( Iodine) < LOD < LOD 60 µg/l 55 - 100 µg/l
Li( Lithium) 208.83 µg/l 208.43 µg/l 180 µg/l 180 - 500 µg/l
Mn( Manganese) < LOD < LOD 2 µg/l 0.4 - 5 µg/l
Mo( Molybdenum ) 0.51 µg/l 0.51 µg/l 12 µg/l 10 - 14 µg/l
Ni( Nickel) < LOD < LOD 2.5 µg/l 0 - 5 µg/l
Se( Selenium) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 20 µg/l
Si( Silicon) 220.31 µg/l 219.88 µg/l 100 µg/l 0 - 200 µg/l
Sn( Tin) < LOD < LOD 2 µg/l 0 - 10 µg/l
V( Vanadium) < LOD < LOD 1.8 µg/l 0 - 10 µg/l
Zn( Zinc ) 4.86 µg/l 4.85 µg/l 2.5 µg/l 0 - 6 µg/l
Nutrients
P( Phosphorus ) 18.75 µg/l 18.71 µg/l 13 µg/l 7 - 27.5 µg/l
PO4 (Phosphate) 0.06 µg/l 0.057 µg/l 0.04 µg/l 0.021 - 0.09 µg/l
Pollutants
Ag( Silver ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 µg/l
AI( Aluminium ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 50 µg/l
Cd( Cadmium ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 1 µg/l
Hg( Mercury ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 µg/l
Pb( Lead ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 3 µg/l
Sb( Antimony ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 10 µg/l
Ti( Titanium ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 5 µg/l
Tl (Thallium) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 10 µg/l
Zr( Zirconium ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 5 µg/l
W( Tungsten ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 20 µg/l
Bi ( Bismuth ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 µg/l
Ge ( Germanium ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 µg/l
La ( Lanthanum ) < LOD < LOD 0 µg/l 0 - 15 µg/l

Thanks. I don't know if it is accurate or not, but if so, it certainly is high.

Martin B · Jan 26, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Thanks. I don't know if it is accurate or not, but if so, it certainly is high.

Test was done at Reef Zelements Lab in UK so I'm working on the assumption its correct ?

Everything thing else I test, potassium, phosphate and calcium are all fairly close to results I have been getting from Salifert kits...