Mag @ 210 possible

nycfishy · Apr 7, 2019

So have a 5 month old rsr524xl (120 gallon), has been fallow for last couple of months due to icy outbreak. Just have a some number of frags in in for last few weeks.
Bought salifert Mg test kit as I know want to start introducing more corals and ready to properly track parameters.
Did Mg test 3 times and and getting 210, that seems way too low give tank just has a couple of frags and a cleanup crew.

Alk is 7.9
Salinity 1.25
Ca is 350
Nitrate and phosphate at 0
Using tropic Marin for water changes (but was using reef crystals till about 6 weeks ago)

nycfishy · Apr 7, 2019

My question is can Mg really be that low as I’d need 390ounces of BRS Mg mix to bring it up within target range

JoshH · Apr 7, 2019

I've never seen a MG test that low before, #Reefsquad have any of you?

Dr. Reef · Apr 7, 2019

It's extremely low make me wonder if the Test kit is bad or the procedure has human error.

nycfishy · Apr 7, 2019

Very possible there is a human issue but I did it 3 times.
Should I get a new salifert kit or Red Sea for mg?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 7, 2019

It is not possible. I expect you are reading the syringe backwards or did something else wrong.

Brew12 · Apr 7, 2019

nycfishy said:
So have a 5 month old rsr524xl (120 gallon), has been fallow for last couple of months due to icy outbreak. Just have a some number of frags in in for last few weeks.
Bought salifert Mg test kit as I know want to start introducing more corals and ready to properly track parameters.
Did Mg test 3 times and and getting 210, that seems way too low give tank just has a couple of frags and a cleanup crew.

Alk is 7.9
Salinity 1.25
Ca is 350
Nitrate and phosphate at 0
Using tropic Marin for water changes (but was using reef crystals till about 6 weeks ago)

I thought this the first time I used the salifert test. To get a reading of 210 you would need to use almost no reagent. I suspect that you used most of the reagent and read the test backwards. The chart indicates the reading of what is left in the syringe, not how much you have used.

nycfishy · Apr 7, 2019

Brew12 said:
I thought this the first time I used the salifert test. To get a reading of 210 you would need to use almost no reagent. I suspect that you used most of the reagent and read the test backwards. The chart indicates the reading of what is left in the syringe, not how much you have used.

BINGO....human error, thought it was like the the Red Sea kits where you use amount or reagent used not him much left. So I am at 1320 which makes much more sense.

Thanks guy, so helpful, glad a checked before dumping pound of magnesium in my tank

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 7, 2019

nycfishy said:
BINGO....human error, thought it was like the the Red Sea kits where you use amount or reagent used not him much left. So I am at 1320 which makes much more sense.

Thanks guy, so helpful, glad a checked before dumping pound of magnesium in my tank

You're welcome.

Happy reefing.