Calcium Testing

[RBU1]

Aquarium water testing.com shows my calcium at 280, and my API kit shows it at 380.... Who do I believe? I have been adding calcium for a couple days now 7 tsp in the morning and 7 tsp in the evening to get it up some. Tested with API again last night after 2 days of adding and its reading around 400 now. So after adding about 35 tsp of calcium my level went up about 20ppm and according to the calculator I need 100 tsp to raise my level by 100ppm. So I think my numbers are fairly on target. Just not sure who to believe......API or AWT?????

Should I buy another test kit? Which one?

 

[HighlandReefer]

Without using a known standard to compare your test kit too, I would test a batch of your salt mix @ 1.0264 and compare the results with what Billy found when he did the testing. Most results are fairly close to Billy's.

Synthetic Salt Mixes:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505

 

[RBU1]

Thanks. But I use the new Seachem Sallinity. I can use the lab results posted on the bucket....

 

[HighlandReefer]

Many of the results posted on buckets are for a salinity around 1.023. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try though.

Perhaps taking a sample to the LFS may help as well.

 

[RBU1]

Many of the results posted on buckets are for a salinity around 1.023. It certainly wouldn't hurt to give it a try though.

Perhaps taking a sample to the LFS may help as well.

Not positive, but I think Salinity results are based off 35ppt or 1.026

 

[RBU1]

I have a batch at home mixed up to about 33ppt....around 1.024-1.025 range. I will see what the bucket says and see what I test.

 

[HighlandReefer]

I would think the results should be fairly close to what you should get.

There have been a lot of threads regarding AWT's test results and many are not positve. My local club sent in a bunch of same tank sample mailed in from different hobbyists to check them out and found the results were poor. I personally, don't trust them after that.

 

[RBU1]

OK thanks I will let you know how I make out.....

If your a father happy fathers day.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Thanks.

I am a father 5 times. :lol:

The same to you.

 

[RBU1]

WOW 5....

I have 2 and at times feel like jumping off a bridge.....LOL

 

[RBU1]

OK I tested my batch of salinity and I get 440 with the API kit. On the bucket the lab certified test results say 435. Don't think you can argue with that. So I guess the Aquarium Water testing calcium results can be thrown out the window?????? My tank reads 460 and they said 270....

 

[HighlandReefer]

I would trust your kit then. You can't get much closer then that.

Unfortunately reputable labs charge a lot more money then AWT.

FWIW, you can buy chemical standards for the different water parameters from www.hach.com if you want to run comparisons using your test kits much cheaper then what most reputable labs charge.

 

[Percula9]

AWT are incompetent boobs. Don't waste your money. Use the money to buy good test kits.

 

[RBU1]

Yeah I thik I will call and cancel.....if they will let me

 

[bertoni]

The quality control at AWT does seem to be rather lacking.