I check my sample under a white fluorescent light in my otherwise dark garage. I hold the sample right up to the white fluorescent tube. It's very easy to detect the slightest change back to violet/ blueish color. It can take as many as 4-5 drops to keep the sample blue after it first turns blue.
So I got a new Hanna CA Checker...
- Thread starter RussC
- Start date
I check my sample under a white fluorescent light in my otherwise dark garage. I hold the sample right up to the white fluorescent tube. It's very easy to detect the slightest change back to violet/ blueish color. It can take as many as 4-5 drops to keep the sample blue after it first turns blue.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I'll give a darkish room a shot on my next test. Currently I stand in the same spot facing the same direction in my kitchen to get roughly the same backlighting.
josephxsxn
Member
I bought the certified check set solution. When I get worried it's acting funny I can ensure the colorimeter is still working right.
https://hannainst.com/hi758-11-marine-calcium-checker-calibration-set.html
https://hannainst.com/hi758-11-marine-calcium-checker-calibration-set.html
coming from a lab and that's the best they can do for accuracy ????
"""Supplied with Certificate of Analysis"""
"""Standard value of 400 +/- 20 ppm calcium @ 25°C """
"""Reusable with long shelf life stability"""
NO3
In Memoriam
Im seriously questioning my purchase of Hanna ALK.
Hanna consistently reads 2 sometimes 3 dKH higher than my Red Sea drip test. I've tested against known-alk.
Just 2 days ago Hanna said 13.1 dKH and Red Sea was at 11.5. Dud tests side by side
At 13.1 yellow flags start flying in my head
At 11.5 Im more relaxed and ok with that #
Hanna consistently reads 2 sometimes 3 dKH higher than my Red Sea drip test. I've tested against known-alk.
Just 2 days ago Hanna said 13.1 dKH and Red Sea was at 11.5. Dud tests side by side
At 13.1 yellow flags start flying in my head
At 11.5 Im more relaxed and ok with that #
NO3
In Memoriam
I use Fritz RPM saltmix which has hi alk out of the box.....and I'm Dosing Kalk.
Always been at 10-12
I don't get concerned until I tip 13.
I don't have SPS bc their too hard to keep happy. 98% zoas/palys keeps me happy bc zoas come in a bazillion color patterns
d2mini
Premium Member
Ok, just seems high to me, and coral type doesn't matter.
Average NSW is like 7.5-8.0. Why dose Kalk? Especially if your salt already has elevated levels? Or why use a salt with elevated levels if you are going to dose Kalk? Sometimes people will run high Alk to push sps growth, at the risk of possible burnt tips. But with mostly zoas... I'd think 9 would be a sweet spot. At least then you'd have a lot more leeway either direction if something were to go wrong.
FWIW, my tank is sitting around 7.6 and my zoas, lps, sps, clam, etc are all doing well. My nutrients are low so I tend to see better color in my sps running the lower end.
