Need a Little Help With New Salifert Ca Test Kit

[griss]

Recently got a Salifert Ca test kit that is the new version. Instructions state:

1. Add 2 mL water to test vial -
2. Add 1 spoon Ca-1
3. Put plastic tip on syringe
4. Draw 1 mL Ca-2 into syringe
5. Add 0.6 of the reagent all at once (lower end of piston at 0.4 mL mark). Swirl for 5 seconds. The color should now be pink.

Step 5 is where I’m having the issue. The color does not turn pink. After adding (a drop at a time and swirling) the remaining Ca-2, the color remains blue the whole time.

Any suggestions? @Habib

 

[JohnL]

You're probably above the limit of the test.

 

[kfisc]

Agreed; if it's really high, you end up going through a syringe and a half, or more.

 

[kharmaguru]

Recently got a Salifert Ca test kit that is the new version. Instructions state:

1. Add 2 mL water to test vial -
2. Add 1 spoon Ca-1
3. Put plastic tip on syringe
4. Draw 1 mL Ca-2 into syringe
5. Add 0.6 of the reagent all at once (lower end of piston at 0.4 mL mark). Swirl for 5 seconds. The color should now be pink.

Step 5 is where I’m having the issue. The color does not turn pink. After adding (a drop at a time and swirling) the remaining Ca-2, the color remains blue the whole time.

Any suggestions? @Habib

What @kfisc aluded to, Draw a second syringe and when it changes add the results together.

 

[cal_stir]

I believe if the color does not change then you are low on ca, try adding .3 all at once

 

[griss]

Hmmm, when I have 20 minutes I’ll sit down and work through a drop at a time. A little sarcasm here

 

[griss]

Okay, added 2mL of Ca-2 drop by drop shaking with each drop. The solution NEVER turned pink. So, do I now have a Ca level of over 1,000 ppm in my tank?

To note, this kit was missing the scoop for Ca-1 when I got it and I’ve been using the Salifert NO3 scoop. Maybe they’re different sizes???

 

[cal_stir]

my no3 is the same as ca, red 0.05ml
If it doesn't turn pink I think it means your ca is too low for the test to work
can you add a bit of ca to a sample of your tank water and see if it turns pink

 

[griss]

my no3 is the same as ca, red 0.05ml
If it doesn't turn pink I think it means your ca is too low for the test to work
can you add a bit of ca to a sample of your tank water and see if it turns pink

Thank you, yes, my NO3 scoop is 0.05 ml. So that’s good.

Well crap, I went from ultra high Ca (800+ ppm) to way low? This is getting frustrating. No wonder I quit chasing numbers 25 years ago

 

[griss]

Hoping Habib will chime in here.

 

[JohnL]

Well crap, I went from ultra high Ca (800+ ppm) to way low?

It would seem so.

 

[griss]

Okay, just went from the new bucket of salt testing at 572 Ca on 12/4/22 and now newly mixed salt from the same bucket is <100????

 

[griss]

Not sure that this test kit is good or if my salt is really messed up? Questioning if I should add Ca to the tank or not. Interestingly, the last couple days my Caribbean stonies are looking like crap and I did a water change last Sunday.

 

[griss]

Per the BRS calculator, for the 5 gallon bucket of water I have mixing, I need to add 6 ounces Ca for bring it up from around 100 to 450. So, I added 6 oz to the bucket and will test in a bit.

What are the odds I went from a bucket of salt with ultra high Ca and low Alk to one really low on Ca?

 

[griss]

Newly mixed water with 6 ounces Ca added = 1280 Ca.

I’m perplexed

 

[griss]

Dumping that water and mixing a new batch.

Not sure what to think. I’ve gotten opinions my Ca is way high or way low here.

 

[griss]

Got impatient and added 3oz Ca. Tested the water and I’m at 115 ppm Ca.

 

[Reefing102]

What salt are you using? I don’t think I’ve ever had salt swing that wildly

 

[griss]

What salt are you using? I don’t think I’ve ever had salt swing that wildly

Coralife salt. I’ve been using that brand since it hit the market in the 1990’s (?) and never had a problem until these last two buckets. Both with different batch numbers.

 

[JohnL]

I would try a different salt mix