Magnesium kit recommendation?

edsbeaker · Jul 21, 2023

Thank you for emphasizing the X 5 step!

OP… like above says check to see if you are doing it correctly. When I was doing this test after a long vacation from having a reef tank, I missed the step that said add 1 drop, shake for 15 seconds X 5 times… I only did it once. My test, when doing correctly was perfect.

Miami Reef · Jul 22, 2023

Yes, I do the 5(1 drop/shake 15 sec) for the Red Sea. It still read way too high.

The salifert test read about 1,400-1440ppm, which is also way too high. Yes, I’m doing the test kit 100% correctly. I rinse my vials out with RO and then saltwater 3x. I properly measure my syringes etc.

My last ICP on May 2023 showed my magnesium was at 1281

I don’t dose magnesium at all. My salinity is at 1.026, and I only do water changes once a week and dose balling which only maintains magnesium to offset the sodium chloride creep.

exnisstech · Jul 22, 2023

Miami Reef said:
My last ICP on May 2023 showed my magnesium was at 1281

I would not be 100% confident in the accuracy of icp. I sent 2 tests in with samples of RODI taken from the same brute container at the same time and received totally different results.

As far as test kits I use salifert for ca and mag and Hanna for alk, trates and phos.

Acros · Jul 22, 2023

To add to the above comment, magnesium can be especially wrong on ICP test. Due to this, some companies even use a different method for magnesium.

lovemysps00 · Aug 6, 2023

edsbeaker said:
Thank you for emphasizing the X 5 step!

OP… like above says check to see if you are doing it correctly. When I was doing this test after a long vacation from having a reef tank, I missed the step that said add 1 drop, shake for 15 seconds X 5 times… I only did it once. My test, when doing correctly was perfect.

Out of curiosity, how much of a difference if I add 5 drops and shake 65 seconds vs 1 drop 15 seconds - 5 times

blaxsun · Aug 6, 2023

My Red Sea magnesium test came in high - as did my new Hanna magnesium checker. When my Red Sea eventually runs out I think I'll get a Nyos magnesium (since the nitrate and phosphate kits are really good).