Bad test kit or bad water????!

Brandan · #1 12/29/2007, 11:12 PM

Well, for Christmas I got a Salifert Calcium and Alk. Test kit. I tested both Christmas day on my 55gal. Cal. was 350ppm (I know, low. . .) and Alk. was 8dKH (dead on). I dose calcium chloride, and baking soda. I tested them both yesterday only to find my Cal. at 150ppm and Alk at 4dKH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no way this is correct. I tested it 3 times yesterday with the same result every time, I tested it today with the same result. I tested my 33gal cube today to find out that the Cal. is at 100ppm. There is no way this is correct either. Should I just try a different test kit??? Does anyone have a recommendation on a brand? Lamotte?? Seachem?? I am furious!!! No local fish stores test water. So if I do anything, I am going to have to fork out another 50 bucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not happy!

bertoni · #2 12/29/2007, 11:32 PM

I'd mix up some fresh saltwater and test that.

What's been dosed into the 33g cube, if anything?

Billybeau1 · #3 12/30/2007, 03:34 AM

Brandan, I think you are reading the results of the syringes backwards.

For calcium, a full syringe is 500 ppm. 350 and 150 is what ? 500 right ?

Same applies to alk.

Please re-read the instructions carefully and if you need more help, give us a shout.

Nice Christmas present.

That means, if I am correct that the calcium level in your 33 gal is 400 ppm which is a fine place to be.

Brandan · #4 12/30/2007, 10:36 AM

Ahhhhhhhh, So the section on the instructions that says "Reading in ml's" is what is left after the water turns blue, not how much you used. Gotcha, lol. I feel rather out of place now. . . lol Thanks Billybeau.

Brandan · #5 12/30/2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
I'd mix up some fresh saltwater and test that.

What's been dosed into the 33g cube, if anything?

I don't dose anything in the 33g. But it only has a small Birdnest, and a small Acro in it. The 55 has quite a few good size SPS frags and 2 4" ORA Derasa clams.

Billybeau1 · #6 12/30/2007, 12:24 PM

Glad your test kits are ok.

Brandan · #7 12/30/2007, 05:40 PM

I still think the Alk. test kit is part of the bad batch Salifert put out. I had a reading of about 11.5 this afternoon, I tested with my Instant Ocean kit, and I got 8.5. I need to have this kit replaced, but I have no idea how.