The JBL Mg Magnesium Test Set (fresh water) is designed for measuring
and doing routine checks of magnesium content in freshwater aquariums
within a range of 0 - 10 mg/l (ppm).
Why test?
Magnesium and calcium together form the total hardness. Like potassium,
magnesium is a macroelement which is required for healthy and strong plant
growth. The magnesium levels in mains water (including water with a high
total hardness) are very often too low for aquatic plants, so that deficiency
symptoms appear after a short time already. The symptoms of magnesium
deficiency are similar to those of iron deficiency. Yellowing (chlorosis) occurs
between the veins of the leaves. This may be significantly more pronounced
than in iron deficiency. Incurved leaves are another symptom. These
symptoms are not just limited to old leaves and instead, also appear in new
fresh leaves.
As a result, the available magnesium concentrations may be too low, causing
plant growth to stagnate, even if the aquarium water is fertilised regularly (e.g.
weekly). We recommend daily measurements of the potassium concentration
of your tank water initially. This permits determination of the plants’
requirements and corresponding correct dosing of the fertiliser. Afterwards,
you can gradually change over to routine measurements carried out at longer
intervals. The value should be somewhere between 5 and 50 mg/l for good
plant growth. |