I hate test kits!

[fishytime]

A couple of weeks ago I finished off my Elos DKH test kit. My DKH had been low (according to the Elos kit) so I had been slowly trying to get and keep it up near 9. The only replacement kit we had at the shop was an API so i brought that home and was getting the same lowish reading as the Elos kit. We finally got some Salifert kits in so I grabbed one of those and it tests out at 12.5 WTF?....Test with the Sali kit again....12.2 ...test with the API kit....9....So which kit do I believe?

[Delphinus]

Welcome to my world dude. If you want to really have fun go spend $200-300 on some electronic monitor and still get conflicting results. Testing is ***awesome***.

[The Codfather]

Do what i do. NOTHING.

[christyf5]

Split the difference, 9-12 is a good number anyways

[Lance]

Test Kits SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Delphinus]

Don't know a thing about this API test kit but with the Elos test kits, I've noticed they sometimes do these "corrections" to the instructions, like if one drop is intended to be equal to 100 of something, they might put a sticker over the card (not the detailed instructions) that say it's 75. Probably just coincidence here but 75 is 3/4 of 100 and 9 is 3/4 of 12 ..

I myself am through with Elos test kits. I never really understood the mass appeal of them to begin with, but between having been thrown off by confusing results and those glass test tubes that break just by putting the supplied stopper thing on them (I've broken at least 6 of those tubes just putting that plug on, or taking it off) I now feel totally burned by them.

The test kits I hated the least were Seachem. They come with reference solutions so you can "test your test kit" and can thus have some degree of confidence in your results. But nobody seems to carry them anymore. Oh, if only someone who worked at a LFS could take sympathy on the plight of the test kit abusee's and could look into ordering something better....

[whatcaneyedo]

J&L now carries Seachem. I've only used their Iodine kit before but I think I might try them next when my current kits run out. http://www.jlaquatics.com/info/397/S...Test+Kits.html

Remember to check for expiration dates as well. After a certain time some of those test kit solutions do get too old and will give you really incorrect readings.

I once compared two Salifert Alkalinity kits with each other. One said my tank was at 6 dkh and the other said 8 dkh. So there are even differences within the same brand...

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Split the difference, 9-12 is a good number anyways

Problem with taking that approach is.....how much to dose??? I went to RC and snagged the "store use" Salifert dkh kit and will test with all three kits tomorrow morning. I already dosed the tank with stuff(after testing) this morning so dont want that to skew my results.

[Delphinus]

So what's the over/short that you'll just get a fourth disparate reading?

At least with this 9-12 range, you know you don't want to change the amount at all. If it's 9, you don't want to lessen your dose and if it's 12, you don't want to increase your dose. Ergo, don't rock the boat.. whatever you're doing continue to do so until you have an idea what the number really is.

The Salifert should be giving you a reading in meq/l right? I assume when you say 12.5 it really told you a number like 4.46 which is probably somewhere in the vicinity on 0.05 on the syringe?

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by fishytime

Problem with taking that approach is.....how much to dose??? I went to RC and snagged the "store use" Salifert dkh kit and will test with all three kits tomorrow morning. I already dosed the tank with stuff(after testing) this morning so dont want that to skew my results.

I know, I was just kidding. I have the exact same problem. Elos says 7 Salifert says 9. I just keep dosing the same amount and it stays at the same level. A serious pain the arse though.

Then again, my corals are happy so I guess that tells the tale.