Best test kit for each parameter

[stanleo]

I decided to do an experiment and made a mix of 1.010 salinity and ran the mag test and it came out at 800. Not sure what that means?

 

[fcmatt]

Regular instant ocean salt. The cheap stuff.
I found reef crystals to be a pain but I forget the exact reasons why because this was several years ago.

Did you mix up the dry salt properly? Perhaps it settled?

 

[stanleo]

Ok so I just mixed my tank water one part tank water one part RO water and got a salinity of 1.010 and got a mag test of 840ppm. So maybe my test is accurate and this salt mix is ridiculously high?

 

[stanleo]

and when I test calcium with 1:1 mix at 1.010 it read 250 ppm. So that would mean my tank is 1580 mag and 500 calcium, correct? And also this mix is just ridiculously high, correct? I just bought a new 50$ case of it so I would rather not buy new salt. Will I be ok if I just use the rest and switch salts when I get through this case?

 

[piranhaman00]

Hanna for copper, alk and phosphate, salifert for everything else

 

[fcmatt]

Perhaps reef crystals is designed that way for people who do not dose. A 10% water change every week or two will keep things where they need to be. Yes.. there will be swings but it is better then the alternative.

 

[fcmatt]

Basically yes. Reef crystals has high ca and mag. Your testing confirms it. Now the question is do you like it or not compared to your plans with your tank?

 

[Mical]

and when I test calcium with 1:1 mix at 1.010 it read 250 ppm. So that would mean my tank is 1580 mag and 500 calcium, correct? And also this mix is just ridiculously high, correct? I just bought a new 50$ case of it so I would rather not buy new salt. Will I be ok if I just use the rest and switch salts when I get through this case?

I'd use it as you planned and switch when it's gone. As mentioned above mix up the salt BEFORE you add it to your RO water. BRS recently did a test stating that "most" salts don't settle, but a few others beg to differ .(including myself) I had Red Sea (black bucket) and it was all over the place in params vs what was advertised on bucket. I started to mix it up before adding RO and it was almost spot on to what was advertised

 

[stanleo]

Basically yes. Reef crystals has high ca and mag. Your testing confirms it. Now the question is do you like it or not compared to your plans with your tank?

Well my plans are to have a good mix of sps, lps and softies along with inverts like anemone, clams and crabs/shrimp. Right now I have all three of those types of coral and in a few months once I know my fuge is going good with microfauna I want a manderin dragonet.

 

[stanleo]

I'd use it as you planned and switch when it's gone. As mentioned above mix up the salt BEFORE you add it to your RO water. BRS recently did a test stating that "most" salts don't settle, but a few others beg to differ .(including myself) I had Red Sea (black bucket) and it was all over the place in params vs what was advertised on bucket. I started to mix it up before adding RO and it was almost spot on to what was advertised

So wait a sec, you are supposed to mix up the dry salt BEFORE you mix it with the water? I have never done that. How do you do that? I always just poor the salt from the bag into a measuring cup and poor that right into the water, stir it after I add all the salt I need and let sit overnight with a pump and a heater.

 

[Mical]

So wait a sec, you are supposed to mix up the dry salt BEFORE you mix it with the water? I have never done that. How do you do that? I always just poor the salt from the bag into a measuring cup and poor that right into the water, stir it after I add all the salt I need and let sit overnight with a pump and a heater.

Yea a fellow reefer told me to stir up in the bag BEFORE adding it to RODI water. I haven't seen a manufacturer actually print that. I tried it and my results were darn near specs on bucket. Fellow reefer said ingredients settle in shipping and sitting in warehouses.

 

[stanleo]

Yea a fellow reefer told me to stir up in the bag BEFORE adding it to RODI water. I haven't seen a manufacturer actually print that. I tried it and my results were darn near specs on bucket. Fellow reefer said ingredients settle in shipping and sitting in warehouses.

Well I'll be snookered!!! I will start doing that, thank you.

 

[coralcruze]

have you tried swnding out ICP-analysis.com to compare against your test kits? i do this once in a while to make sure my test kits still giving me accurate results. also make sure you are performing the tests correctly because I use RS Mg kit and its always been on point for me.

 

[stanleo]

have you tried swnding out ICP-analysis.com to compare against your test kits? i do this once in a while to make sure my test kits still giving me accurate results. also make sure you are performing the tests correctly because I use RS Mg kit and its always been on point for me.

I am going to do that with the Triton test once my husband lets me spend a little more money. (He has to reign me in or I will empty our bank account.)

 

[fcmatt]

So wait a sec, you are supposed to mix up the dry salt BEFORE you mix it with the water? I have never done that. How do you do that? I always just poor the salt from the bag into a measuring cup and poor that right into the water, stir it after I add all the salt I need and let sit overnight with a pump and a heater.

If I am using bags, open or unopened, I simply rotate the bag in every direction until I am satisfied it is mixed more then it was before.