whos good with magnesium testing?

[laurabolyard]

Ive been suspicious that my mg might be low. I know very little about the testing. I had LFS do it so they could show me, but I am still confused
I dont know how much variation there is between test kits, but for the levels to be the same as sea water, it should take 23 drops in the jar to turn from pink to blue. Mine turned blue in 17 drops, I am obviously low, but I dont know HOW low. Multiplied by 2.74 () gives 46.58, now what? Anyone know how low I actually am?

[lReef lKeeper]

mag. should be about 1350 mg/L. what type of test do you have ??

[laurabolyard]

LFS is out of kits, they only had one they use for customers. Its the only one they carry, white box, mermaid on front, about $30. The figure above needs an amount subtracted from it. It was way too confusing, Itt appears that I am 6 parts of 23 parts low!

[lReef lKeeper]

i dont know what test they are using, but i have to recommend that you get your own, lol. i LOVE my Seachem Mag. test kit, and highly recommend it to you or anyone looking for a good Magnesium test kit.

Reef Aquarium Test Kits: Seachem Reef Status Magnesium & Carbonate/Borate Alkalinity Test Kit

[laurabolyard]

that kit actually looks really good AND tests alk AND less money than the mermaild!! Is THIS one 23 drops to change from pink to blue? Yes, still trying to figure out a number!!

[lReef lKeeper]

the seachem kit uses 2 titrants to determine the mag. level of the tested water. this test also turns from pink to purple to blue, so it changes color three times.

sorry i cant really be of much more help, but i am thinking that the 2 kits do not work the same. IIRC, my kit usually takes 12-13 mg/L, so if you empty the syringe 1 time your mag level is 1250 mg/L. i usually have to fill the syringe a second time to get the total color change from purple to blue.

[Amphibious]

Laura, I also use the Seachem test kit. I would recommend you getting it from Drs F&S and not the one at the LFS. Wish we had thought about it last Sunday. We had a sample of your water in the container that you brought your worms in. By the way do you want that container back?

[laurabolyard]

WOW!! Youre right!!!

Well, I just checked another LFS, no seachem, mermaid again

Do I have to get that one online? Well. at least I know that I AM low, and I must have already been low before I began using nsw about 6-8 months ago. I think once I get my levels up, the water changes SHOULD be enough, but I will definately have to check it regularly until I know.

[Amphibious]

The Sea Chem test kit is a quality test kit. Not something your average LFS is going to handle, yet the cheapies they handle cost as much. Could it be profit motivation? I think so.

Drs F&S have it in stock along with the Salifert Mag test kit. Both are good. If you go to Drs F&S please use this link - Doctor's Foster and Smith. I've been accepted as a referral agent with them. I get a small stipend for referral's purchases. Once there just click on "Aquarium Supplies" in the left hand column and then on "Testing Equipment" down toward the bottom of that page. Both Sea Chem and Salifert kits are on that page.

Originally Posted by laurabolyard

I think once I get my levels up, the water changes SHOULD be enough, but I will definately have to check it regularly until I know.

You would think that to be true however, Mag is like Calcium during the absorbtion of Calcium, Mag gets used up too. So, if you change 10% of your water your only adding a small amount of Mag and Calcium back into the water. That's why you have to test and supplement with additives. I also use NSW but supplement Calcium, Alk/Ph and Magnesium regularly. In my case it's daily because of the high demand my tank mates put on those chemicals.

By the way, I went to Orlando to their club frag auction last night. WOW, did I come home with some bargains. A RBTA for $45, Superman Monti frag $15 (Both Steals), 3 frags of Orange Monti Caps $12, A huge bright blue tip Acropora $27, another large one for $20, an Aussie acan Lord frag with 6 polyps for $35 (easily a $100 coral), a Red Sea Xenia colony $10 (looking kind of frumpy like most transfered Xenia), and a Blasto Merleti (red with green centers). Really a great group of reefers there. I've been a member since I moved to FL. Very active club. I'll post pics on my tank thread soon. Need to let things settle in.

Thanks

Dick

[CarmieJo]

It's unanimous, I use the SeaChem kit too! Let me see if we have any discs for the camcorder and I can make a video of how it works.