Drift Monkey Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 I got weird results with the Read Sea test kit...the Ca and Mg seem ok...but my alk is apparently too low for the test to measure? I'm measuring freshly mixed saltwater (1.025 sg). Mg - 1200-1220 ppm kH - too low for titration test? Ca - 380-390 ppm When I titrate the alk solution, I've barely use any titrant (.27-.28 ml) before I see the color change from blue to purplish, to redish. The minimum testable level uses .38 ml of titrant for a reading of 1.9 Meq/l or 5.5 dKH. But, if I'm doing the math right (0.01 ml titant = 0.05 meq/L or .14 dKH), the test result has the water sitting at 1.35 neq/L or 3.78 dKH? Dafuq? I tested the pH for fun too and it registered at a normal 8.4. Link to comment
jestep Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Odd since it's a good brand test kit. I would get someone else to confirm though. It definitely could be a bad or contaminated titrant. Since alk and ca are loosely tied together, it would seem like your other readings would be off if it were really that low. Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Odd since it's a good brand test kit. I would get someone else to confirm though. It definitely could be a bad or contaminated titrant. Since alk and ca are loosely tied together, it would seem like your other readings would be off if it were really that low. Yeah exactly my thoughts. Everything else checks out decently, it's just the alk. Was actually thinkin' of splurgin' on the Hanna Alk tester since it's on "Black Friday" sale 9'bout $40 shipped), but the Red Sea test may or may not be the problem. You got an alk test kit jestep? Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Stranger still, I just did a test of my tank water and am getting a reading of 2.15 meq/l or 6.02 dKH. Link to comment
jservedio Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Take it over to the LFS and let them use their test kit to verify. 6dkh is definitely high enough to maintain your Ca at the level you have so it is possible. I would re-test using the same kit to see if it is at least consistent. Also, test it against some freshly mixed salt water - it should be within +/-10% of the value on the bag. The tests are pretty easy and if it was user error, your Ca and Mg would be way off too. 1200 Mg is pretty low, but I don't think it is low enough for your Alk to be all over the map - I would definitely bring it up to 1350 or so. Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted November 27, 2014 Author Share Posted November 27, 2014 Take it over to the LFS and let them use their test kit to verify. 6dkh is definitely high enough to maintain your Ca at the level you have so it is possible. I would re-test using the same kit to see if it is at least consistent. Also, test it against some freshly mixed salt water - it should be within +/-10% of the value on the bag. The tests are pretty easy and if it was user error, your Ca and Mg would be way off too. 1200 Mg is pretty low, but I don't think it is low enough for your Alk to be all over the map - I would definitely bring it up to 1350 or so. THe 6 dKH was the tank water....the super low readings are from the freshly mixed. Link to comment
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