Magnesium testing and magnesium test kit reccomendation.

[frameguy]

I just set up my 55 gallon reef. I have nice mature purple crusted live rock, and i plan to start adding some LPS and shrooms, ricordea. I am using c balance, and I hear I need to supplement magnesium. What magnesium supp. and test kits do you reccomend? I have ordered phosphate calcium, and alk test kits from salifert. Thanks for any feedback!

 

[senji]

magnesium hanna checker! digital readout! no matching colors! and is cheaper in the long run by only haveing to replace reagents! and anybody here that uses them will tell u there pretty darn accurate!!!! my 2 cents lol but serious tho look into replacing all ur tests with hanna instruments.

 

[senji]

oh and use bulk reef supply's 2 part for dosing and there magnesium. good stuff comes in a packet and u mix in a 1 gal jug. depending if u buy a pack or not they will send the mixing jugs and a measure cup. and they have a calculator that is super easy to use on their web site. u put in ur params and they tell u what and how much to dose. good luck! "BUT I MUST SAY WITH REGULAR WATER CHANGES U SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DOSE A 55G TANK!!!" just my thought opinions and rants. take it what with u will lol.

 

[NanaReefer]

I use the RedSea Mag test kit and for supplement I use Kent Tech-M. Both great and kit is very accurate


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[frameguy]

Hey thanks Hawk, I have a large bio load so I plan on 15 gallons Water Changes every 2 weeks, and I am running phosguard in a new fluval 306 can filter. I must say I ran Eheims for years and the fluval with a TOM surface skimmer is quiet and a joy to use for pre-filter as I am running no sump this time. So for ricordea , mushrooms and Hammer or other LPS I shouldn't have to dose with C balance? or just not have to dose magnesium. Thanks for feedback!

 

[aja19919]

Senji, is this what you have?
Calcium and Magnesium Portable Photometer, HI 96752 | HANNA Instruments USA

 

[pinkfloydfan]

Best Magnesium supplement I've found over the years is Magnesion by Brightwell. The test kit I use is ReefStatus Magnesium test kit (includes Carbonate and Borate (Alk) tests). I will add here that since I started using Sea-Lab No. 28 for my slow release Calcium the Mag holds better (longer).

 

[NC2WA]

aja, would be interested in Senji's reply as I do not know of a separate hanna checker for Mg...there is one for Ca (I have it), but would like one for Mg too..

 

[N1Husker]

I use Kent's Magnesium Tech M and my test kit is the Elos. It is pretty accurate but a pain to use.

 

[wes]

I use Bulk Reef Supply magnesium and elos test kit but I've heard good things about the new RedSea test kit and Hanna test kit.

 

[aja19919]

I have the Salifert Mg test and have no issues with it.

 

[bearjohnson]

I also use the Red Sea test kit. No complaints here other than I hate titration test kits

 

[1guydude]

Api reef kit.
Hanna checkers r great but I've never used em.
As for dosing, I'm dosing seachem 2part or aquavitro line. Made by the same ppl I think but a step up from basic seachem products.
Hths
D

 

[senji]

for mag ther is no checker i use redsea to test for magnesium . srry

 

[Tobe71]

magnesium hanna checker! digital readout! no matching colors! and is cheaper in the long run by only haveing to replace reagents! and anybody here that uses them will tell u there pretty darn accurate!!!! my 2 cents lol but serious tho look into replacing all ur tests with hanna instruments.

Where did you get your Magnesium Hanna Checker? I didn't know these were available yet. I use the Alk, Calcium and Iodine and they ROCK! I use Red Sea Pro Tests for Nitrate and and Magnesium (and they are the best available next to Hanna IMHO) until I can find those from Hanna....

Thanks!

 

[NC2WA]

Tobe,

re-read Senji post..there is NO Mg hanna checker available...I am waiting for them myself as I use the PO4 and Ca...

 

[spieszak]

Those of you using the calcium Hanna checker. Are you able to get reproducible results? I got mine a while back, and the numbers never seem right. I have an api and a salifet that I run in conjunction, but even back to back tests from the hanna using the same syringe for sample don't ever match.
To the original question, I use an elos kit for mag, and brs two part. I just switched from kalk in my top off though, so, can't speak to how 'happy' I am with it, other than its more stable this way...

 

[NC2WA]

i have a calcium hanna checker and to be honest do not use it that much...the steps are soo much that I rather use a Elos test kit for calcium...the only reason I do like the HC is for the digital readout...

 

[spieszak]

I'd love to be able to trust the Hanna. Just not there yet, and I don't know if I'll get there the way its going. I have been eyeing the red sea kits though because of the hardware. I always feel like I'm at least one hand short when testing. They may have fixed that... even if I just use their hardware with someone else's reagents . (I have'nt read reviews on accuracy so I don't know if the tests are worth it, but its possible the hardware might make up for it)

 

[NC2WA]

i love and use their PO4 checker frequently..i wish they would make a Mg one, i would buy it.