Red Sea Magnesium Pro Test Kit HACK

[Miami Reef]

Hi guys. I was procrastinating about testing my magnesium because the Red Sea test kit is pretty complicated. Anyone who has done this test probably knows the struggle of forgetting how many drops they already put because you have to count for 15 seconds for each drop and do that cycle for 5 times.

Here is the instructions card:

Here’s what I did:

I preformed 2 tests. One by following the exact instructions. And the second one was to add all 5 drops at once. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds, and continue with the test.

The results were EXACTLY the same. 66ml used. Or 1320ppm magnesium.

Im dumbfounded on why Red Sea wanted us to have this whole complicated procedure when results were the same.

The only thing I noticed from my Hack version was that the vial had more bubbles…but the color change was the same!

Magnesium is an element which doesn’t need to be at a certain level. It has a wide range from 1280 to 1500.

If anyone wants to try this hack method and compare it to the standard instructions, I’d be curious if anyone has different results from the 2 versions.

I’m ashamed to admit how many times I had to restart the magnesium test because of how I forgot how many drops I added. Turns out keeping score and counting to 15 seconds is really difficult unless you have a paper on the side to tally each drop off.

 

[SPR1968]

Its notoriously difficult and in my case inaccurate and went in the bin years ago.

I now use the NYOS which is very simple and accurate to Triton tests

like you say its just so complicated and as such prone to errors

 

[Oldsman]

Very interesting..ill have to try this later. Ill admit the same issues w losing track, usually just making tick mark on card after each drop

 

[Nemoreef]

This needs more responses. Please anyone else try this?

 

[ingchr1]

I havent tried putting all drops in at once, but what I do is set my timer for 1 minute, add the first drop, start the timer, then add a drop every 15 seconds. Fifth drop is when the timer hits zero. I also have the sample in a stirrer, I use the SR Aquaristik Speed Test.

 

[FernBluffReef]

I usually put two drops in, shake add two more shake and add the last one. No idea I if problematic or not….


The add one, shake add another shake, repeat. I just can’t do.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There’s nothing problematic about adding nearly all of the titrant all at once in any type of titration test up to just before the endpoint, as long as one does not go faster than the chemistry can keep up in those final additions.

 

[piranhaman00]

Why not use salifert?

 

[Nemoreef]

There’s nothing problematic about adding nearly all of the titrant all at once in any type of titration test up to just before the endpoint, as long as one does not go faster than the chemistry can keep up in those final additions.

So in this case, just mix it for 60 seconds after adding 5 drops? That makes it a lot easier. Thank you.

 

[Nemoreef]

Why not use salifert?

Bought the whole kit and I love the alk and Calcium by redsea. They are really close to Trident readings except for Mg, and I am trying to do tank water calibration for Trident since it keeps failing when I try the calibration solution.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So in this case, just mix it for 60 seconds after adding 5 drops? That makes it a lot easier. Thank you.

Whatever time the kit says is enough time for the last steps, even if you rush forward.

 

[Miami Reef]

I created this thread a few years ago to make testing magnesium with the Red Sea kit easier.

However, the ultimate hack is to NEVER TEST MAGNESIUM!!!

My life has been so much better ever since tossing out those stupid test kits.

Thread 'Just say NO to magnesium testing: RMM is born'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/