Accuracy
To evaluate properly the accuracy of Seachem ReefStatus Magnesium test we helped with two professional services, Triton and Fauna Marin, thanks to Hobby Acquari collaboration for the Triton test and with Acquatic Life for the Fauna Marin test.
Indeed, we measured a sample of water of my aquarium, and then we sent the water to analyze it with both systems.
The results were the following:
- Seachem ReefStatus Magnesium: 1350 mg/l
- Triton: 1337 mg/l
- Fauna Marin: 1362 mg/l
I would say perfect result and absolutely in line with the professional tests. Top marks.
Below I attach the test instructions in english as issued by Seachem and enclosed inside the test:
The results of the carbonates were the following:
- Seachem ReefStatus Total Alkalinity: 3,7 meq/l (10,3 dKH)
- Fauna Marin: 9 dKH
I would say perfect result and absolutely. Top marks again.
Below I attach the test instructions as issued by Seachem and enclosed inside the test:
In our package we didn’t find an expiration value, and all reagents are numbered with the lot number which they come from.
I would like to remind that the tests, although they have a high number of measurements, should be used not more than 6 months from their first use, to prevent incorrect storage can offset the tests carried out. I recommend you always use your eye to evaluate the aquarium, do not rely only to test, and if testing were to detect a patently incorrect value, before making any solution would be desirable to do it again with other brands believed to be reliable.
Given the 6 months of reference and the 75 measurements we would have the ability to perform almost one test per day, for a measurement cost about 28 cents. Obviously, given the validated solution it will be possible to use the test for longer period while make a water validated rating is also a must. Potentially even after more than a year after the test could be perfectly usable. Of course if you are going to run a water reading validation and an aquarium, in addition to the extra time needed will mean that the single test will cost twice as much as before seen, and then 60 cents.
Conclusions
The test is not cheap it costs 65,00 euro, but the price is justified by the overall accuracy, as Fauna Marin and Triton measured as well. The biggest problem is probably the test complexity and the need to have distilled water or high purity osmosis. It is very great to have in the package a certified solution that can validate our measurements even after many months of opening, making the ReefStatus used almost until the end of the reagents, and making useless, let’s say, an expiration date on the package, but it would be useful see a date though packaging.
While instead about alkalinity we find weird to use the scale in alkaline ferrous ions, meq/L, when all using the German degrees to measure alkalinity. So we need to do a calculation, or we will have to use a conversion tool such as the one linked in the text.
The test is very accurate, which is what matters mostly, we can give the maximum value to the quality (maybe we have never done it) and lower it a bit in the final evaluation because of the price. But considering the test extremely good!
PROS
Extremely precise
Solution validated in the package for a particularly long-lived use of tests
Number of high measurements
Good care in packaging denoting higher quality than average
AGAINST
High Price
Hardworking
Carbonate scale in meq/l instead of German degrees
Seachem ReefStatus Magnesium
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