Reef Crystal IO salt

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by Coleus

Yesterday, I mixed my Ro/di fresh water with Instant Ocean Reef Crystal. Got the salanity to 35ppt (1.026) and temp is 79F and did some water testing. I found the parameter is not what it claims on the bucket

The claim:
Cal : 455ppm
Mg: 1345ppm

Well the result i am getting from my Salifer Test kit is

Cal: 400 ppm
Mg: 1230 ppm

Anyone knows why?

Thanks

There have been many articles and posts pointing out that different test kits provide different values for the same chemicals. Even within the same brand I have received different readings between test kits. For instance I had a 'new' Salifert Alkalinity kit that claimed my alkalinity was 2 dkh higher than what my 'old' Salifert Alkalinity kit stated (neither had expired yet btw). It doesnt necessarily mean that the manufacturers lied on their bucket of salt or that it was a bad batch. Hobby grade test kits are all crap. Some crappier than others. But as long as they're close to your target range it really doesnt matter.

I've also found Magnesium to be one of the least expensive trace elements to supplement. I just buy my own non-pharmaceutical grade 100% Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate de-icing salt and mix it with Magnesium Sulfate epson salts (7:1 ratio by weight). It costs less than $1/lbs and I've been using it for over a year now with no adverse side effects on three tanks.