SalifertMagnesium (MG) Test Kit

Best inexpensive kit there is

I often need to use the thing, my saltwater aquarium every week to test the water quality, easy to use, easy to operate.

Great test kit

Second time buying

I run several marine aquariums. I manually test 6 parameters on each tank twice a week, have tried every single brand of test kits over the last 5 years or so, have owned automated testing systems (and found them completely inadequate and generally inaccurate), and routinely send in samples for ICPOES testing to confirm my manual results.This is clearly the most accurate hobbyist test currently available for magnesium. The test is easy to perform with a clear endpoint to the titration. Salifert recently shortened the test process by one step, making it even simpler to perform, without loss of accuracy.Some may be tempted to switch to the new Hanna magnesium checker. Don't do it. Overall, Hanna makes great hobbyist checkers, and they are my first choice for several parameters. Unfortunately, not so for the Hanna magnesium checker, which consistently gives reading of about 100 ppm lower than the actual value. I was frankly stunned how badly they flubbed this one, considering how good their gear is overall.

Probably the most accurate method to measure magnesium, is still has its caveats. The acceptable air in the 1.0ml syringe is the most challenging. Maybe it's my medical training getting the best of me. My work depends on accuracy, and an air bubble allows for too mush discrepancy. Other than that, it works as advertised.

Great product, easy to use and accurate

Product box was squashed when arrived. It came inside an amazon paper bag with no padding. This item has liquids and a plastic mixing container. Amazon should have sent it in a box or padded paper bag.Despite poor shipping conditions, the product came in tact and no items were spilled or broken.*The critical issue is that the test will NOT work for freshwater tanks when magnesium levels are below 30ppm. MANY OWNERS WITH FRESHWATER TANKS TYPICALLY HAVE MAGNESIUM LEVELS WAY BELOW 30ppm.—A Google search will tell you thatplanted freshwater tanks should have MAGNESIUM levels around 5ppm but can be more (depending on you calcium to magnesium ratio).**the kit box and the amazon product description does NOT tell you the sensitivity range of test. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY THIS KIT (since most freshwater tanks do mot fall in the sensitivity range of this kit).—>This is why some reviewers complain that this kit does not work for them. This kit will work for saltwater tanks that typically have higher levels of magnesium but can work for freshwater tanks when magnesium levels are above 30ppm.——TO CONFIRM IF THIS TEST WORKS WHEN YOU NOTICE THAT THE COLOR DOES NOT CHANGE TO PINK AFTER ADDING Mg-1. ——1. Take 2 ml of freshwater from your tank and put it into the mixing vial that is provided with the kit.2. Add at least 1/64 teaspoon of epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). If you dont have a teaspoon that small you may still estimate using 1/8 of teaspoon. Regardless, 1/64 teaspoon is enough to create a positive test signal that is detectable by this kit. This mixture is your POSITIVE CONTROL where you have a high enough amount of magnesium to be detectable by this kit.3. Add 5 drops of Mg-1 reagent.4. VOILA! You should have a pink color. The Salifert magnesium test CAN detect magnesium——unfortunately you may have already realized it can NOT detect magnesium in your freshwater tank, likely because your freshwater tank is below the sensitivity range of thisbkit. Thie Lowest Level of Quantification is listed in the instruction manual sensitivity chart (it is 30ppm).*****A Google search will tell you that there are Very Little options (or products) at this time for testing low levels of magnesium, which are typical for freshwater tanks.*****