Test kits Inconsistent

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by somethingfishy, Oct 31, 2004.

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  1. somethingfishy

    somethingfishy Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Well I took some test tonight and I got a reading on my Alk at 6 meq/L. I thought this was high so I went to double check it with different kit. Here out my findings

    Seachem: 6.0 meq/L (16.8 dkh) Original test

    Aquarium Pharmaceuticals: 11 dkh (3.9 meq/L) Second test

    Seachem: 3.0 meq/L (8.4 dkh) 3rd test (this is a completely different kit from the first test)

    I will repeat this test tomorrow and see what the results are.
     
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  3. fletch

    fletch Kole Tang

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    Well somethingfishy is sounds like there is somethingfishy there ;) ;D Keep us posted ............. John
     
  4. Birdlady

    Birdlady Finback Whale

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    Hi Somethingfishy!

    The seachem tests come with a (forget what it is called) little vial to doublecheck test results with. It is a liquid of a known quantity, you run the test using it in place of your water. That should confirm or deny that your test kit reagent is working properly. Have you tried that yet? I found the pH in the seachem to be very subjective in reading ....I used the control vial, and found I was reading the color at least 1 tenth of a point off.... :-/
     
  5. somethingfishy

    somethingfishy Purple Spiny Lobster

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    HELLO MCFLY

    I wasn't even think about the control. I will try this and see what I come up with.

    Thanks BL what would I do without you :D
     
  6. Birdlady

    Birdlady Finback Whale

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    ;)
    Hey ya know! Sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees either! ;D
    Happy Halloween! :) :( :-[ :p ::)
     
  7. somethingfishy

    somethingfishy Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Well the results are in. The control/reference is supposted to be at 4.0 meq/L

    Seachem: 4.5 meq/L This was the original kit I used in above

    The other two kits don't come with a control so I can't test them.

    I don't know what this tells me. I guess I need to go by Salifert or Lamotte
     
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  9. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Fishy, how many drops over the first sign of yellow are you going? I usually go one over.
     
  10. somethingfishy

    somethingfishy Purple Spiny Lobster

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    Well I drip till I don't see a color change. What I mean by that is if it take 6 drips to get to yellow I will add one more to see if there is a color change. If the shade of yellow dosn't change on the 7th drip I count it as 6 drips to yellow which is 3 meq/L.
     
  11. fletch

    fletch Kole Tang

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    Sorry Somthingfishy :-[
    I'm no help ::), I have only used Salifert ......... John
     
  12. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    [quote author=somethingfishy link=board=Water;num=1099264463;start=0#7 date=10/31/04 at 17:29:58]Well I drip till I don't see a color change.  What I mean by that is if it take 6 drips to get to yellow I will add one more to see if there is a color change.  If the shade of yellow dosn't change on the 7th drip I count it as 6 drips to yellow which is 3 meq/L.[/quote]

    That sounds like what I am doing.

    I've never done the control test though. Cool thread. I should try that soon.