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DREUTZ

Reefs R Madness!
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I bought an ELOS magnesium test kit recently and I can't get the test to work. After going through all of the steps at the end you need to add drops until it turns from i think violet to another color. Before I even add any drops my solution is dark dark blackish green and no matter how many drops I added there was no color change. I pretty much wasted the whole last bottle of drops because I did it once and then carefully did it a second time and got the same results. Along with that, another MR member got the same test a few days before me and has had the same problems with it. I ordered it from Marinedepot.com and he got it from somewhere else. Is something wrong with this test or is there a common mistake that we are doing?
 

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
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I think you are missing a step - did you empty & refill the tube with new water about half way through? MG test kits are a pita...
Let me find the instructions on line...brb :bunny:
 

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
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I didn't empty and re-fill it...maybe I should read the directions ????

yes, maybe...lol

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1528489

One other thing - you should always shake the reagents bottles before you use them for 30 seconds- I read on one site the instructions don't mention that and they should have - some issue with the original translation.

Have fun! , might try writing to Elso to see if they will give you a discount on the bottle/s you used up. I'm sure from all of the threads I found about this - you guys are far from the first to have issues with this particular kit.

...now if I had a nickel for every noob that reads a Salifert syringe upside down...hmmmm :)
 

Alex

Pretzel in Orange M&M
Location
staten island
Rating - 100%
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yes, maybe...lol

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1528489

One other thing - you should always shake the reagents bottles before you use them for 30 seconds- I read on one site the instructions don't mention that and they should have - some issue with the original translation.

Have fun! , might try writing to Elso to see if they will give you a discount on the bottle/s you used up. I'm sure from all of the threads I found about this - you guys are far from the first to have issues with this particular kit.

...now if I had a nickel for every noob that reads a Salifert syringe upside down...hmmmm :)

I had the same problem a few weeks ago, so i put it aside until I could get an idea how to do it. Thank you for the post kathyc, this puts things in perspective.
 

AlohaTropics

Advanced Reefer
Location
Long Island
Rating - 100%
48   0   0
I've never had a problem with it. Basically you start off with 3ml of tank water and the big bottle. It starts off dark green, you should get a change over to dark orange after approximately 25-30 drops (if your Mg is around 1100-1400). You remember how many drops. Then you empty clean and refill the tube, add the small spoonful of powder agent and use the other reagent. When your all done, you do the math and you get the outcome. Works for me everytime!

The MG test is a 2 part test, so be sure to follow the directions and do the math right!
 

Wes

Advanced Reefer
Location
Raleigh, NC
Rating - 100%
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Wow that is such a PITA compared to the old elos mg test. Looks like I'll be trying a new brand soon.


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DREUTZ

Reefs R Madness!
Rating - 100%
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Thanks for all the help everyone. I saw that the directions said to repeat steps 1-3, but I didn't think that it meant to dump out what I had and start over. It was a little unclear or maybe I'm just an idiot haha. Actually we are both idiots because Chickeking made the same mistake that I did. I'll retest it when I get home tonight.
 

Alex

Pretzel in Orange M&M
Location
staten island
Rating - 100%
44   0   0
I use the Tropic marin combo test, it tests for calcium first then with those results, it tests for magnesium. I figured that I would get a separate mag. test for those days when I only wanted a magnesium result. The tropic marin combo test is the easiest and most reliable that I've used. I have even compared it with other tests of calcium and mag. Good product. maybe after trying the Elos test a few times I'll find it easy as well.
 

Wes

Advanced Reefer
Location
Raleigh, NC
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Nice maybe I'll go with Tropic Marin next. I use the TM Alk and Nitrate tests and like them.


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Alex

Pretzel in Orange M&M
Location
staten island
Rating - 100%
44   0   0
Wes said:
Nice maybe I'll go with Tropic Marin next. I use the TM Alk and Nitrate tests and like them.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

Have you used the mag kit?
I figured maybe if it's like the combo kit, maybe I'll try it out.


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Zuska

Cherry Collector
Location
Brooklyn
Rating - 99.5%
431   2   0
yea its 2 steps to the test. first it has to change from orange to green about 30 drops or so usually and then you have to clean the tube and refil it and do step 2.
 

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