Test kit

[Tommy3492]

Hey guys im new here, i was wondering something about my test kit.... its the KH/Alk test by salifert, and when i add the chemical to the water to see to go from blue to orange, it is very difficult to find the point which it turns orange.... anybody got thoughts on this ???

Here are my levels: ( are they good) 4th week in just added 20 snails and 20 hermits its a 90 gallon.


Temperature: 78 F
pH: 8.0
Salinity: 1.025 SG
Alkalinity: 4.91 meq/l
Calcium: 480 ppm
Nitrate: 20 mg/l
Phosphate: 0 mg/l
Nitrite: <.3 mg/l
Ammonia: 0 mg/l
Carbonate Hardness : 8 dKH

[Kaos]

I had that same trouble. What I do is just add until I notice it start to change. Then I note the reading on the cyringe. Next I continue to add drops until it completely changes. If it changes on the next drop (after I notice the color starting to change) then I go w/ that reading. But, if I have to add more then one or two more to get a full color change then I go by that number.

[dover101]

I had the same problem the change is very subtle,be sure your under good lighting,like fluorescents.

[Tommy3492]

alright then, how about my levels are they good?

[snorvich]

Your nitrates are high. What kind of tank is this?

[icebox]

Good advice. I usually do the same "educated gguess work". I try to find that last drop where it really changes but sometimes it doe not happen.

I would watch the nitrates if it is fish only, but for corals you are going to need to do something and do it quick... Water change! For fish, you do not want it ot go up too much more than where it is.

[Tommy3492]

its a 90 gallon reef tank, i got 170 lbs of live rock in it, no live stock yet in 4th week of cycle...