Who do I trust ???

[ReeferTang44]

So I have been testing a my lfs and they are giving me some interesting levels but when I test at home it quite different

Previously when my Hanna alk read 9.8 they read 10 now my Hanna is reading
9.1 and theirs is reading 12+ who do I trust

Would that also explain some of my corals acting up

 

[silent1mezzo]

Buy a cheap API test and see which ones closer?

 

[X-37B]

I would get another brand test kit if you can and test the 2 together.
Always have 2 ways to check everything. I have 3 ways to test alk and use Salifert 95% of the time.

Test the Hanna on new salt and see what you get. You should know what alk your new salt is at.

 

[ReeferTang44]

Didn’t mean to post twice

 

[exnisstech]

I trust no one to test but myself. I do like to keep more than one brand of test for stuff like alk in case I get a unexpected result.

 

[Shibaken3]

what is your LFS using?

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I have been testing a my lfs and they are giving me some interesting levels but when I test at home it quite different

Previously when my Hanna alk read 9.8 they read 10 now my Hanna is reading
9.1 and theirs is reading 12+ who do I trust

Would that also explain some of my corals acting up

Go with your test and see if you can find someone with a hanna or salifert to further see what their kit says. I understand LFS too are using Hanna but another will determine if closer to yours or LFS and you will have a clue.

 

[littlefoxx]

So I have been testing a my lfs and they are giving me some interesting levels but when I test at home it quite different

Previously when my Hanna alk read 9.8 they read 10 now my Hanna is reading
9.1 and theirs is reading 12+ who do I trust

Would that also explain some of my corals acting up

I use red sea and fluval test kits to compare and they give the same numbers.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Go with your test and see if you can find someone with a hanna or salifert to further see what their kit says. I understand LFS too are using Hanna but another will determine if closer to yours or LFS and you will have a clue.

This is what I'd recommend as well.

 

[Rmckoy]

So I have been testing a my lfs and they are giving me some interesting levels but when I test at home it quite different

Previously when my Hanna alk read 9.8 they read 10 now my Hanna is reading
9.1 and theirs is reading 12+ who do I trust

Would that also explain some of my corals acting up

What’s the time frame between the lfs testing 10-12+
I would always retest and learn to test everything yourself . Not trusting anyone else .

It’s good to get a second opinion or even test yourself with a different kit.
But I always do my own tests .
Be sure to follow the instructions exactly
If something seams odd . It could be incorrect or testing error .

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Hope you got this solved. Definitely let us know the outcome

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I usually say hanna test or saliferts are the best to test with, but people have differing opinions on which are the best

 

[Timfish]

There could be changes in water chemistry between when you take a sample and when you get to your LFS. As mentioned above, get different tests and check them at the same time at home. Here's some more info looking at multiple test kits, in the .pdf attached test results varied considerably between testers and tanks using the same test kits.

Despite API reputation, the Chemicals in the test kits are actually good

API doesn’t sell a Mag kit?? Heh

www.reef2reef.com

 

[jda]

IMO, everybody should have Salifert test kits on hand to check their checkers. They are cheap and consistent... and probably decently accurate.