Magnessium Test Kits vs ICP

[wes urquhart]

I was wondering if anyone had some anecdotal data regarding their hobby Magnesium test kits vs ICP data. I just sent a sample in to icp-analysis and found my results to be way off. My Salifert kit was saying around 1210ppm and the ICP came back at 1315ppm. Now to be fair to Salifert, my kit is a year and a half expired so I'm just going to go on the assumption that my test kit is bad. But now I'm looking for a new Hobby kit and was wondering if we have some data regarding the various test kits and their accuracy vs ICP.

 

[RobZilla04]

Hobby grade test kits accuracy are "ballpark" at best. Yours being a year and a half expired doesn't help, but once you get another kit test and resend to ICP to compare results. Adjust level(s) if necessary, but then shoot for consistency with regard to test kit results. Ensure you test the same way each time and clean/store the testing equipment correctly.

 

[money88]

I am also curious as to others opinions on this, as I have seen my Red Sea to test what I believe to be consistently high (1600 which is the top bound for that test kit) while using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals

 

[Richards_reef]

I had the same problem. My salifert test kit was always saying I was 1100 to 1200 range. I overdosed mag to an extreme level with Kent tech-m and it was still showing 1100-1200. I bought a red sea test kit and checked again, this time it was off the chart high.

I threw away the salifert kit. The one good thing that came from this is that I haven't had bryopsis since lol.

 

[madweazl]

I use the Salifert kit for magnesium and it has been pretty close to the four ICP results I have (two were within 10ppm IIRC).

Edit: Looked through my notes and build thread and found the following results:

Salifert 1350 Triton 1356
Salifert 1335 Triton 1371
Salifert 1365 Triton 1364
Salifert 1350 ATI 1426

 

[RobZilla04]

I am also curious as to others opinions on this, as I have seen my Red Sea to test what I believe to be consistently high (1600 which is the top bound for that test kit) while using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals

Compare Red Sea to another test kit or get a full lab analysis performed on the water.

 

[SPR1968]

I always used to use Red Sea Magnesium and believed my magnesium levels were around 1500 so always high.

I had a triton ICP test a few weeks ago and the only area of concern was low magnesium at around 1220!

I purchased the NYOS Magnesium test kit and it matched virtually exactly. I also purchased the NYOS Calcium and that was the same.

The Red Sea kits all went in the bin we’re they will stay.

 

[Hubtech]

I'm glad i'm seeing this. I just got my ICP in. Mag 1199. Red Sea Pro tests it at >1600. . . tested twice

 

[jsker]

The Red Sea kits all went in the bin we’re they will stay.

+1 except for the nitrate test.

 

[AdamNC]

All those that are testing with Red Sea Mag tests, are you cleaning your vials with vinegar or a citric acid, q-tip wipe out and a RO/DI rinse before every test? I’ve yet in 4 years had an issue with the Red Sea Mag kits reading too high or too low. Granted they are not ICP grade but imo one of the better hobby kits to use.

 

[AdamNC]

The consistency of my tests

 

[Richards_reef]

I have no problem with them. I clean the vials with a paper towel after rinsing with ro water. I stuff the whole paper towel inside of it and twist. It seems to get any residue off that the RO water doesn't get.