Best Magnesium test kit?

lrhorer · 06/27/2019, 01:52 AM

I have been using the Red Sea Reef Foundation Magnesium test kit, and I find it a bit finicky and tricky to use. In all honesty, I have never been all that great at titration. I am wondering if there is an easier or more sensitive Magnesium test kit out there. What are the experiences of the folks here?

lowtek · 06/27/2019, 02:49 AM

I started out and continue to use Salifert. Very easy. Hardest part is getting a level scoop of the powder. Once you figure that part out, cake. Takes all of 5 minutes.

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cincyjim · 06/27/2019, 01:08 PM

Same here... I use Salifert as well and find it very easy to use.

bertoni · 06/27/2019, 04:39 PM

The Salifert has worked well for me, too.

bnumair · 06/28/2019, 11:21 PM

Honestly all hobby level test kits in the market are not accurate at all but salifert seems to be the easiest one.

billdogg · 06/29/2019, 08:41 AM

I use Salifert for all of my testing as well. Although most of them are fairly tolerant of slight testing inconsistencies, the Mg test really needs to be done exactly how the instructions state.

after adding 5 drops of mg1, swirl for 30 seconds. then add 1 spoon of mg2, swirl for 10 seconds. when adding mg3, with the other tests you can get away with adding about 1/2 a syringe then drop at a time until color change. For the Mg test, I get the most consistent results adding one drop at a time from the beginning until color change.

I use the stopwatch on my phone to time my "swirls".

Using this method I can get very reliable, repeatable results. Like mentioned above, the test kits will not give you laboratory level precision, but they will be consistent and that is really what you need to be concerned with IMO.

hkgar · 07/01/2019, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I use Salifert for all of my testing as well. Although most of them are fairly tolerant of slight testing inconsistencies, the Mg test really needs to be done exactly how the instructions state.

after adding 5 drops of mg1, swirl for 30 seconds. then add 1 spoon of mg2, swirl for 10 seconds. when adding mg3, with the other tests you can get away with adding about 1/2 a syringe then drop at a time until color change. For the Mg test, I get the most consistent results adding one drop at a time from the beginning until color change.

I use the stopwatch on my phone to time my "swirls".

Using this method I can get very reliable, repeatable results. Like mentioned above, the test kits will not give you laboratory level precision, but they will be consistent and that is really what you need to be concerned with IMO.

Salifert has changed the directions on their test. "Add 5 drops Mg-1
Add one spoon of Mg-2 pwder to test vial and swirl for 10 seconds."
Always check directions when obtaining a new test kit. Directions sometimes change.

lrhorer · 07/10/2019, 12:19 AM

Thanks, everyone. I picked up a Salifert Mg test kit, and it is essentially the same as the Red Sea kit, except that the Red Sea kit is a bit fancier with a titrator that is sort of cool. The only other difference is the part B reagent is a powder in the Salifert kit and a pre-mixed solution in the Red Sea kit. The Red Sea kit is quite a bit more expensive, but the refill is about the same cost.

Vinny Kreyling · 07/10/2019, 12:13 PM

You can use the tritrator syringe to level the powder before filling.
OR just keep something in the kit to do it, like a stiff plastic card.

06/27/2019, 01:52 AM	#1
lrhorer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 42	Best Magnesium test kit? I have been using the Red Sea Reef Foundation Magnesium test kit, and I find it a bit finicky and tricky to use. In all honesty, I have never been all that great at titration. I am wondering if there is an easier or more sensitive Magnesium test kit out there. What are the experiences of the folks here?

06/27/2019, 01:08 PM	#3
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	Same here... I use Salifert as well and find it very easy to use. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System

06/27/2019, 04:39 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The Salifert has worked well for me, too. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/28/2019, 11:21 PM	#5
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	Honestly all hobby level test kits in the market are not accurate at all but salifert seems to be the easiest one. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

06/29/2019, 08:41 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I use Salifert for all of my testing as well. Although most of them are fairly tolerant of slight testing inconsistencies, the Mg test really needs to be done exactly how the instructions state. after adding 5 drops of mg1, swirl for 30 seconds. then add 1 spoon of mg2, swirl for 10 seconds. when adding mg3, with the other tests you can get away with adding about 1/2 a syringe then drop at a time until color change. For the Mg test, I get the most consistent results adding one drop at a time from the beginning until color change. I use the stopwatch on my phone to time my "swirls". Using this method I can get very reliable, repeatable results. Like mentioned above, the test kits will not give you laboratory level precision, but they will be consistent and that is really what you need to be concerned with IMO. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

06/27/2019, 02:49 AM	#2
lowtek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 111	I started out and continue to use Salifert. Very easy. Hardest part is getting a level scoop of the powder. Once you figure that part out, cake. Takes all of 5 minutes. Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

07/10/2019, 12:19 AM	#8
lrhorer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 42	Thanks, everyone. I picked up a Salifert Mg test kit, and it is essentially the same as the Red Sea kit, except that the Red Sea kit is a bit fancier with a titrator that is sort of cool. The only other difference is the part B reagent is a powder in the Salifert kit and a pre-mixed solution in the Red Sea kit. The Red Sea kit is quite a bit more expensive, but the refill is about the same cost.

07/10/2019, 12:13 PM	#9
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	You can use the tritrator syringe to level the powder before filling. OR just keep something in the kit to do it, like a stiff plastic card. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.