Water Chemistry Query

[Chaloupa]

Just tested some water for a friend.......this is how it breaks down;

All tests done with Elos kits

Mg 2000 ???
Alk 6
CA 500+ ???
SG 1.026
Nitrate 1 on the Elos chart
pH about 8.02-8.05

Anyone make sense of these kind of readings. He says that he adds NO additives.....and now his corals don't seem to be thriving (namely a long tentacle plate which we all know isn't uncommon)

[globaldesigns]

Retest just to make sure, but if this is correct then....

MG is way too high, should be about 1350
ALK is ok, but should try to keep in 7-8 range
CA is high, should be 400-420
SG is good
PH is too low, should be 8.3

If he isn't dosing, then I don't know how he has such high results. What salt is he/she using?

[christyf5]

is he on well water or something? i didnt know mg test kits could run that high1

[Chaloupa]

Originally Posted by christyf5

is he on well water or something? i didnt know mg test kits could run that high1

Not sure...will check....I just added drops on the MG until it finally turned...which was 20 drops..so I assumed it was 2000.....he uses Instant Ocean....

[don.ald]

elos mg test is two part
his/her mg is most likely very low

[globaldesigns]

That doesn't sound right.

ELOS is 2 part... First part, if you were at proper levels should be about 32-34 drops, with the second part giving you a value between 5-6 drops

You subtract the second part from the first to give you the total drops, then multiply by 50. So something is wrong there with your testing. Please recheck.

As Don.ald stated, if you only did the first test and you have a total of 20 drops, then doing the second test subtracting from the first... YOUR MG IS WAY LOW!!!

Keep us posted.

[Chaloupa]

With Elos MG...it's a 3 part product your first drops, then the purple powder, the the final drops that you count and multiply by 100......... and the last drops that I add is usually anywhere from 13-15 depending on the MG .... 13 being 1300ppm..this does not change color until I hit 20 drops...I've never had that ..... keep the ideas coming...it's kinda weird...... Is that I'm misunderstanding my result with MG...?

[fishytime]

exactly why I dont like the elos Mg test kit......get a Salifert.....waaaaay easier

[wayner]

Originally Posted by fishytime

exactly why I dont like the elos Mg test kit......get a Salifert.....waaaaay easier

Absolutely

[globaldesigns]

I actually find the ELOS quite easy. With regards to the second test, I don't even do it anymore (well maybe once in a blue moon), as I find that this number never changes. So I do the first test only subtracting what I know what the second test will give. Very simple.