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So if I understand this correctly your CA and MG tests are done with fresh Reef Crystals and Red Sea salt and not the cycling water.Hi All,
I bought a big Salifert Kit with 8 tests (PH, Ammonia, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate, ALK, Nitrate, Nitrite). Have a Nuvo 40 on the way, and rock curing. Wanted to get a head start on testing and learning Salifert Kits (used to use API).
Unfortunately, I'm having trouble with the Calcium / Magnesium kits. It always tests way higher than expected. I mean, WAY higher. I usually have to use 1.5 ML of the reagent before the color changes. I've watched videos online, read the instructions and did the test on Red Sea Coral Pro & Instant Ocean Reef Flakes water as well as some water I am using to cure rock. I'm not sure what to do, is it a bad kit? How do I find out?
This being said it worries me that perhaps my other tests are not accurate either =(
PH: 8.0
Ammonia: .50 (cycling)
Calcium: 700+ (Both Red Sea & Reef Crys)
Magnesium: 1700+ (Both Red Sea & Reef Crys)
Phosphate: .01 (This is a test from my curing water)
ALK : 7.7 (IO Reef Crys) 10.5 (RedSea CoralPro)
So if your using 1.5 ml of Titrant that's the equivalent of 750 PPM of CA which is super high, although if you have extremely high MG that might explain the high CA concentration.I purchased pre-made water from my LFS (RS Coral Pro & IO Reef Crystals). I wanted to run tests on the water to practice & help me determine which water to go with (No RODI system currently in home). I didn't pre-mix anything myself which is why i think it's incredibly strange to be getting these results for BOTH types of Salt. Also, I have a bunch of rock that has been curing for a few weeks and I did a 3rd and FINAL test on that water, and got the same crazy high results.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong. The water goes from pink to purple as i add reagent, and stay's at purple until I finally put in 1.5 ML or so till it goes blue. Water-line is at .8 and plunger is at exactly 1.0. (I have the new kits). I mix and drop simultaneously, then slow down close to the end.
1. I'm not sure why you have so much air when you draw in the Titrant. I never go more than .14ml.I went to LFS and tested both Magnesium and Calcium there and it came back as 550 and 1550 on Reef Crystal freshly made water. Owner said its pretty high for both. It's a mystery. Also the plunger has .20 of air every single time I draw, no matter what, in any kit (Calcium, ALK, MG). I am drawing with the pink cap on. If i draw with the cap off, then there is .05 ml of air. The syringe has a small tip, which i think would account for .05ml.
I think I might just return this kit.. This is so strange. I heard many good things about Salifert.
-Stan
StanThe salinity is 1.026, Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is what i tested yesterday. I tried even without the pink tips to experiment. I got the water line to 1.0ml so i know exactly how much i have. still took 1.3 ML.
They didn't test the water when i was in the LFS, but the owner said its too high for Reef Crystals and calcium is usually around 400 and magnesium is high too from the test. Unfortunately All my old api tests are over 5 years old (last time I had a tank up). So i ended up tossing it a few weeks ago.
-Stan