Magnesium off the Charts!

[patsheridan]

Been noticing problems with some of my corals (mostly LPS and softies, but a couple of plate corals), and tested Calc., Alk. and Mag tonight. Alk. is about 10.4 dKH, Calc. is 420-430, but the Mag. does not even register. No color change with full syringe of titrant used. Using Red Sea for all three.

What is happening? AAAAAGH . . .

 

[scardall]

take sample to LFS to confirm magnesium level

 

[redfishbluefish]

Just a quick check.....you are adding 5 drops of Reagent A, separated by 15 seconds each? It's a common error in doing the test.

 

[Abusfullofnuns]

Yep. I ws making that mistake for a few tests when I got that kit. May not be the case here, but I was definitely guilty.

 

[patsheridan]

The way I have been doing it, and the way I read it, is 1 drop, shake 15 seconds, 2nd drop, shake 15 seconds, etc. until a total of 5 drops have been added. This is how I've been doing it, and have always gotten what seem to be correct readings. Until tonight. This coupled with the decline of some of the corals suggests something is wrong.

 

[Breadman03]

The way I have been doing it, and the way I read it, is 1 drop, shake 15 seconds, 2nd drop, shake 15 seconds, etc. until a total of 5 drops have been added. This is how I've been doing it, and have always gotten what seem to be correct readings. Until tonight. This coupled with the decline of some of the corals suggests something is wrong.

You're doing it the correct way. Read the direction manual, not just the quick reference card

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just add a second syringe of titrant to get to the endpoint, and add the values together. It may not be high enough to worry about.

Also, if it is the Red Sea kit, many folks have problems with it and appear to get excessively high readings.

 

[Fitzreefer]

As others said. Take a sample to your LFS. Don't hesitate. I had a RS Mg kit that was reading that I was at 1600 when I was really at 800.

 

[jason2459]

I highly suggest getting a different Mg test kit. My preference is Salifert.

I have had extremely wild results with multiple Red Sea Mg kits. I have also coordinated some testing with another member with some very interesting results(which I'm awaiting some ICP testing results to come back before a full write up is done).

Summary though is that it is not a reliable kit at this time. Red Sea's other test kits seem just fine from what I've tested.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/big-3-...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/