best ca test kit

[MSHUR]

hi,randy
what do u think is the best ca test kit?
i am using salifert..but few guys who is this hobby for a long time.told me that this test sometimes gives u a lower reading
regards,mike

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've used and like the Hach and Salifert kits. I've not done a detailed comparison on any of them.

You might find this thread and article interesting (especially if you can speak german):

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=382351

[MSHUR]

lol...i cant speak german...lol
what about lamotte kit?
is it any good?
regards,mike

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've not used it, but LaMotte generally produces quality kits.

[MSHUR]

thankx randy
last nite i checked with lamotte kit and my ca was 480..:(((
salifert show 410..its a big different
i think thats why my sponge gets cloged with ca....
would u recomend water change or bring alk up?
regards,mike

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't think that 480 ppm calcium is especially problematic. However, if you want to bring it down a bit, I'd just maintain alkalinity in the normal range and let the calcium fall. This article describes that process:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[MSHUR]

thankx randy:)))))

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck!

[Habib]

Originally posted by MSHUR
thankx randy
last nite i checked with lamotte kit and my ca was 480..:(((
salifert show 410..its a big different
i think thats why my sponge gets cloged with ca....
would u recomend water change or bring alk up?
regards,mike

Mike:

I have no first hand experince with the Lamotte test kits and they might be very good. However, I'm not so fond of their calcium kit because there is the potential of making highly inaccurate measurements.

This has to do with transferring with a plastic pipette 2 times 0.5 ml and then diluting with DI water to the 12.9 ml mark.

You have to multiply errors by 12.9 as well. A small error (less than a drop) in adding the 2 times 0.5 ml can IMO easily give differences you are mentioning.

Here is the part from the manuel:

ANALYSIS OF HARD NESS IN SALT WA TER
When sea and estuarine waters containing very high levels of mineral salts
are to be tested, the sample must be diluted before titration.
CALCIUM HARDNESS DILUTION (1 TO 12.9) (SALT WATER)
1. Use the 0.5 mL pipet (0353) to transfer 1.0 mL (two measures) of the
salt water sample to the test tube (0608).
2. Dilute to 12.9 mL line with distilled water.


.................

http://www.lamotte.com/pages/common/pdf/instruct/3609.pdf

[Megalodon]

I find the Aquarium Systems calcium tester is hard to tell when it finally goes from pink to blue, because it looks purple to me. It's unlike my alkalinity tester that's obvious when the colour changes.