Check accuracy of test

[moseley75]

I have a Red Sea Pro test kit that I am trying to check the accuracy. I also have a seachem test kit the seachem test has, total alk and borate alk tests and then you calculate carbonate alk. Is the carbonate alk the one that corresponds to the Red Sea test. Also I don't see color well. The blue color seemed to turn clear for several drops of the titrant before I saw any yellow tint. Do I consider the test complete when the blue disappears or should I l wait until I see yellow tint for sure?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No. You cannot do a single titration to get carbonate alkalinity, and the Seachem kit is the only one I know of that tries to get it (by subtraction). All other kits are total alkalinity.

I also do not have that much confidence in that kit's ability to measure borate alkalinity. It was not very accurate in my tests, but that was many years ago and it may have changed. I do not recall the colors.

Chemistry And The Aquarium: The Seachem Borate Alkalinity Test Kit ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2003/chem.htm

 

[moseley75]

Never mind. I found Randy's review of the borate portion of this test. It answered my questions and showed that this test is not accurate enough for my purpose.

 

[moseley75]

No. You cannot do a single titration to get carbonate alkalinity, and the Seachem kit is the only one I know of that tries to get it (by subtraction). All other kits are total alkalinity.

I also do not have that much confidence in that kit's ability to measure borate alkalinity. It was not very accurate in my tests, but that was many years ago and it may have changed. I do not recall the colors.

Chemistry And The Aquarium: The Seachem Borate Alkalinity Test Kit ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2003/chem.htm

Thanks Randy.