mag WAY TOO LOW

[saltyfins]

this is my 125
salinity: 1.024
ph:7.8
Phos: 0.3
nitrite: >.05
nitrate: reading 0
Alk: 9
Temp: 77
but magnesium...is like 30 (salifert) it took 1 cc and .02 more to make the test go blue. I dont have a calcium tester yet, but amazon says today. Last summer it was 500
why would my magnesium bottom out? I dosed 20ml of seachem mag this am, so hopefully it'll help. I did a 40 gallon water change on Sunday, and scraped algae off the glass.
I honestly cannot understand the threads of chemistry, though I try, but I was hopeful someone could help me with this. inhabitants appear ok... but no real growth.
this is after lights on, and I will try to get better shots. this is white lights on also.
getting ready for an adoption today, so I will be on and off until then.
any help is appreciated. Tank is a year old, but just the actual tank. this has been going for 15 yrs...but was all fish until 2 yrs ago.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Test error. No other possibility. It is never ever that low.

You seem to be reading the kit backward.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Are you testing for magnesium or calcium?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you added 1 mL, the value for magnesium is 1500 ppm. Stop adding any. lol

 

[saltyfins]

Test error. No other possibility. It is never ever that low.

You seem to be reading the kit backward.

ok, this is a brand new test kit, I just received yesterday Salifert. so, what should I do then? the LFS use API...and do not even test for this. figured a new test would be more accurate.

 

[saltyfins]

Test error. No other possibility. It is never ever that low.

You seem to be reading the kit backward.

it uses the whole syringe, and .02 more of a 2nd one, before the change in color. can you suggest what I should do different? what your saying makes sense... especially with doing consistent water changes. I don't want to over do something.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Your test kit is working just fine, you are simply interpreting the results backwards.

if you used 1.02 ml of reagent to get the color change, then your magnesium is at 1530, not 30.

 

[saltyfins]

Your test kit is working just fine, you are simply interpreting the results backwards.

if you used 1.02 ml of reagent to get the color change, then your magnesium is at 1530, not 30.

oh geeze. ok so that's high then?

 

[LeftyReefer]

Yes. its high. You've been adding magnesium thinking it was low, but it was high. You were reading your test results backwards.

 

[Duffer]

It's on the high side and i would also get some nitrates in your tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Salifert has done a poor job with this kit.

Way too many people make this mistake.

Habib: Rewrite the directions!

 

[LeftyReefer]

If you look at the chart, if you add a full 1 ml to get the color change, then MG would be at 1500.
if you add .50 ml to get the color change, then it would be 750.
if you add .02 ml to get the color change, then it would be 30.

You needed more than the full 1ml, so your magnesium is above 1500 currently.

Regardless, its certainly not low, so that is why Randy said to stop adding any more.

Its probably fine to just let it drop on its own, but doing a water change would certainly help bring it back in line.

 

[saltyfins]

It's on the high side and i would also get some nitrates in your tank

yes, I am trying to do that as well. I am dosing NeoNitro

 

[saltyfins]

If you look at the chart, if you add a full 1 ml to get the color change, then MG would be at 1500.
if you add .50 ml to get the color change, then it would be 750.
if you add .02 ml to get the color change, then it would be 30.

You needed more than the full 1ml, so your magnesium is above 1500 currently.

Regardless, its certainly not low, so that is why Randy said to stop adding any more.

Its probably fine to just let it drop on its own, but doing a water change would certainly help bring it back in line.

Thank you! I only added some today, because I wanted to be sure what it was, before dosing. I am going to be mixing more water today...and doing another change. I added 5 ml this am. omg I cannot believe this. I will try doing this test again, and follow your directions LeftyReefer. that does make sense. Randy is so smart, he makes MY head hurt! lol
Chemistry was never my strong suit clearly

 

[saltyfins]

Salifert has done a poor job with this kit.

Way too many people make this mistake.

Habib: Rewrite the directions!

Randy, that can goof up way too many tanks if this is a common thing! fortunatley I only dosed 1 time, 5ml today. I was waiting for my test to show up, and I ran that test 3 times. clearly all wrong. thanks so much for your help