Has Instant Ocean's magnesium level changed?
 

I haven't checked freshly mixed IO for a while, it was traditionally low in Mg. Now I'm getting a reading of 1400. Is this new, or is my test kit hooped?

Ca is still a little low at 350.

I've never tested magnesium over 1200 ppm...usually closer to 1100 ppm. Some people have reported a higher magnesium level though. Hard to say!

Make sure you mix the bucket as the chemicals will stratify during transport due to vibrations.

Its been over a year since I've tested, and that is the readings I used to get. Have you tested recently? I may need a new test kit. I want to ditch the goofy Elos test kit anyway.

my IO has high Mg reading too about 1500pm. I mixed the bucket by rolling it around on the ground, My kh Is about 11 to 12. = less dosing

I have a problem with instant ocean too.. They say there is more calcium, but I still struggle to get mine above 320-340 at best! I think my next batch of salt I buy will be a different type.

Where did you get your io from, JL?

I have some io mixing in the container, I'll give a quick test when I get home and see what the readings are at.

From my experience, IO settles terribly. Water changes at the top half of the bucket were 1100ppm, and I was topping up to 1500. DId this a couple times, was the same, So I kept the same MgCl amount every other water change, then tested my tank awhile ago and it was 1650? didn't make sense, so I tested the IO mix next water change, and it was back at 1500ppm. seems the bottom half of the bucket had higher Mg than the top. Mg tests are sketchy at best though, I use what I measure as a ballpark at best.

thats why you should always roll your bucket of salt before you use it, no matter what salt you use..... there is probably only one salt on the market that you can actually trust the values on the back of the bucket and that is "Aqua Vittro" made by seachem....its the only salt I am aware of that individually tests each batch of salt and posts the values on the back