Anyone have wonky Salifert Ca test kit?
 

Just bought a new test kit, and my Ca is well over 500ppm. Hmm, not right, I says to myself. I measure my new make-up water, same thing. Anyone else getting numbers like this from new kits?

Brad, I've come to the conclusion that some of these kits are not that accurate. I took Ca readings with 3 different kits: Salifert 380, Tropic Marin 420, and API 440. Which one is right, if any?

Well, with three like that, you would average it for the real value! :)

Man, if you can't trust test kits!!!! My water has some amount of salt, at some temperature that may be wrong, it may or may not have Ca, Alk is a throw of the dice, and everything else is make believe. Only thing I know for sure is it's wet!

I always said, this hobby is more art than science!

not using old procedure or chart with a new kit?

nope, using the new and improved method.

You sure? Might want to double check.. :lol:

Me too-
 

I got really high readings with my kit. I thought I was doing something wrong so I tested it again and again. I even went online to find "different" directions-but to no avail.

I've long since come to the conclusion there is no such thing as an accurate test kit under $100.
The only thing I test for now is alk and even then I don't take down any actual numbers, just the position on the syringe, if there is more liquid left in the syringe it means I need to turn the reactor up, less liquid and the reactor gets turned down.
I use IO salt which is consistantly low in cal and MG so I add them to my make up water and assume all numbers stay even in relation to each other

Where abouts are you in Victoria. I can bring mine over to double check if you want, it'll be an older lot #

Instant Ocean salt (not reef crystals) mixed at 1.026 s.g. generally tests out at 360-380 ppm CA.

Thanks, but I just finished off an older kit that gave me real numbers, this new kit is going back to the store !
Using the same batch of salt, this kit is way off the level the last kit gave me.

Mixed up 100l yesterday, Ca 370ppm (Mg 1100).

Out of curiosity what results did you get for alkalinity?

didn't test this last mix, but from one time before recorded 10.9 dKH (believe would have been a different pail of IO though)

You guys can have my thread, I'm done with it now :)

looked like you were that's why I don't feel bad for hijacking

:)

Hmm, anyone measure their Ca when salinity was 1.029? Maybe I'll do something smart this week to balance it out..