Salifert Issues?

[FishLvR]

I started with Red Sea but found I have was having trouble reading the results so I switched to Salifert and have been using them for about two years now. I noticed I was having some issues with my tank. in about the past year or so. Basically corals lost color, coraline disappeared, lack of growth. However twice a week tests are showing my tank is well in parameters. So on a whim I brought a sample of my water to the LFS for another opinion. The results were wildly different from my own. I bought new Salifert test kits and got the same EXACT results from the older test kits. Yet the LFS results are still much much different. Some of the issues my tank is having would suggest the LFS's results are the correct results. How can I have two batches of test kits be bad with Salifert? I contacted Salifert and have not got a response yet. It appears only facebook can you contact them. Is there a way to test my Salifert tests to see if they are bums?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

What tests are we taking about? What values are you getting, and what value is the lfs getting?

 

[FishLvR]

Alk and Ca. I'm getting alk of 8.3 LFS 10. Ca I'm getting 430 LFS 330. My PH is 8.3 just in case that's needed. Our mag tests are in agreement.

 

[joseserrano]

use a third test kit to verify.

 

[FishLvR]

I'm not spending anymore money on test kits. I suppose maybe another lfs?

 

[Cory]

For alk make a standard:

1.135 grams of baking soda in 1 gallon of distilled water is 10dkh. A pharmacist will weigh it up for you at the grocery store

 

[FishLvR]

THANK YOU CORY! I will do this.

 

[A sea K]

My Salifert Alk test comes with its own standard check solution (6.7 dKH), I would expect your to as well.

 

[FishLvR]

I've never received a standard check solution. It says on the instructions your test may come with one. I've never received a test kit with the check solution. Hence why I wrote the company.

 

[FishLvR]

I have a question. Can I use my two part as a standard? So if I use bulk reef supplies calculator I can say one gallon, 0-200ppm so it tells me 20.4mL will get me one gallon at 2ooppm. And for alkalinity too, or is that not very accurate?

 

[A sea K]

Both of my last two Alk kits came with the standard so IDK whats up with that. As far as using your 2-part as an alk standard I have no idea but I would guess not accurate enough.. You could probably ask in the reef chemistry forum, those guys will know for certain

 

[FishLvR]

Both of my last two Alk kits came with the standard so IDK whats up with that. As far as using your 2-part as an alk standard I have no idea but I would guess not accurate enough.. You could probably ask in the reef chemistry forum, those guys will know for certain

It says right here. "a free reference /check solution is sometimes included."

 

[FishLvR]

So red sea my batch, new bucket, says alk should be 7.8. Red sea test kit brand new tested new salt water at 7.8, salifert says 7.0. However i stopped salifert as soon as I saw a hint of pink. If I went one more drop it remained very pink and that gives me 7.8. So I'm thinking my salifert test is fine. I just have to wait for the color to full change.

 

[A sea K]

I just read a whole thread where a guy did an in depth test on what the exact color change was for the salifert kit and if I remember correctly it was not the initial nor the final color change but in the middle and he referred to it as lavender in color.
Can't remember where but I'll look around and see if I can locate it for you. I do know it was on this site though.

 

[FishLvR]

Ok so red sea salt my batch numbers, the new red sea test kit, my old and new salifert test kits are all spot on. I mean identical. So I guess my refractometer is on too! [emoji23] I'm guessing that my lfs didn't run the test accurately enough. Or she has an old kit. She was nice enough to let me borrow a brand new red sea off the shelf for this adventure. Also note I rinse everything in ro after each test. I'm going to trust my home testing is accurate enough now. If only I had Hanna checkers.

So now that I know it's not parameters I need to look elsewhere for the issues my tank is having.