API can’t be that bad?

[stanleo]

Have been using API master kits for all my testing including calcium. I finally, after a couple weeks of dosing calcium with Seachem Reef Complete and Reef Fusion 1 and 2 got the test to read 400ppm calcium. I ran out of the test so decided to get another one that is said to be more accurate. Red Sea Calcium Pro and did it’s test. I was shocked that it reads 530ppm. I did the test twice to be sure. Can that be right? Are API test kits that wrong? Is this going to be detrimental to the health of the tank? I was planning on starting some easy corals in a couple weeks. I currently have a small cleanup crew and a clown fish and two fire fish. I put five more nessarius snails in yesterday and they don’t look too good. They half buried them selves and haven’t moved and one is dead. The original hermits and snails seem fine as do the fish. Although I added two clowns yesterday and only one is alive. The other vanished after only a couple hours. Now I think I should just bite the money bullet and get Red Sea kits for everything. Is there something I should do to lower the calcium or is it safe to leave it like it is? I also got a sand sifting starfish yesterday and he seems to be doing ok.

 

[TUSI]

How old is the tank. API test kits are not that far off from accuracy of any other test kit. Maybe your API was to old. any way what are the levels of alk and mag with the calcium being 530? nassarius snails will burry themselves and come out normally at night or sometimes when you feed so I would not worry to much about it.

 

[stanleo]

The tank was just set up over two months ago and I bought the test kit then.

 

[TUSI]

The tank was just set up over two months ago and I bought the test kit then.

what are you dosing for calcium, all and mag. what are the other two readings

 

[stanleo]

KH is nine and I don’t have a magnesium test

 

[Marco S]

Check the expiration date on the individual bottles. I have seen expired ones being sold in one of the big box pet stores a few times before.

 

[TUSI]

are you dosing three part, if so cut back on the dosing and levels will gradually come down. Don't dose cal and keep other levels in balance.

 

[TUSI]

Check the expiration date on the individual bottles. I have seen expired ones being sold in one of the big box pet stores a few times before.

Agreed 100% they are sold with expired dates all the time