RANT ON....TEST KITS

revhtree · Apr 19, 2017

Is it ok if I rant a little?

How can test kits give such different results? I'm talking a 100ppm calcium difference and a 2.0 DKH difference.

I want my sps to do well but it stinks when all these test kits give such different results!!

Rant off...for now....

joseserrano · Apr 19, 2017

Trial and error. Look at your tank, see when you feel I does the best, note down what your test kits are reading, and aim for that.

CoralNerd · Apr 19, 2017

revhtree said:
Is it ok if I rant a little?

How can test kits give such different results? I'm talking a 100ppm calcium difference and a 2.0 DKH difference.

I want my sps to do well but it stinks when all these test kits give such different results!!

Rant off...for now....

It could be the user [emoji15]
Try Salifert and be sure you pull back the syringe to the correct ml...about 8.4...and end of the syringe at 1ml.

Oh, this reminds me I'm due for a test.[emoji6]

revhtree · Apr 19, 2017

CoralNerd said:
It could be the user [emoji15]
Try Salifert and be sure you pull back the syringe to the correct ml...about 8.4...and end of the syringe at 1ml.

Oh, this reminds me I'm due for a test.[emoji6]

Could be but I'm performing the test precisely how the instructions read and even watching videos.

azbigjohn · Apr 19, 2017

I think watching the BRS nitrate test videos opened my eyes a lot to the variability of the tests. When the $3400 photometer was inaccurate until all new processes were put into place, how do we expect our eyes to be any better?

There is something to be said for using the tests as guides, but trusting our coral and tanks to direct us.

HolisticBear · Apr 19, 2017

revhtree said:
Is it ok if I rant a little?

How can test kits give such different results? I'm talking a 100ppm calcium difference and a 2.0 DKH difference.

I want my sps to do well but it stinks when all these test kits give such different results!!

Rant off...for now....

There is much to be said for a more scientific approach to reef keeping, yet it's only as good as the data. Garbage in, garbage out. Given all the difficultly getting good numbers (bad test kits, bad probes, bad calibration solutions, bad regents, user error, etc.), no wonder people (including very talented reef keepers) fall back to look and observe. Bad information is almost always worse than no information.

With that said, from reading the forums here, some test kits give more problems (Red Sea Mg, Hanna Ca) than others (with Salifert being boring but reliable).

atoll · Apr 19, 2017

The best and most reliable test I have .......are my eyes. I do use test kits but don't rely on them for accurate tests.

d2mini · Apr 19, 2017

For alk, use the hanna. I get VERY consistent results.
For calcium, standard test kits like Red Sea Pro or Salifert or even NYOS should be pretty consistent.

Labridaedicted · Apr 19, 2017

Red sea pro or similar titration. They're time consuming and expensive, but you will get accurate and consistent results since its not comparing shades (which is not an accurate way to measure since its subjective to each user).

AdamNC · Apr 19, 2017

Also make sure to CLEAN your test vials, not just rinse them out, between every test.

revhtree · Apr 19, 2017

Thanks for the tips. Still mad....lol

Waters · Apr 20, 2017

I have learned to just stick with one type of test, and watch for fluctuations more than the actual numbers. Once you know your tank is looking good, test and, from there, just try to maintain those numbers. Obviously that only works as long as the results are consistent from one test to the next.

BlueCursor · Apr 20, 2017

I use Hanna colorimeter for Alk (accurate and easy), calcium (accurate and easy if you use a digital pipet for that 0.10 ml of sample water), and nitrate (accurate and easy but cost $300 for kit).

In short, once I threw money at the Hanna Ca tester by having a super accurate way to measure out 0.10 ml of sample water, and threw money at a nitrate colorimeter, everything was simple and accurate. I can test a known sample and be within 3 ppm for Ca and 0.01 ppm for nitrate, 3 ppm for Alk. Gotta love that.

Bacon505 · Apr 20, 2017

been using api cal and alk kit since i started the hobby 3 years ago and lots of claims that its garbage. Works for me and with the price tag of $3-6 arent that bad. Just my 2cent. It might not be an acurate kit but it give me a general idea to monitor my alk and cal.

shred5 · Apr 20, 2017

revhtree said:
Is it ok if I rant a little?

How can test kits give such different results? I'm talking a 100ppm calcium difference and a 2.0 DKH difference.

I want my sps to do well but it stinks when all these test kits give such different results!!

Rant off...for now....

I have seen the same thing. I had salifert test kits that were over 100 ppm different from each other more than once and more than 2 dkh apart. One even had a reference solution and was way off. I always test my old kit to the new and it is amazing the difference from one kit to another.

I now use several test kits.

Cory · Apr 21, 2017

This is why i made a standard:

1.135g of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in 1 liter distilled water = 10dkh

Ive got 1 liter and it will last a long time. I check all my kits with it.

40B Knasty · Apr 22, 2017

revhtree said:
Thanks for the tips. Still mad....lol

My LFS store showed me a brand he will only use. ELOS, reason why. It is the ONLY test kit that uses NIST. I have a nitrate and pro phosphate kit in the mail now.

NIST validation: each batch of elos reagents is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples

CoralNerd · Apr 22, 2017

40B Knasty said:
[*]NIST validation: each batch of elos reagents is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
[/LIST]

ELOS Nice! I haven't tried their test kits. Let us know easy it is to use, and how well you can identify the color/test results.

ksanfranfan · Apr 22, 2017

revhtree said:
Is it ok if I rant a little?

How can test kits give such different results? I'm talking a 100ppm calcium difference and a 2.0 DKH difference.

I want my sps to do well but it stinks when all these test kits give such different results!!

Rant off...for now....

It can be frustrating for sure . I've compared results in the past with different kits and other hobbyists kits, all with differing or close but not the same results. I just rely on weekly water changes and continuous dosing and the use of my cheap test kit for accuracy that seems to meet my corals demands.

Bacon505 said:
been using api cal and alk kit since i started the hobby 3 years ago and lots of claims that its garbage. Works for me and with the price tag of $3-6 arent that bad. Just my 2cent. It might not be an acurate kit but it give me a general idea to monitor my alk and cal.

I've been in the hobby much longer and I'm in the same boat as you. I use my api test kits regularly for calcium and alk. I know they get a bad rap but I can get a general idea of my parameters and shoot to keep them there .

40B Knasty · Apr 22, 2017

CoralNerd said:
ELOS Nice! I haven't tried their test kits. Let us know easy it is t

He fully tested two water samples in less than a 1/2 hour. We were shooting the ship the whole time. Plus he was filling water jugs for another customer. Also telling his assistant what to do. So juggling 3 things at once. I guess I will feel stupid only doing one thing if I can't do it right.