Seachem Magnesium test kit and various alk test types..???

redfishsc · 10/26/2008, 08:47 PM

I am placing an order here soon for a few needed items, one being a Mg test kit. They are OUT of the Salifert, but everyone else that has the Salifert is, oddly, out of the other items I need to order. So I'm stuck with the Dr.s and getting a non-salifert kit. All they have is Seachem and Red Sea.

The Seachem also comes with, apparently, 3 types of alkalinity. Borate, total, and carbonate.

IS THIS A DECENT magnesium kit? It's really what I'm after since the Salifert is AWOL from the Drs.

Can someone explain, or give a link to, what the difference in these "types" of alkalinity are?

And why borate is important? I do not have any sps at the moment but I plan on putting some in at a later time (lol, cheaper ones, I'm not interesting in killing expensive acros).

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=4394

newclean · 10/26/2008, 10:58 PM

I use that magnesium test kit, and I am satisfied with the readability. I have not compared accuracy with another magnesium kit, but the total alkalinity matches my API.

Seachem wants you to increase the borate component of alkalinity to levels much more than NSW, so that is why they give you the extra borate test.

Billybeau1 · 10/27/2008, 12:31 AM

I have tested the Seachem Magnesium kit and have found it cumbersome and very difficult to use. I do not recommend it.

Magnesium is one of the hardest kits to get right and the only two hobby grade kits I've found acceptable is the Salifert and Elos.

You may try some of the other sponsors here on Reef Central. Many carry both.

Alkalinity kits are pretty basic. Salifert, Elos, API, most are pretty reliable.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/27/2008, 04:46 AM

The Seachem total alkalinity test that is part of the borate test is a fine one, but the borate alkalinity test itself, and the carbonate alkalinity that you get by subtracting borate alkalinity from total alkalinity are inaccurate. I reviewed them here:

The Seachem Borate Alkalinity Test Kit
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...e2003/chem.htm

NormanB · 10/27/2008, 09:00 AM

Randy, what do you think of the magnesium part of the test?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/27/2008, 09:51 AM

I've not tried to evaluate it, so I can't really say on the magnesium part, but I'd be inclined to follow Billy's user friendliness comments as he has been using a lot of different kits lately.

redfishsc · 10/27/2008, 10:37 AM

Randy, could it be a typo? Perhaps the kit is supposed to check for Borat. I sure wouldn't want any Borat hitchhikers in my tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/27/2008, 10:40 AM

Maybe that's it.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/27/2008, 10:54 AM

FWIW, when the review came out, the response from Seachem was mixed. First Greg Morin (owner) came on to discuss it and said it seemed fair, but they were disappointed in the results, and gave a few other comments:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=202520

then several years later someone from Seachem named George came on, blasting me (accusing me of not knowing how to do science, for one) and trying to blind us with his brilliant insights into boron chemistry and why my analysis was incorrect. I think he was surprised that I was able to defend my tests, but that did not stop him from throwing out lots of big sounding words to confuse people.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=756622

FWIW, I will not forget that accusatory behavior which. It surprises how angry it still makes me thinking about it years later.

redfishsc · 10/27/2008, 11:07 AM

Reading your thread with George reminds me of reading how Christ's blunt but fair confrontation of the legalistics of the day shut them up.

Truth + diplomacy. I love it.

I'm checking my tank for Borat right now. I bet he's in there eating my zoas.

10/26/2008, 08:47 PM	#1
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Seachem Magnesium test kit and various alk test types..??? I am placing an order here soon for a few needed items, one being a Mg test kit. They are OUT of the Salifert, but everyone else that has the Salifert is, oddly, out of the other items I need to order. So I'm stuck with the Dr.s and getting a non-salifert kit. All they have is Seachem and Red Sea. The Seachem also comes with, apparently, 3 types of alkalinity. Borate, total, and carbonate. IS THIS A DECENT magnesium kit? It's really what I'm after since the Salifert is AWOL from the Drs. Can someone explain, or give a link to, what the difference in these "types" of alkalinity are? And why borate is important? I do not have any sps at the moment but I plan on putting some in at a later time (lol, cheaper ones, I'm not interesting in killing expensive acros). http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=4394

10/26/2008, 10:58 PM	#2
newclean Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 197	I use that magnesium test kit, and I am satisfied with the readability. I have not compared accuracy with another magnesium kit, but the total alkalinity matches my API. Seachem wants you to increase the borate component of alkalinity to levels much more than NSW, so that is why they give you the extra borate test. __________________ We were taught to be universally resourceful by the water, the sun, and the stardust. Current Tank Info: 75 gal AGA sps, 50/25 gal diy acrylic sump, 17 gal diy acrylic fuge

10/27/2008, 04:46 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	The Seachem total alkalinity test that is part of the borate test is a fine one, but the borate alkalinity test itself, and the carbonate alkalinity that you get by subtracting borate alkalinity from total alkalinity are inaccurate. I reviewed them here: The Seachem Borate Alkalinity Test Kit http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...e2003/chem.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/27/2008, 09:51 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I've not tried to evaluate it, so I can't really say on the magnesium part, but I'd be inclined to follow Billy's user friendliness comments as he has been using a lot of different kits lately. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/27/2008, 10:37 AM	#7
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Randy, could it be a typo? Perhaps the kit is supposed to check for Borat. I sure wouldn't want any Borat hitchhikers in my tank. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

10/27/2008, 12:31 AM	#3
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	I have tested the Seachem Magnesium kit and have found it cumbersome and very difficult to use. I do not recommend it. Magnesium is one of the hardest kits to get right and the only two hobby grade kits I've found acceptable is the Salifert and Elos. You may try some of the other sponsors here on Reef Central. Many carry both. Alkalinity kits are pretty basic. Salifert, Elos, API, most are pretty reliable.

10/27/2008, 09:00 AM	#5
NormanB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Mars, PA Posts: 163	Randy, what do you think of the magnesium part of the test?

10/27/2008, 10:40 AM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Maybe that's it. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/27/2008, 10:54 AM	#9
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	FWIW, when the review came out, the response from Seachem was mixed. First Greg Morin (owner) came on to discuss it and said it seemed fair, but they were disappointed in the results, and gave a few other comments: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=202520 then several years later someone from Seachem named George came on, blasting me (accusing me of not knowing how to do science, for one) and trying to blind us with his brilliant insights into boron chemistry and why my analysis was incorrect. I think he was surprised that I was able to defend my tests, but that did not stop him from throwing out lots of big sounding words to confuse people. http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=756622 FWIW, I will not forget that accusatory behavior which. It surprises how angry it still makes me thinking about it years later. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/27/2008, 11:07 AM	#10
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Reading your thread with George reminds me of reading how Christ's blunt but fair confrontation of the legalistics of the day shut them up. Truth + diplomacy. I love it. I'm checking my tank for Borat right now. I bet he's in there eating my zoas. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.