Which Test Kits.

[Azazael13]

I am wondering what people use for different test ktis out there. I am mainly looking for a calcium test kit. I don't have the name of the one I am using in front of me but my issue with it, is that I have a hard time telling what the level is based on the color change. it doesn't seem overly accurate to me at all.

/edit
The test kit is from Instant Oceans.

 

[Aquarist007]

Salifert is one of the more used ones
Just make sure that it is a drip test kit--where you measure the drops needed to change the solution and then the drops are correlated to a data chart

 

[Percula9]

API is fairly easy to use and accurate enough without the price tag of a salifert.

 

[Azazael13]

on the Salifert are the color changes easy to tell? My main problem right now is that the color change on the one I am using isn't very obvious to me. It should be turning blue, it seems to go to a darker purple (starts at light purple) more than blue, so I am not really sure when to stop.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10617144#post10617144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Azazael13
on the Salifert are the color changes easy to tell? My main problem right now is that the color change on the one I am using isn't very obvious to me. It should be turning blue, it seems to go to a darker purple (starts at light purple) more than blue, so I am not really sure when to stop.

yes much better to notice.
the alk for eg goes from dark blue or purple to pink
you make sure with all tests that you drop--swirl--drop until the colour change is permanent

 

[Azazael13]

I will look into them then, thanks a lot.

 

[bertoni]

You might find that swirling the calcium test solution for a while after it turns purple helps in getting a good color shift. I had to let the SeaTest kit sit for about a minute after it turned purple to get a good result.

 

[Azazael13]

thanks bertoni, maybe I will give that a shot with mine and see if it helps.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10617825#post10617825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
You might find that swirling the calcium test solution for a while after it turns purple helps in getting a good color shift. I had to let the SeaTest kit sit for about a minute after it turned purple to get a good result.

I actually thought "drop--swirl--drop" was kind of poetic :rollface: