Calcium test kit advice

[Coolcasino]

Ah! I learned something new. Thank you for the pro tip! @PeterEde mentioned earlier that full depress was > 0.1 ml, and now I understand - never thought to go back and verify the volume from the pipette.

Oh trust me I used to think it was kind of weird that these pipettes had that two-step motion. Of course YouTube taught me. I was looking something else up and it showed me in that video how those pipettes actually work. Of course being a guy and not reading the instructions I would have known because it's in plain English how to use the pipette LOL.

 

[PeterEde]

Oh trust me I used to think it was kind of weird that these pipettes had that two-step motion. Of course YouTube taught me. I was looking something else up and it showed me in that video how those pipettes actually work. Of course being a guy and not reading the instructions I would have known because it's in plain English how to use the pipette LOL.

It should be highlighted the 2nd detent is to expel all the sample.

 

[PeterEde]

So I usually used my NYOS Calcium test weekly but I thought I'd giver the Hanna another run. It's been a few weeks since I actually figured out why I never got reliable readings.
I was taking sample just after calcium dosing.
So I decided to test between hours and from the compartment before the dosing.
So following this method I am now convinced the Hanna is reliable if you take into account when you take a sample and from where.
Todays test produced a reliable 429ppm. A value I can trust that tallies up with my NYOS. I will continue to use NYOS as it's cheaper and use HANNA once a month to validate.
I can now say I am happy with all my Hanna checkers. Calcium, Alkalinity, Phosphate and Nitrate.

 

[farfromsea]

I am currently trying the Red Sea calcium test kit. I have difficulty seeing the color changes and can’t accurately tell what my calcium is. Does anyone have a recommendation on a calcium test kit that would work in my color blind situation? I wanted to buy the Hanna calcium tester but I read that it’s terrible.

I have read that some people with colorblindness have success reading test kits by using a phone app designed to ID colors where you take a pic and compare colors. Not sure how perfect it would be with the glass being reflective and the color wheel being more matte... but maybe worth a try?

I looked into it and the Aquarium Notebook 2 app has a feature like that. You use still images for it. And it is free!

 

[GuppyHJD]

It’s a bad design, IMO. It is freakishly sensitive to small amounts of calcium in the blank.

Randy,
What do you recommend for a test? I have been using Salifert and I am getting wrong numbers.

 

[PeterEde]

Randy,
What do you recommend for a test? I have been using Salifert and I am getting wrong numbers.

Wrong numbers?
Are you dosing Calcium?
That was why was getting crap numbers from my hanna. Now I test between tests and get consistent numbers now.
I use nyos or redsea for Calcium otherwise

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy,
What do you recommend for a test? I have been using Salifert and I am getting wrong numbers.

I don't have a specific kit to recommend, but I know many people are satisfied with the Salifert.

 

[GuppyHJD]

Wrong numbers?
Are you dosing Calcium?
That was why was getting crap numbers from my hanna. Now I test between tests and get consistent numbers now.
I use nyos or redsea for Calcium otherwise

I dose Calcium twice a day - 8 am and 8pm. I dose ALK at 10am and 10 pm. I pull water and do my tests at 6pm. When I say wrong numbers, I was having the Salifert test not color change. I did start using the Red Sea Calcium Pro and got numbers that made sense. All was good until I broke the vial ( my fault) and Red Sea advised they do not sell the part direct. The two online retailers they recommended, also did not have them.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I dose Calcium twice a day - 8 am and 8pm. I dose ALK at 10am and 10 pm. I pull water and do my tests at 6pm. When I say wrong numbers, I was having the Salifert test not color change. I did start using the Red Sea Calcium Pro and got numbers that made sense. All was good until I broke the vial ( my fault) and Red Sea advised they do not sell the part direct. The two online retailers they recommended, also did not have them.

I've had no problems with Salifert.

Are you certain you are reading the numbers from the syringe the right way around?

BTW, you do not need to use the Red Sea vial or titrator.
Any vial (even the salifert) will work just as well with the red sea test as you're simply looking for a color change.

 

[PeterEde]

I dose Calcium twice a day - 8 am and 8pm. I dose ALK at 10am and 10 pm. I pull water and do my tests at 6pm. When I say wrong numbers, I was having the Salifert test not color change. I did start using the Red Sea Calcium Pro and got numbers that made sense. All was good until I broke the vial ( my fault) and Red Sea advised they do not sell the part direct. The two online retailers they recommended, also did not have them.

This is old so I will update.
I figured out my issue with the Hanna checker.
It came down to me testing soon after my doser dropped in a dose and I was taking the sample from the return flow so Ca was exaggerated numbers. After realising my mistake I now test between dosing and have since got very consistent numbers from the Hanna

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

, I was having the Salifert test not color change.

That means the value is above the limit of one syringe. Use a second syringe to get to the color change, and add the values for the two syringes together.

 

[MnFish1]

You could always get an API test - which will give you an idea where its at - I have used all of the tests for Ca, the most repeatable, easy to read (for me) was API.