Red Sea Testing Error or Salt Issue

WAfrican · Dec 20, 2015

So i've been having a rough time figuring out my parameters for my 40 breeder and decided to test my freshly mixed coral pro salt mix to see what I get. I mixed it to a salinity of 1.026 on my calibrated refractometer and got the following...Alk-11.8...Calcium-415...Mag1240. Now this is testing as told with the red sea test kit where once there is a color changes stop, even if the colors revert to the original color. So instead of stopping I continued until I no longer saw the color revert back and got... Alk-12.8...Calcium 435...Mag1360. Now is this an issue with my testing, the test kit or is my salt just weak. Also what is the correct stopping point for the red sea test kits?

constantflow · Dec 20, 2015

I don't know the answer but red sea has good videos if you haven't seen them. They may help you while you wait.

WAfrican · Dec 21, 2015

I have already looked at their videos several times and still unsure as they say to stop the second it changes even if it reverts but the test kit seems closer(still off a bit) to the stated levels of the salt if ran until it remains the final color.

Lenny_S · Dec 21, 2015

For a titration test, add the reagent until the color changes. As soon as it changes keep swizzling it for a good 5-10 seconds. If it changes back add another droplet and swizzle again. When the color remains changed that is your reading.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

I can't comment on their kits and what they think the end points should be. If you have a pH meter, you can use it to determine the correct endpoint of the alk test (should be pH 4.2 to 4.5).

Regardless, I'd let the alk decline a bit and the calcium and magnesium are fine.

How are you measuring salinity? If by refractometer, what brand and how did you calibrate it?

jd371 · Dec 21, 2015

The Alkalinity test is the one that gives me a problem. When I do the test instead of changing from blue to pink like in the youtube video, mine goes from blue to clear, I've been stopping there and taking the reading. I've even added more drops when it changes to clear to see if it would change over to pink but it never does it just stays mostly clear. I hope I've been doing this right because you're basically taking the reading when the liquid changes color...right?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

jd371 said:
The Alkalinity test is the one that gives me a problem. When I do the test instead of changing from blue to pink like in the youtube video, mine goes from blue to clear, I've been stopping there and taking the reading. I've even added more drops when it changes to clear to see if it would change over to pink but it never does it just stays mostly clear. I hope I've been doing this right because you're basically taking the reading when the liquid changes color...right?

Red Sea seems to have several alk kits with different color changes.

Do you have a pH meter?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

Here's a thread that talks about the different colors:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/red-sea-pro-alk.224375/

jd371 · Dec 21, 2015

I don't have a pH meter, but there is a test included with the Seachem Basic test kit I have. Took a reading yesterday.... pH 8.1.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

jd371 said:
I don't have a pH meter, but there is a test included with the Seachem Basic test kit I have. Took a reading yesterday.... pH 8.1.

Sorry, I meant to determine for your alk kit where the endpoint is. A pH kit can't help that.

jd371 · Dec 21, 2015

Thanks for the help and link Randy. From what I understand, with these type of tests you're looking for the color change and not the actual color.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2015

jd371 said:
Thanks for the help and link Randy. From what I understand, with these type of tests you're looking for the color change and not the actual color.

The designers of some alk kits specify a specific color because they often are the result of more than one indicator dye. So there is not a simple change.

jd371 · Dec 21, 2015

Ugh! I think it's time to invest in some Hanna testers and forget about all this color nonsense.

tonizzy22 · Dec 21, 2015

Did you mix the dry salt before making saltwater? Salt componets may have settled out when it was shipped.

TD13 · Dec 21, 2015

Red Sea has a thread on reef central. I had a very similar issue, apparently dry mixing their salts is important. Contact RedSeaKev there and he'll get you squared away. They replaced my salt.

JimWelsh · Dec 21, 2015

jd371 said:
Ugh! I think it's time to invest in some Hanna testers and forget about all this color nonsense.

Or, going with Randy's DIY Alk test.

Sabellafella · Dec 21, 2015

WAfrican said:
So i've been having a rough time figuring out my parameters for my 40 breeder and decided to test my freshly mixed coral pro salt mix to see what I get. I mixed it to a salinity of 1.026 on my calibrated refractometer and got the following...Alk-11.8...Calcium-415...Mag1240. Now this is testing as told with the red sea test kit where once there is a color changes stop, even if the colors revert to the original color. So instead of stopping I continued until I no longer saw the color revert back and got... Alk-12.8...Calcium 435...Mag1360. Now is this an issue with my testing, the test kit or is my salt just weak. Also what is the correct stopping point for the red sea test kits?

Got 1 answers for you if your not messing up ur testing , at the top of a red sea bucket runs mag around 1250 and bottom 1550 witch i "think" thats why it affects ur calc levels, take the bag out and roll it around and then test

WAfrican · Dec 22, 2015

I made sure to take the bag out and mix it thoroughly for about 2 minutes then proceeded to mix it as recommended without aeration for no more than 4 hours and once the water was clear i threw in the heater and brought it up to 79* and proceeded to test everything.