Salifert MG kit

[radone]

Has anyone experienced any high readings from the new kits

I have one that no matter what I do it constantly gives me 1500 and I know that is not right.

The kit I'm using is dated 11-2009 and the batch is 1106C

I sure hope someone else is experiencing this :rolleyes:

[Icefire]

Dilute the tank water with 50% RODI, it should give you 750..

Hope Salifert didn't screw all the test kit like the alk one.

[bertoni]

I think using two syringes and adding the results is fine, as well. Have you tried some freshly-mixed saltwater? If so, what brand of salt?

[mavgi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10065179#post10065179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
Dilute the tank water with 50% RODI, it should give you 750..

Hope Salifert didn't screw all the test kit like the alk one.

they did , i test 2 new calcium test kit and i read 800ppm compre my other 2 test kit 450ppm.

[Billybeau1]

radone, the mag kit I am using is the same date as yours. I have no problems. Please answer Bertoni's questions if you want help. If the color does not change after a full syringe, then you should draw another 1 ml and dose until the color does change. Then add the value of the second syringe to 1500. I'll bet you use Oceanic ?

What salt mix and have you mixed up a batch to test and at what s.g. ?

magvi, I'm not all convinced yet that the alk kits are messed up. I just got a new one and it reads just like my old one. What were the years of exp date for the supposed bad alk tests ? I've just begun to here rumblings about this and want to understand who and what batches are having problems.

[mavgi]

i didn't test new alk and don't want to try now after things will be clear . the calcium that i test was dated: 11-2011 and i check 2 box .
i am not sure about the alk but you can read here i think it's the same date on the test kit where the complain start to shown

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1117617

my mag (new box ) dated 11-2008 but this test accurate.

[Roy G. Biv]

Dont mean to hijack, but my question is similar. In my test kit, it gives you calculations to calculate magnesium. Does this make sense to anyone?

Calcium (Ca2+) x 2.5 = Calcium Hardness (CaCO3)
General Hardness - Calcium Hardness = Magnesium Hardness
Magnesium Hardness / 4.1 = Magnesium mg/L Mg2+

By doing this calculation there appears to always be magnesium in the water even without specifically adding it.

[bertoni]

That sounds reasonable, but general hardness tests are impractical for saltwater, since the hardness is extremely high. If general hardness matches calcium hardness, there isn't any magnesium in the water.

[Saldarya]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10066714#post10066714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
radone, the mag kit I am using is the same date as yours. I have no problems. Please answer Bertoni's questions if you want help. If the color does not change after a full syringe, then you should draw another 1 ml and dose until the color does change. Then add the value of the second syringe to 1500. I'll bet you use Oceanic ?

What salt mix and have you mixed up a batch to test and at what s.g. ?

magvi, I'm not all convinced yet that the alk kits are messed up. I just got a new one and it reads just like my old one. What were the years of exp date for the supposed bad alk tests ? I've just begun to here rumblings about this and want to understand who and what batches are having problems.

Got a new Alk kit 2 days ago with a date of 04-2012. This tests read +.8 meq/L over my older kit (which I still have some left so I can test side by side at the same time). THe old test is dated 05-2011.

I think there is an issue, but for me is was merely an inconvinence as I was able to figure the difference and just subtract the difference.

[Billybeau1]

Sal, Just my luck..... I ordered a new Salifert Alk kit to check on this issue (received it last week) and wouldn't you know it, the NEW test kit I got was dated 10-2010.

Guess they had a surplus. And it matched my previous test kit to a tee.

So I'm at a loss on this one. Been seeing a lot of complaints though :confused:

I'll stay on it. :)

[HowardW]

I also recently purchased a Salifert Mag kit and think my test results read way too high, close to 1500 on 2 seperate tanks. :confused:

I was going to question these readings over on the Salifert forum but noticed they are not responding to threads over there and quite a few people seem to have issues.

[radone]

I do add the results from one draw to another but I don't believe my MG is 1500. I'm using IO so that should tell you it's not that high.
I haven't tried freshly made but I will this week

I did compare mine to a friends and it seems about right on his system. I'm going to let it come down some before I start dosing Mg again. Just have to stay faithful on water changes for now.

The test kit I bought was in a CU box but was marked as being an Mg kit All my bottles are of the 1106 batch

Thanks for the replies

[msn711]

I also recently got an 1106 batch, and I use IO salt. I just set up my new tank, and as to be expected, the IO (in the tank, after a week or so of running) tested at 1155. I think this is to be expected with IO, so I don't think there's any reason to doubt the results. Same thing with my new alk and calcium kits. Typical low IO numbers - 2.97 meq/l or 8.3 and 350 calcium. Oh and my mag kit was also in a cu box.

[AJtheReefer]

interesting thread. I just ordered a Salifert MG kit. Will report back on my testing once I get it

[Aquarist007]

a mute point but there is little to no evidence that a 1500 magnesium level has an effect on anything except your pocket book if you are trying to maintain it at that :)

[radone]

capn,

No I'm not trying to maintain it my problem is with the test kit, just wanting to get some other feedback and find out if this was just a bad test kit or not

I don't keep Mg at 1500 but rather aim for1300 to 1400
actually I've noticed better growth in my system if it is lower but I'm experimenting to see what works best. :cool: