Is my test kit bad? help with Salifert Mg test kit pls

[snowmansnow]

I've had it about 4 months and never been able to use it... it is the Salifert Mg test kit.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Salifert_Magnesium_Test_Kit_Specialty_Test_Kits_for_Saltwater_Aquariums-Salifert-SF1125-FITKSI-4-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/Salifert_Magnesium_Test_Kit_Specialty_Test_Kits_for_Saltwater_Aquariums-Salifert-SF1125-FITKSI-4-vi.html</a>

Does anyone else use this kit?

I follow directions
1- 3ml into vial
2- 6 drops of regent (swirl)
3- spoonful of the dry stuff (swirl)
4- take next regent into syringe and start adding drops

the thing is that my vial NEVER seems to turn color.. I can put the ENTIRE syringe of regent in there and NO CHANGE.

Does this mean my Mg is REALLY low or REALLY high?

If I ever DO get a change how do I read the syringe. It is marked in 0,1ml. how does that relate to mg lvls?

if someone could explain this to me i would be eternally thankful.

B

 

[tgray3]

Never used the Salifert, but a full syringe of reagent on a Seachem kit equals 1250ppm. I always have to refill the syringe and continue to drip it in as my Mg runs 1350 to 1375ppm at the lowest. How many ppm does it say a full syringe of reagent is? could be you have the same situation.

.1ml on the seachem is 125ppm and smaller marks are 12.5ppm if that helps. Somewhere in the directions it should state how many ppm the marks are.

 

[acroholic]

My Salifert test kit is new, with expiration date of 05/2012. My instructions are nothing like this.

My instructions:
1. 2 ml water into vial
2. add 4 drops Mg-1 and swirl gently 30 seconds.
3. add one spoonful of Mg-2 powder (spoon inside) to the test vial and swirl for 10 seconds.
4. place the plastic tip firmly on the 1 ml syrings and draw into this Mg-3 reagant until the lower end of the black syringe part is at the 1.00 ml mark. Ensure that during this the plastic tip is submerged in the Mg-3 reagant to avoid that air bubbles are withdrawn instead of liquid.

An air layer between the liquid and the piston is normal.......and will not influence the result

5. Start adding the Mg-3 with the 1.00 ml. syringe to the test vial until the color changes to a gray or blue (whichever is observed first). Do this drop wise and swirl after each drop for a second or two.

6. Then after the color change, compare the reading of the syringe to the table. (my summary of step 6).


Ae you operating off instructions that came with your kit, or did you get these off the web? I found the same set you posted on the web. Salifert must have changed their instructions at some point. Is your kit brand new? Does it have an expiration date on it?

I'd guess either your kit is old and the reagants are bad, or you have a newer kit and are using old instructions. If you repeat your test using the intructions I posted and give me the reading on the syringe plumger after the color change in step 5, I'll give you the mag level.

If your test kit is good and you do the test correctly, if you end up adding 1.0 ml and you still get no color change, then your mag level is 1500+. When I was using Tech M for bryopsis, I raised my mag to 2000, I would use 1 ml of the reagent 3 and just add it to the tube, then draw up another and finish the job. You take the amount for the second and add it to 1500 to get the mag level.
Dave

 

[snowmansnow]

the syringe STARTS at 0,1 (NOT 0.1) and ENDS with 0,1! I just don't dig how to read this thing. I don't dose Mg regularly so I doubt it's off the chart. I use SeaChem Reef Salt for water changes.

B

 

[acroholic]

Is the test kit new and what is the expiration date on it?

 

[snowmansnow]

there is a bright sticker on the top that says 09-2011

wow.. maybe I am using old instructions or something!!

 

[acroholic]

You used old instructions for a new instructions test kit. Your test sample is 50% larger than it should be. You'd have a test result giving a much larger than actual mag level.

 

[snowmansnow]

Wow. Glad I figured this out! Really had no way of knowing.

 

[acroholic]

PM me your mailing address. I'll make a copy of my test kit instructions and mail it to you.
Dave

 

[snowmansnow]

R the previous directions correct? If so I can just copy them

 

[acroholic]

SnowManSnow;411678 wrote: R the previous directions correct? If so I can just copy them

You can, but I don't know if the table you are using for the mag level is correct given that the mixing of the reagants is different. Either way is fine. Your choice. The mixing directions I posted are correct.
Dave

 

[snowmansnow]

Pm sent

 

[snowmansnow]

Here is a magnesium table I found. Is it the same? If so don't worry about sending me a copy.

Magnesium Table

Note: If you took 1.5 ml of water in step 1 then multiply the calcium values by 2!

Reading in ml`s (step 6) Magnesium Concentration in ppm
0.00 1500
0.02 1470
0.04 1440
0.06 1410
0.08 1380
0.10 1350
0.12 1320
0.14 1290
0.16 1260
0.18 1230
0.20 1200
0.22 1170
0.24 1140
0.26 1110
0.28 1080
0.30 1050
0.32 1020
0.34 990
0.36 960
0.38 930
0.40 900
0.42 870
0.44 840
0.46 810
0.48 780
0.50 750
0.52 720
0.54 690
0.56 660
0.58 630
0.60 600
0.62 570
0.64 540
0.66 510
0.68 480
0.70 450
0.72 420
0.74 390
0.76 360
0.78 330
0.80 300
0.82 270
0.84 240
0.86 210
0.88 180
0.90 150
0.92 120
0.94 90
0.96 60
0.98 30

B

 

[snowmansnow]

hmmm
the problem is that my measuring syringe is measured like this... (with hashes in between each number)

TOP
0,1
0,2
0,3,
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,9
0,1ml
BOTTOM

Do I have the right syringe with the kit?

 

[snowmansnow]

btw If I WERE to buy another test kit down the road for Mg what does everyone recommend?