Mag is so low it's not picking

[dcsaquarium]

My magnesium is so low that it doesn't even have a number that corresponds on the chart. Calcium is high at 560 and alk is at 7. This is the first time I checked magnesium. I've been using Kent's reef salt because it's what was sold to me by the moron at the lfs. I'm trying to use it up before I switch. Any ideas as to what's going on or what I need to do?

 

[rworegon]

Not sure whats going on. Kent Reef Salt is usually preety high in Mag. maybe test again or try another test kit.

 

[diesel3443]

Did you confirm with a second test kit?

Is your salinity normal?

 

[dcsaquarium]

It's the Red Sea test kit. I'll test again and then try to get another test kit I guess.

 

[dcsaquarium]

Yeah salinity is normal but have not tested with another kit yet

 

[rworegon]

I use the Red Sea Mag test also. I've never had an issue with it. You do need to drop, swirl for 15 sec, drop swirl for 15 seconds, etc with the "A" reagent before adding the "B" reagent, and then swirl for another one minute I think. Then titrate reagent "C" until you get the end point color. Not sure how you would get no result. It's not a color match, its amount of reagent used to achieve end point color.

 

[duke4130]

I would go out and buy a salifert test kit. The reason your Cal is so high is because your Alk and Mag are too low. They all have to be up to proper specs for all of them to be used by the corals. The Cal will continue to stay that high until your Alk and Mag have been lifted. Then your parameters will all start to drop together.

 

[dcsaquarium]

It's not a color match issue. It was just reading so low that there was no corresponding number.

 

[rworegon]

So you are saying that you get to the end point color, dark blue/purple after only a very small amount of the "c" reagent?