Salifert calcium test kit ..help

dirtybird29 · Mar 16, 2015

I'm having a hard time with this kit. My reading is way high compared to the other test kits I have. All kits are new and dates are good.
Api cal test 440
Red sea pro calcium test 460
Salifert 530

I've tested this multiply times and even bought another salifert test from a different vender but same results. I've done step by step instructions and same results.
Any help would be apreciated.

Hellsinki · Mar 16, 2015

probably a bad kit. I'm unable to get any color change with a Salifert kit I wasted money on. I have 2 different API kits that are consistent and provide believable results.

al* · Mar 17, 2015

Are you reading the result from the plunger or from where the liquid is in the syringe?

dirtybird29 · Mar 17, 2015

The plunger

fraghunter · Mar 17, 2015

how do you come up with 530? my Salifert calcium test kit only goes to 500? you sure its one of the newer kits?

dirtybird29 · Mar 17, 2015

I use all 1ml then refill it and use .06 of another to get a color change to blue

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2015

In the end, the tank is not going to be noticeably different at 440 ppm or 530 ppm calcium, so don't go too crazy trying to determine which is more accurate.

dirtybird29 · Mar 17, 2015

It's just odd with the big differnce in between the test

shred5 · Mar 17, 2015

I have had no luck with Salifert and wont use them. I know they are hobby grade and not accurate but salifert I have had way different results from one kit to another and enough to cause issues.
I had a issue once with them so after this one problem I always save some of my last test kit to test against the new one and have had some crazy results.
I had a similar issue like yours where it was way high from where I like to keep my reef and way high compaired to the salifert test kit I had been using.. They sent me another thinking bad batch and it was way low. I tested these against 3 other test kits too...
I always use two tests kits now too and if something seems wrong I use the other.
I have not used salifert in close to a year now... Stinks because they are so easy to use.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2015

dirtybird29 said:
It's just odd with the big differnce in between the test

Yes, that's generally a problem with almost all of the inexpensive tests we run. The boards are filled with such issues.

LetItReef · Mar 17, 2015

I test Nitrates, Ammonia, PH and Phosphates and have very good results. I don't plan on testing Alk/Cal but just curious on my readings are so I bought Alk and Calcium Salifert test kit last week and my Alk reading is 15 and Cal 490! Livestock are doing well. I don't want to spend money again on test kits, just me.