why are magnesium tests so expensive?

[rsarvis]

salifert's is about $24. i don't see many other test kits on the sites i've checked. is there a reason for that?

[dshnarw]

salifert's is about $24. i don't see many other test kits on the sites i've checked. is there a reason for that?

 

I'm not sure exactly what chemicals are used, but I could guess a few reasons from a chemistry standpoint:

 

-the need for an "exotic" chemical to use in the test because calcium and strontium interference is a problem with analyzing magnesium - they behave nearly identically to magnesium (true in reverse as well - magnesium would be a problem in calcium testing). Likely difficult to find a cheap chemical that likes magnesium but not calcium or strontium

 

-the need for a color-changing reaction may be difficult to find cheaply with magnesium, as magnesium is not a good chromophore.

 

combine the two, and it could make for an expensive chemical to manufacture.

 

(Just my guess)

[Guest Aurora]

The Above.....Plus someone's gotta get paid for making the kit. BTW, after spending a few thousand $$$ on your tank, $24 to keep it healthy is not really that expensive. After 10 years, the only parameters I check are Ca, Mg and Alk. Everything else is useless, IMO.

[lanman]

The Above.....Plus someone's gotta get paid for making the kit. BTW, after spending a few thousand $$$ on your tank, $24 to keep it healthy is not really that expensive. After 10 years, the only parameters I check are Ca, Mg and Alk. Everything else is useless, IMO.

Member #3, Aurora? Wow... you've been here since dirt was rock!

 

bob