Salifert Magnesium Testing very high?

[Bitcoin Reefer]

Want to make sure I'm doing Salifert test right. In past it showed around 1300, now today I'm using over the full 1ml, used an extra .05ml, so if converted linearly which isn't even on the chart. I think I'm at 1575. When I pull the 1ml plunger 3rd step to 1ml line, the air bubble is at .8ml. A guy on YouTube said it should be at .85ml. Anyone know what this should be?

Other tank readings:

Nitrate .3
Phosphate .01
Calcium 380
PH 8.1
Alk 7
Salinity 1.0257
Temp 78.9

I want to dose my 2 part b-ionic calc/alk and/or All-For-Reef by Tropic Marin to get my Calcium and Alk up a bit, but I think they both have magnesium, so am I stuck? Any thoughts on what to do if my Magnesium is this high? Is it serious concern? I have one Zoa closed up and one Lobophyllia receding to skeleton in parts, so trying to understand what's going on in tank. All the rest of my coral, over 10 coral all look really good. I have thread going about the dying Lobo here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coral-dying.922309/page-2#post-10372489

Thanks everyone!

 

[Bitcoin Reefer]

I only dose those two btw, and in pretty small amounts as you can see from my low calc and alk. I do 100 gallon water change once a month on 300 gallon + 40 gal sump

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It cannot rise like that without dosing huge amounts, so one or both measurements are error.

 

[X-37B]

.85 is right when filling the 1ml. Go behond the 1 and then back down to 1. It should always be .85. Make sure the pink tip is submerged the whole time you draw.

 

[jhuntstl]

Did you forget the 4 or 5 drips from the dropper? I made this mistake once and it showed a high mag result.

 

[Bitcoin Reefer]

Did you forget the 4 or 5 drips from the dropper? I made this mistake once and it showed a high mag result.

Yes I did do the 5 drops. Thanks!

 

[Bitcoin Reefer]

.85 is right when filling the 1ml. Go behond the 1 and then back down to 1. It should always be .85. Make sure the pink tip is submerged the whole time you draw.

Ok I redid with .85 bubble, and now read 1500.

 

[X-37B]

Thats good news. It will go down on its own slowly.
I keep my 3 systsems at 1300-1350.

 

[Bitcoin Reefer]

It cannot rise like that without dosing huge amounts, so one or both measurements are error.

Oh I missed this reply Randy. Hmmm. Ok. Well I could buy another Magnesium test kit like a Hanna, or I do have a water test kit I bought and have been waiting to send in water sample to lab. I forget the name of it, in bed at the moment. Are salifert mag tests off often?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oh I missed this reply Randy. Hmmm. Ok. Well I could buy another Magnesium test kit like a Hanna, or I do have a water test kit I bought and have been waiting to send in water sample to lab. I forget the name of it, in bed at the moment. Are salifert mag tests off often?

Salifert is generally a decent brand of kit, but magnesium kits in general are often problematic for folks. Not sure why.

I wouldn't stress over it too much, but i would use the kit on some new salt water and see what you get.

 

[billyocean]

IMO the aquaforest mag test kit is the easiest to use and accurate. It's inexpensive as well. For what it's worth I've always kept my mag about 1500. Going too much more than that can effect inverts.

 

[PatW]

Salifert is generally a decent brand of kit, but magnesium kits in general are often problematic for folks. Not sure why.

I wouldn't stress over it too much, but i would use the kit on some new salt water and see what you get.

I have tried a number of magnesium tests and I am not convinced that any of them are really worth a darn. I always seem to get high readings of just about 1500 even though my salt mix is about 1350. I use salifert because their tests are decent and cheap. I figure that even if it is off (and I think it is), it will warn me if something is WAAAAY OFFFF.