Can’t get a Salifert Caclium Reading

[I never finish anythi]

Thanks, but it never turns pink so not sure this helps as adding more reagent only makes it more blue

It should start off pink, then go blue . . I'd take a water sample to a lfs and get them to check CA levels .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If it's not turning blue after in initial 1ml I think you're calcium must be very high . Refil the 1ml syringe again and keep dripping the regent in until it turns blue . Then do the calculations to work out the level of calcium. .

That is not what is happening.

 

[I never finish anythi]

That is not what is happening.

Oh sorry

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yep 100% followed. Doesn’t turn pink after adding the 0.6ml reagent 2 and swirling.

Have tried low range with 1ml, and also using 4ml water, 2ml water with twice as much ca-1, various options and can’t get any pink!

Thinking to get a different brand kit and test!

I'd suggest to the OP to try this partial addition. it never happened to me, but my version of the kit was an older Salifert one that might be different.

 

[sublime275]

It was mentioned in another thread here that if it does not turn pink after adding the initial 0.6ml your calcium is lower than 360 ppm.

It looks like everyone skipped over my post from yesterday. This explains why it is not turning pink.

 

[Dan_P]

I’m having an issue with the ‘new’ Salifert test.

Not used for a month or so but when I test now the solution stays blue - it doesn’t turn the initial pink. It used to be fine so assume it’s my water and am thinking that maybe my calcium is therefore too high or too low but don’t know how to find out which.

I realise I can but a new or different kit but if it’s way off the scale then that won’t help.

I’ve tried doubling the initial 2ml to 4ml water, trying the low range but don’t get the solution turning pink.

Can anyone advise, with certainty, if I’m too high or too low so I can remedy.

Thanks

Not sure that I fully understand the new test. I will suggest a test.

First test the calcium level in freshly prepare salt water. If you can’t get the initial pink color, the test could be bad.

Next mix one part aquarium water with 4 parts freshly prepared salt water. Test this solution for calcium. The change in the calcium level from the first test tells you whether the calcium is high or low and by how much.

 

[paragrouper]

It looks like everyone skipped over my post from yesterday. This explains why it is not turning pink.

That’s what I’m thinking.

 

[paragrouper]

Here’s an alternative: instead of adding 0.6 of reagent 2, add one drop at a time, swirling between drops. see if you get to pink and then ultimately blue. The chart goes all the way down to 0.98 ml and you may have low calcium.

 

[Dan_P]

It was mentioned in another thread here that if it does not turn pink after adding the initial 0.6ml your calcium is lower than 360 ppm.

…which means the suggested initial 0.6 mL addition is too large and the pink color will come and go unnoticed. This is known as overshooting the endpoint.

The next move is to just titrate the test sample, drop by drop, from the start.

 

[Dan_P]

Here’s an alternative: instead of adding 0.6 of reagent 2, add one drop at a time, swirling between drops. see if you get to pink and then ultimately blue. The chart goes all the way down to 0.98 ml and you may have low calcium.

Just repeated what you said plus a little bit more. Your explanation is clear.

 

[goose0211]

Thanks all - Ive picked up 2 alt kits and tested and both show a reading of around 190....ouch!

Will start to bring the levels back up slowly - is there a max safe amount I can increase by per day?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It looks like everyone skipped over my post from yesterday. This explains why it is not turning pink.

Ok, I get it. This new procedure does allow overshooting, unlike the older procedure which did not have the rapid addition at the start.

The kit should work fine if you skip that rapid start by adding the initial 0.6 mL dropwise and slowly.

 

[goose0211]

Ok, I get it. This new procedure does allow overshooting, unlike the older procedure which did not have the rapid addition at the start.

The kit should work fine if you skip that rapid start by adding the initial 0.6 mL dropwise and slowly.

Yep - just done that and hey presto, get a low reading, around the same as the other kit, about 190.