camnbron Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I have recently started using this manufacturers magnesium test kit. I have been using their KH/Alk kit for a while with no issues. So I understand how to read the numbers on the syringe - that is not the issue. My test results for the three times I have used this kit have been 1500ppm/1500ppm+ For water changes I use Natural salt water - so I would expect this to lower not raise the magnesium level. I use Epsom Salts or Seachems Reef advantage magnesium for raising magnesium (am going to move to Magnesium Chloride). The part of the test I am unsure of is - the measuring spoon. I measure 1 level spoon, is it supposed to be heaped? I've searched the internet, including the salifert website, but cannot find an answer. Could this be the problem or is my kit dodgy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 The spoon should be level, not heaped. 1500 is not unheard of, especially if salinity is a little high. Or, if you are dosing more Mg than is used, it will build up. I'd get a sample of water checked by some other reefer or an LFS just to be sure, but your kit is likely telling the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 When I use the Phosphate one, I wipe the 'mound' off the top of the spoon with the inside of the bottle so that it is, in fact, level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camnbron Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Cheers guys, My SG is a little high and Calcium was also a little low, so I will adjust those at the same time and then retest this evening. Just had to check about the spoon thing - just in case. :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I use a level spoon, but if it is heaped it does not make a much difference. where did you get the test kits from? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camnbron Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I purchased it from petplanet in auckland while I was visiting family about a month ago. It has a yellow sticker with 09-2010 on it (expiry date?) Also the batch numbers are: Mg-1 0807-F Mg-2 0807-H Mg-3 0807-B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I have the same batch and haven't had any problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Should be ok. As mentioned nsw can be that high. Once you dose magaesium in your tank wait a few days before testing as it can take a few days for levels to rise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camnbron Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Cheers Davidb, Looks like the issue is me! I'll see how my test goes this evening when my SG and Ca is corrected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 My Mg has been floating above 1500 for about a month and a half now, no ill effects. Seemed to skyrocket when I started using the Red Sea Pro Coral Salt. Now that i've stopped using it its slowly coming back down again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangtastic Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 My Salifert test kit read 1500+ the first couple of times I tested with it. Was always around 1300-1400 with a JBL test kit. Last test was 1460. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 dont' seem to have any problems with my salifert kit, reading around a month ago was 1160 now with mag flake dosing its 1285 so seems to be accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I think the powder is solely the indicator, so all that happens if you over do it is a darker colour. Will still change at the correct point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camnbron Posted March 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Did my testing yesterday. Test result was 1470, so it is slowly creeping down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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