Calcium Tests?? Help!!

[dakotamusic]

I'm currently using the Sea Test Kit to check the calcium levels in my tanks. However the titration end of it always has me baffled. There isn't a very clear end to this titrating stuff with the color change. One persons blue might be anothers purple or violet. It just isn't real clear.

Is there any test kits out there for calcium and alkalinity that are more on the order of the Sea Test kits that just use the powder to achieve a color that is easily read via the color chip?? Like the pH, Nitrite, Nitrate Amonium kits Sea Test has? Oh and I have used the Sea Chem pH & Alkalinity kit and the ph card board color chart is not very acurate. The titration for alk is much easier but still a little misleading IMO. Any advice is appreciated.

[xabo]

I'm currently using the Sea Test Kit to check the calcium levels in my tanks. However the titration end of it always has me baffled. There isn't a very clear end to this titrating stuff with the color change. One persons blue might be anothers purple or violet. It just isn't real clear.

Is there any test kits out there for calcium and alkalinity that are more on the order of the Sea Test kits that just use the powder to achieve a color that is easily read via the color chip?? Like the pH, Nitrite, Nitrate Amonium kits Sea Test has? Oh and I have used the Sea Chem pH & Alkalinity kit and the ph card board color chart is not very acurate. The titration for alk is much easier but still a little misleading IMO. Any advice is appreciated.

Try the Salifert brand. There's no color chip, but the directions are clear.

[Poseidon]

My test kit is from "red Sea"... it is pretty easy to use, and Calcium tests change from definate PINK to a definate ORANGE. I guess this test is not as precise as what the Sea Chem test claims to be, but my Corals don't seem to mind.

[Ninong]

I'm using a LaMotte calcium test kit and I am satisfied with the results. It does not have a color chart. The color changes from red to purple to blue. Once it is blue, you're done. Blue means that it has no red in it. You get the hang of it after a few times. Blue means that an additional drop of titration fluid doesn't change the color. When the color is changing from purple to blue there is an obvious change when you add another drop.

[stang69]

Im all about the Salfert's very easy to read and fairly easy yo learn to do. Only took me a cpl times and had it figured out. (and with me thats good heheh)


Jeff

[scubadude]

I'm using a LaMotte calcium test kit and I am satisfied with the results.

Ninong,
How much was yours and where did you get it? how many test does it perform? Im thinking about trying them out, and maybe even Hach test kits too.

[Ninong]

Ninong,
How much was yours and where did you get it? how many test does it perform? Im thinking about trying them out, and maybe even Hach test kits too.

Rocky,

I got my LaMotte calcium kits and LaMotte alkalinity kits from Custom Aquatics. http://www.customaquatic.com/customa...=tk&brandID=LM Looks like the calcium kit is $32.99 and the alkalinity kit is $23.99 -- both kits contain 50 tests. They also sell refills for both so that you don't have to pay full price for the complete kit when you run out. At the time that I ordered them back in July nobody had the Salifert calcium or alkalinity kits in stock. I like my LaMotte test kits a lot. I just wish they made more kinds of kits so that I could get their kits for everything.

I have been completely satisfied with my LaMotte kits and that's what counts. They are reasonably priced. I believe some of the Hach kits are very expensive but I have never tried them. I have had problems with two different Salifert test kits and was disappointed in the service I received. I was promised repeatedly by the President of Salifert that new kits were on their way to me but I never did receive them.