salifert mg test kit

[jamesssss]

need some help from all the sis n bros

recently i just bought a salifert mg test kit, i realise there r 3 types of instruction.

from the german instruction, it state to add 5 drops of MG 1 but english instruction stated 4 drops, n i went goggle it stated 6 drops. so which one i should follow?? cos all the reading is different

[jamesssss]

from goggle:

INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT: This is a new version and reagents

from previous versions in which 3 ml sample had to

be used can no longer be used with this new

version!

1] Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water to the test

vial.

2] Add 6 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

from marine depot:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 5 ml syringe 3 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 6 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

from the german instruction inside the box:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 5 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

english instruction inside the box:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 4 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

[jamesssss]

dont know which one to follow?? pls advice

[straydum]

english instruction inside the box:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 4 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

up till now i've been following this

haven't gave me any problems so far. perhaps the one on google are for the new batch of tests?

[jamesssss]

actually, i just call RD to comfirm the thing. they ask me to follow the german instruction, which is

1.Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 5 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds

[straydum]

hmm

bro mind explaining what you meant by the readings are all different? its interesting to know how one drop more or less would affect the readings. does an extra drop give a higher reading? etc

[jamesssss]

ok...

for 4 drops the reading is 1260

for 5 drops the reading is 1170-1190

6 drops i never test.

so there is a different in every drop

[MarcoVan]

I think the Mg-1 is the pH indicator. it's supposed to cause a colour change in the reagent due to an increase/decrease of pH ie acidity or basicity of the test solution in the vial so that we can detect it visually. All pH indicator got a range between acidity and basicity. For example methyl orange is 3.1-4.4 which means if the pH in the solution is towards alkaline (pH of 4.4 and above), it will appear orange and if acidic, it will appear red (ph of 3.3 and below). I do not really know what pH indicator reagent is used in Salifert's Magnesium test kits but I can guess that the pH indicator reagent for Salifert Calcium test kit is phenolphthalein. (:

Therefore by adding more or less, you affect the number of drops of Mg-3 needed to cause the colour change in the test vial as such affect your Mg reading.

My usual take is follow the english instruction and do a few more tests and find an average. In case you have dripped more or less before, do not panick. Just switch to the english instruction next time you do a Mg test and all will be fine (:

HTH

[yikai]

here's the real instructions.

2ml tank water into vial

4 drops mg 1, swirl

1 spoon mg 2, swirl

use the long thin syringe, 1ml mg 3. make sure the bottom of the black piston is at the 1ml mark. ignore the air space.

drop by drop add it into the vial, until colour change is observed.

invert the syringe and read from the top of the black piston this time (not bottom).

compare on chart.

simple.

[jamesssss]

bro, u mean the tip facing upward n read from the upper black piston??

[yikai]

bro, u mean the tip facing upward n read from the upper black piston??

for the last step, yep.

[jamesssss]

for the last step, yep.

ok thanks alot!!

[straydum]

bro, u mean the tip facing upward n read from the upper black piston??

thats correct

once you get the reading you can compare it to the chart to find your mg levels

[Soul]

So dont care which batch u bought still use the old 2ml/4 drops instruction? Cos i also having this bloody problem after buying the latest batch from RD.

[CFOh]

from goggle:

INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT: This is a new version and reagents

from previous versions in which 3 ml sample had to

be used can no longer be used with this new

version!

1] Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water to the test

vial.

2] Add 6 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

from marine depot:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 5 ml syringe 3 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 6 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

from the german instruction inside the box:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 5 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

english instruction inside the box:

Instructions:

1.Add with the 2 ml syringe 2 ml of water in the test vial.

2.Add 4 drops of Mg-1 and swirl gently for 30 seconds.

Hope below videos helps clearer...

[Soul]

My English instructions states 3ml/6 drops and i cant get any result from it, the German instructions state 2ml/5drops which i can't get any results neither. Drawing a 2nd syringe of 1ml of Mg3 gets me a total reading of 1520 which is ridiculous cos i dont buff mg. From the video i can see the batch used is the older batch with the Mg1 being in a translucent bottle, new batch is totally white(the bottle). Also the new 1ml syringe has a red tip, if u compare the old syringe and new one, the new one is shorter in overall length.

[jamesssss]

My English instructions states 3ml/6 drops and i cant get any result from it, the German instructions state 2ml/5drops which i can't get any results neither. Drawing a 2nd syringe of 1ml of Mg3 gets me a total reading of 1520 which is ridiculous cos i dont buff mg. From the video i can see the batch used is the older batch with the Mg1 being in a translucent bottle, new batch is totally white(the bottle). Also the new 1ml syringe has a red tip, if u compare the old syringe and new one, the new one is shorter in overall length.

bro, i think the 2ml with 2 drops of mg1 is correct... cos i got a old batch of test kit n i compare, the reading is the same

[jamesssss]

sorry i mean 2ml of water with 4 drops of mg1

[Soul]

sorry i mean 2ml of water with 4 drops of mg1

Thanks bro

[fishchemist]

Hi guys,

I've recently gotten a Salifert Mg test kit. Since the syringe is a 2ml one, I guess it should be the one using 4 drops of Mg-1. I'm doubtful of the readings as it indicates that my Mg level is off the scale! I need to add in another 0.2ml of Mg-3 before the color change takes place. I then did a test on my new salt mix solution using Tropic Marine Salt, the reading is even higher! It takes another 0.4ml. Very strange...

wonder if anyone else got problem with this batch of Salifert Mg test kit.

cheers