Test kit results wonky

Lowstorm · Nov 16, 2016

Hi! So I did a test on my tank tonight, and all the results are messed up. I did fry my tank over a month ago ago via refugium light falling in, but that doesn't explain anything. And my corals that survived with damage are mostly okay. Zoanthids are partially closed, but I moved them into a more shaded area and they've opened. New corals are okay. Everything LOOKS fine, and lps are recovering tissue lost from the electric episode.
So all these were tested via salifert test kits. Expiration date is 2018-2020 for some of the kits.

NO3: 5
NO2: 0
CA: 410
(normal so far, right)
Mg; 1500+ (I did 2 syringes of test stuff, came out with 2000!!!)
PH: 7.7
KH: 9.4 dKH
Alk: 3.42
PO4: 0.0
I did the mg test twice to the same results. I do NOT dose. I didn't do a water change for a monthish, did one last week with io reef crystals.

Do I go with what my corals say, which is everything is okay? I can't afford new kits atm. Fish are happy, have 2 black foot clowns and one yellow tang in a 125 gallon. Feed 2x a week. I do have some minor algae issues that the tang is destroying happily. He's kinda fat now!

If not, how do I even lower the mg?!?! I'll be doing a water change tomorrow. But I don't even know what the heck is going on honestly.

Fitzreefer · Nov 16, 2016

I'd question the test kit. I have had more problems with Mag test kits than I did with others. I had an RS Mg kit off by 800 ppm high. Switch to Elos and tested good, bought a Salifert when The Elos ran out (I use Salifert for Alk and Ca), same problem you have. Switched back to Elos, everything is fine. Just my experience. But, evidence that kits can be way off. Yes, trust your corals, but verify results by bringing a sample to the LFS and have them test it. Get a new kit if it is off by a large margin.

Lowstorm · Nov 16, 2016

My lfs is a joke, no use bringing anything there. I'll ask the local club if anyone can do a mg test, and Maybe Alk too

120reefkeeper · Nov 16, 2016

Ya I'd question that mag kit.... not saying that your to blame but a lot of folks have issues with mag test for some reason. Usually it's user error some how. I've had it happen to me too. I'd get a buddy to test it for ya to confirm.

Fitzreefer · Nov 16, 2016

I've read about others having problems specifically RS mag kits. I trust Salifert for my kH and Ca, so I bought their Mg kit with high expectations, but had the same crazy results you had. Trust me. Not user error. I like RS and Salifert products, so I wonder if there are downstream supply chain impacts (like where it was stored, did it sit on a hot tarmac somewhere, did it freeze, etc) that may have negative impact the test kits. So, thoughts are that you might pick 2 kits off the shelf 1 good 1 bad...just a theory. I am in Pharma distribution and have seen a multitude of issues in transport related to temp impacts on liquid finished goods pharmaceuticals, which are chemical solutions not unlike test solutions. So, not a far stretch in my mind that there could be similar problems if proper care isn't taken in the supply chain.

Lowstorm · Nov 16, 2016

Yeah, I know it's not me. I was using the test kits before and was running 1350 or so. Since I'm not dosing for now I'm just going to assume all is well. Especially since corals are healing and growing in my tank.

Rybren · Nov 16, 2016

Just curious, what salt mix are you using and did you recently change brands?

FWIW, I use the Salifert mag test and get consistent, reasonable results. Whether they are correct is a whole other story, but without a reference solution, we'll never know whether any of the test results are correct.

Lowstorm · Nov 17, 2016

I did change back to io from brightwell aquatics. I started with io, reef crystals but brightwell is a bit spendy so I'm back to io. But brightwell doesn't have high mg either, and I can't see that causing high mg like I have readings of.

And yes, I've always have good luck with salifert test kits too

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 17, 2016

Unless you've been dosing calcium and alkalinity without magnesium for a substantial period of time, the magneisum is going to reflect what came in the salt mix and generally is not much of a concern.