Salifert test kit (calcium)

[Bryan]

If you are a Instant Ocean user make a batch with a salinity level of 1.026. the calcium level will be approx 360-375. I haven't been particularily impressed with the Salifert kits of late. Lots of chatter on RC about their Alkalinity test kit and false high readings.

[MikeP]

Unfortunately I just ran out of IO a couple weeks ago, I went to pick up another bucket but they didn't have any. I needed salt so on the LFS recommendation I bought a bucket of Ocean Pure Pro instead.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Interesting. I suppose the only way to know is compare it against another test kid. I have an ELOS test kit, which have received pretty good reviews. It's $35 I think, so if you want to use my test kit to compare, I certainly wouldn't mind!

[Captainhemo]

I was told that even though Salifert test kits appear to have the "resolution" to be very accurate, it isn't uncommon to do 3 tests in a row and get 3 different results.
Elos kits on the other hand don't seem to have as much "resolution" but at least the tests come out the same each time when testing the same water sample

[MikeP]

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

Interesting. I suppose the only way to know is compare it against another test kid. I have an ELOS test kit, which have received pretty good reviews. It's $35 I think, so if you want to use my test kit to compare, I certainly wouldn't mind!

Thanks for the offer Drew. It kinda sounds like this Salifert kit is no good. I'll try to return it to the LFS, they are usually pretty good about satisfaction. Where did you get the Elos kit?

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Originally Posted by MikeP

Thanks for the offer Drew. It kinda sounds like this Salifert kit is no good. I'll try to return it to the LFS, they are usually pretty good about satisfaction. Where did you get the Elos kit?

Bought it at Gold. Pretty sure they have a wide variety of both Salifert and Elos test kits.

[fencer]

you know there are other places that you can buy test kits . Like Guardian Chemicals. BTW is there any difference in pool test kit vs the more expensive petshop kits?

[bv_reefer]

i don't know i only use salifert for nitrite testing and honestly i'm a little skeptical, because i just finished cycling a little while ago and my salifert test kit says that my nitrites are 0.25 which is a little high i think, yet my ammonia and nitrates are undetectable and i keep up with regular water changes >> 10%/week

[Mik_101]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

i don't know i only use salifert for nitrite testing and honestly i'm a little skeptical, because i just finished cycling a little while ago and my salifert test kit says that my nitrites are 0.25 which is a little high i think, yet my ammonia and nitrates are undetectable and i keep up with regular water changes >> 10%/week

Lol i hve lmost the same problom exept it my amoni it says that my ammoni is 0.25 and nitrite and nitrtes are 0.

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by Bryan

.... I haven't been particularily impressed with the Salifert kits of late. Lots of chatter on RC about their Alkalinity test kit and false high readings.

Hmmmm. I was getting high Alk readings on my FOWLR, using Salifert, but my Reef tank was testing fine. Now I wonder if the FOWLR was/is fine, but the Reef was/is actually low!