Red Sea Coral Pro test results

reefknight · May 25, 2012

I've been using RSCP for about 6 months now after going through a horrible ordeal with Salinity last year. Since the swap to this salt I've had corals rebound in color, growth and polyp extension. Overall I'm loving the salt!

About a week ago I noticed that a couple of my acans polyps not extended as normal, so out comes the test kits as I'm thinking the Alk has drifted. Now here's my problem, my newer Elos Alk test kit ran out and I swapped to an older Salifert. So the numbers are kind of all over the place. To make matters worse I borrow a buddy's Red Sea test kit and it has yet a different result.

Alk results:

3/29/12 - 9dKH (Elos, old)

4/26/12 - 10.2dKH (Salifert, older)

5/20/12 - 10.4dKH (Salifert), 8.6dKH (Red Sea), 8dKH (Elos, new)

today - 8dKH (Elos)

oh:
So I'm scratching my head. My numbers had run consistently at 9 - 9.5dKH for months. I had a new bucket of salt in the first part of April right as the test kits ran out, so there goes my standard of testing. I'm currently mixing a batch on a new bucket of salt, so I'll see what it's values are once its ready. All of my other values are right on the money and are constant. I dose 2 part via a dosing pump for a total of 24ml each of Alk & Ca.

I'm just curious of the numbers that everyone else is obtaining currently with this salt in their systems.

AJreefs · May 25, 2012

I have had the values change as I go through the bucket. The numbers the manufacturer gives are based on the entire bucket being mixed and not individual uses. The batches when made small percentages at a time will produce different values. Try rolling the bucket around before you mix and that should help you.. Take care

debben69 · May 25, 2012

Last I tested alk 12.9 CA 440 mag 1400 red sea test kit.

bige · May 25, 2012

I too have found shaking or rolling the bucket gives better results. My alk dropped before I did that. Then shook the bucket and alk went up. I guess it settles just sitting there.

reefknight · May 25, 2012

I actually remembered to roll the new bucket that I just received. I took about half out and shook/ rolled both in an attempt to mix. I didn't on the previous bucket. Hoping this helps. I'll test the new batch tonight when I get home.

Keep the numbers coming, really interested in what everyone is getting.

jtgordon20 · May 25, 2012

Interested too. Never used this salt and my first bucket comes in today.

reefknight · May 25, 2012

jtgordon20 said:
Interested too. Never used this salt and my first bucket comes in today.

What salt are you currently using?

reefknight · May 30, 2012

Ok after a crazy weekend of graduating a niece and a nephew, working some insane hours and general chaos I managed to run some tests last night.
- At 1.026 on a calibrated refractometer 79F
- Alk 6.5dKH
- Ca 300ppm
- Mg 900ppm

I'm very disappointed in the values above. This is much lower than the some of the previous buckets that I've had in the past. Not sure if I've got a bad batch of salt or what at this point. These numbers are after I busted an Elvis Presley on the bucket. (Little shake, rattle an roll :wink

Thoughts?

jtgordon20 · May 30, 2012

reefknight said:
What salt are you currently using?

I was using instant ocean salt.

reefknight · May 30, 2012

jtgordon20 said:
I was using instant ocean salt.

I used IO when I ran a FOWLR set up years ago and when I began a full blown reef I swapped to Reef Crystals. Both are fine salts in their own rights, but I found that I had to dose more 2 part to maintain levels. Over the course of the past 6 years I've tried Tropic Marin (standard & pro), Seachem Reef salt, Oceanic and Salinity. My goal has been a salt that maintains descent levels of Alk/Ca/Mg with minimal dosing of 2 part. RSCP has been the closest to that goal so far. I'm just concerned about this new bucket, as it seems that the values are fluctuating.