Salifert Ca test question

I know from other posts that you are running very high on Mag

Ill try and replicate your conditions in a spare test tube and see if that has any effect on the test

Ill be using Magnession - which is Brightwell Aquatics mix of Mag Chloride and Mag Sulphate

your at 1800ppm if I recall correctly?

Ill duplicate that and see what it does to my Calcium test


Ok testing done

my findings - added 2 drops of Magnession to approx 500mls of tank water and took 2ml sample from that

just missed target and have Mag level of 1850 on that sample

performed test

my Calcium test am resulted in 430ppm and thats about normal and week to week it varies little from that

the Calcium test on the increased Mag water sample - meant I emptied my syringe and still only achieved a purple colour - not blue - thus the kit believes my Calcium level is over 500ppm due to the extra magnesium ions in solution and I did note a certain amount of colour floating in the test tube
in that the area at the bottom seemed to want to stay pink and a purple colour formed above it until I swirled vigorously enough to mix them properly


thus its my opinion that your calc test results are being skewed by your elevated Mag level

suggestion
as you are about to perform a water change
verify your calc test kit on the new water and if it behaves as it should
then this may well prove the Mag is causing your issue with the test on tank water


Steve

 

wow man, giant thank you!!!



I did that. And it behaved as it should. Neato mosquito! That'd be confirmed.

I'm actually at 1740 on Mg now - it's come down a wee bit.

My WC water, Steve, was a bit high on SG so I had to delude it a bit. (thanks) I did that last night so I'm doing the WC when my wife gets home (I did the experiment after it was deluded, i.e. just now; so params were 'normal' not elevated)

Again, thank you. Been very helpful ;D;D