Tropic Marin 28380 - Magnesium-Calcium Combitest for salt Water

Product: Tropic Marin 28380 - Magnesium-Calcium Combitest for salt Water

Information:

What means concentration of magnesium and calcium in a marine aquarium?

Along with sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfate, magnesium and calcium are among the main components of natural sea water. For organisms that form calcareous skeletons, such as an a stony corals and coralline algae, magnesium and calcium are important growth factors. Together with sufficient carbon dioxide, calcium forms calcium hydrogen carbonate which is utilized biologically, deposited as a carbonate in the calcareous skeleton of these organisms. Depending on the type of organism, magnesium carbonate, in varying quantities, is also used in these calcium carbonate skeletons. Additionally, magnesium is very important in photosynthesis.
Due to cellular metabolism and the use of these compounds in the skeleton of calcareous organisms, the magnesium and calcium concentration in a marine aquarium will continue to decrease over time. For these reason, regular testing of the magnesium and calcium concentrations and possible addition of these ions to the marine aquarium is necessary to promote the health and growth of these organisms.

What are the recommended magnesium and calcium concentrations?

The magnesium (Mg) content of natural sea water is about 1280-1320 mg/l and the calcium (Ca) content is about 400-410 mg/l creating a Mg/Ca ratio of 3. 25/1. Extremely high concentrations of magnesium and/or calcium can lead to precipitation causing a decrease in alkalinity and trace of elements in the solution. For this reason, it is recommended to maintain concentrations of magnesium and calcium as close to natural sea water levels as possible.

How can magnesium or calcium content be determined quickly and accurately?

In a quick and simple process, the Tropic Marin Magnesium-Calcium Combitest makes possible the accurate determination of the magnesium and calcium concentration of the aquarium water and thereby a precise determination of the amount of magnesium and calcium that may need to be added. To increase the magnesium and calcium concentration, use Tropic Marion BIO-MAGNESIUM or BIO-CALCIUM, which add the hydrogen carbonate compound of both ions in a biologically available form. The natural ionic ratio of the aquarium water remains constant.
In the case of excessive concentration or precipitation of magnesium and /or calcium compounds, a partial water change using Tropic Marin Marne Salt Mixture is recommended.

Instructions:

This quick-test will accurately determine the magnesium and calcium concentration in salt water. Always read the dosing syringes from the bottom end of the small black O ring on the syringe plunger. Once filled there will be air between the end of the plunger and the liquid in the syringe. It is very important to keep the end of the yellow syringe tip submerged in the reagent during filling of the syringe.

Important: The syringe with the red lettering must ALWAYS be used ONLY for the reagent Magnesium-Calcium Test A (together with one second yellow syringe tip) MUST ALWAYS be used ONLY for the reagent Magnesium-Calcium Test C. The remaining 1 ml dosing syringe(and third yellow syringe tip) MUST ALWAYS be used ONLY for the reagent Magnesium-Calcium Test D. Using the syringes and tips correctly will eliminate any possible cross contamination of the reagents.
The calcium concentration is determined in the first part of the testing procedure, and the magnesium concentration is determined with the same sample afterwards.

To determine the Calcium concentration:

• Shake each reagent bottle well before every use!
• First rinse the both test vials with tap water and then, several times with the water sample to be tested. Use the dosing syringe 5 ml fill both test vials each exactly with 5 ml of tank water. Put one of the two filled test vials aside. This will be the comparison sample for later on.
• Place one of the three yellow syringe tips on the red lettered 1 ml dosing syringe. Fill the syringe with reagent from the bottle Magnesium-Calcium Test A, up to the 20 units mark and add the entire amount to the test sample. The dosing gun is only to be put aside, as it is needed under point 9 once more later on.
• Close the test vial with the plastic stopper and shake the solution for a short time.
• Remove the plastic stopper and add a level measuring spoonful of Magnesium-Calcium Test B reagent from the powder vial to the analytical sample. Close the glass vial with the plastic stopper and shake the solution until the powder is dissolved. The solution turns light blue.
• Remove the plastic stopper from the glass vial from the blue test sample. Place second syringe tip on the 1 ml dosing syringe with black lettering, and fill the syringe with reagent from the bottle Magnesium-Calcium Test C, exactly up to the 1. 0 ml marking.
  
  One drop at time, slowly add reagent Reagent C to the blue test sample. Swirl glass test vial after each drop in order to mix the liquid thoroughly. Continue to add drops of Reagent C until the light blue solution turns colorless*.
  In order to recognize the color transition easily, place both the test sample and the comparition sample set aside in step 2 on a white sheet of paper and sight from above into both test vials. The test is complete as soon as the test sample can no longer be distinguished from the comparison sample.
• After the test sample becomes colorless, read the residual amount of reagent C in the syringe. The following table shows the calcium concentration in mg/l which corresponds to the calcium in your test sample.

Return any remaining reagent C in the syringe black into the bottle marked Magnesium-Calcium Test C.

TABLE I: Calcium Concentrations:

*If the test solution becomes clear after adding the first two drops of reagent C, it is an indication of a high calcium level. To test under these conditions, follow the test instructions above, filling the sample vials with 4 ml instead of 5 ml of tank water. To determine the calcium concentration with this smaller sample volume, multiply the value for the calcium concentration, read from the table above, by 1.25 to get the actual calcium concentration of your sample(compare to the following example).
Example: