Salifert Alkalinity test result-0 change?

[Garf]

1.025

You can check your Alk kit by testing some fresh made saltwater at 1.025, if it’s whatever it’s supposed to be, or there about, the test is good.

 

[Greg P]

1.025

Test kit exp date?

 

[Jekyl]

Should be 4ml of tank water, 4 drops of kh1 then the syringe. How would alk even get that high with nothing but water changes? Poorly mixed bucket?

 

[Greg P]

Should be 4ml of tank water, 4 drops of kh1 then the syringe. How would alk even get that high with nothing but water changes? Poorly mixed bucket?

Or partial bucket uses with no dry mixing before initial use.

 

[redfishbluefish]

1.025

How are you measuring that....retractometer, glass hydrometer (long glass tube), or plastic swing arm hydrometer?

 

[Bwing602]

How are you measuring that....retractometer, glass hydrometer (long glass tube), or plastic swing arm hydrometer?

I have two hydrometers-the plastic kind. Both give the same result.

 

[Bwing602]

Test kit exp date?

2022!

 

[Bwing602]

Or partial bucket uses with no dry mixing before initial use.

What does this mean?

 

[Greg P]

OK, test kit is good. But, I'd get someone with a Refractometer to test your water.
Maybe have your LFS test both your salinity and Alk with their equipment. Then you can rule out testing errors or verify your equipment/test kit is OK.
I'd take a container of 'just sealed' tank water in for verification.

 

[Bwing602]

You can check your Alk kit by testing some fresh made saltwater at 1.025, if it’s whatever it’s supposed to be, or there about, the test is good.

Thanks-I’ll do that. It is weird!

 

[Greg P]

What does this mean?

Many times during shipping, the elements in salt mixes will separate/settle out. So you need to roll a bucket or massage a bag of salt before first opening it.
If not, throughout the use of the salt, the newly mixed water levels will vary - sometimes drastically.

 

[Bwing602]

OK, test kit is good. But, I'd get someone with a Refractometer to test your water.
Maybe have your LFS test both your salinity and Alk with their equipment. Then you can rule out testing errors or verify your equipment/test kit is OK.
I'd take a container of 'just sealed' tank water in for verification.

I’ll do it tomorrow. I’d been curious anyway. Just when I think I have some idea what I’m doing-d’oh! I really appreciate the advice!

 

[Bwing602]

Many times during shipping, the elements in salt mixes will separate/settle out. So you need to roll a bucket or massage a bag of salt before first opening it.
If not, throughout the use of the salt, the newly mixed water levels will vary - sometimes drastically.

Oh! That makes sense. Wow!

 

[Rmckoy]

I’d confirm the test kits and refractometer are accurate first .

next test the tank water .
Possibly the salt mix itself . But I am
Leaning more towards testing error .

 

[Bwing602]

I’ll do it tomorrow. I’d been curious anyway. Just when I think I have some idea what I’m doing-d’oh! I really appreciate the advice!

I took my tank water in to be tested today; everything was ok with the exception of the Alk, which was 17. Recommendation was water change, water change water change. I wound up leaving with 5G of their own ocean water(all I could carry) and 1 gallon of RO/DI for topping up etc. Made the change(10%), re-tested Alk and I still get 16, if I’m reading it correctly. More water changes to come. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[Sabina]

Maybe an error in testing? It happens to the best reefers. Know I’ve made them. I made a demo if that help.