Test kit results. Api

foneman02 · 12/19/2017, 10:01 AM

Testing for akalinity. Test sample water turns blue on 1st drop. Says dkh is 17.8 Also calcium test sample doesn’t turn blue stays purple. How to correct these results. Tank is a 120.Done 2 water changes on consecutive Fridays approximately 30 gal each time.Using instant ocean.Any advice on how to correct these results.

RobZilla04 · 12/19/2017, 10:37 AM

Check the test results vs Red Sea, Salifert, or Hanna Checker. I know those can be expensive but they are more reliable than API IMO. If you used IO salt exclusively and you're salinity is 1.024-26 there is no way possible you have an Alk of 17+ unless you've used a pH buffer.

foneman02 · 12/19/2017, 10:49 AM

Rob you are correct. My dkh was always an 8 and I never added any buffer. I always thought the result was incorrect. I would add calcium when needed to maintain a 400. But the dkh would never go down. So I did add a little and decided to test about 2 weeks ago and the dkh was high. A local pet shop went out of business last week and sold a lot of Stoney corals frags very cheap. I bought some and I didn’t have a choice but to put them in my tank. I hope all the water changes I do doesn’t kill them.

RobZilla04 · 12/19/2017, 11:01 AM

Water changes will never kill anything so long as the salt mix is done to the correct salinity/sg. I suggest starting a log and running the basic battery of tests to get a starting point. For reference there is a salt mix guide which outlines basic parameters (Alk, Cal, & Mag) for the various brands.

As for Alk now, don't supplement any until you have a satisfactory test result(s) you are confident in.

nereefpat · 12/19/2017, 12:47 PM

The test sample is supposed to turn blue on the first drop for the dKH kit. It should take 7-11 drops to change to yellow. The number of drops equals the dKH (alk) reading. You can't achieve a 17.8 reading with this kit. It's only whole numbers.

mcgyvr · 12/19/2017, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

The test sample is supposed to turn blue on the first drop for the dKH kit. It should take 7-11 drops to change to yellow. The number of drops equals the dKH (alk) reading. You can't achieve a 17.8 reading with this kit. It's only whole numbers.

^^This...
well this below..
As always its very useful to read the directions..

And 1 drop is 17.9ppm which is NOT the same as dKH but as stated you count till it turns yellow.. not blue..
1 drop is 1dKH (or 17.9ppm)
8 drops is 8dKH(or 143.2 ppm)

foneman02 · 12/19/2017, 01:08 PM

Thanks for clearing up test. I ran test for alklanity, cal, mg,pH phos and nitrate.I must of misread instructions.

bertoni · 12/19/2017, 03:37 PM

Some calcium kits stay purple unless the solution is mixed well and let to sit for a while for the reaction to complete. I titrated my IO kit until it turned purple, then waited 1 minute, and from there one more drop or so would complete the color change to blue. Your kit might need more time, as well.

12/19/2017, 10:01 AM	#1
foneman02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 22	Test kit results. Api Testing for akalinity. Test sample water turns blue on 1st drop. Says dkh is 17.8 Also calcium test sample doesn’t turn blue stays purple. How to correct these results. Tank is a 120.Done 2 water changes on consecutive Fridays approximately 30 gal each time.Using instant ocean.Any advice on how to correct these results.

12/19/2017, 10:37 AM	#2
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Check the test results vs Red Sea, Salifert, or Hanna Checker. I know those can be expensive but they are more reliable than API IMO. If you used IO salt exclusively and you're salinity is 1.024-26 there is no way possible you have an Alk of 17+ unless you've used a pH buffer. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

12/19/2017, 11:01 AM	#4
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Water changes will never kill anything so long as the salt mix is done to the correct salinity/sg. I suggest starting a log and running the basic battery of tests to get a starting point. For reference there is a salt mix guide which outlines basic parameters (Alk, Cal, & Mag) for the various brands. As for Alk now, don't supplement any until you have a satisfactory test result(s) you are confident in. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

12/19/2017, 12:47 PM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	The test sample is supposed to turn blue on the first drop for the dKH kit. It should take 7-11 drops to change to yellow. The number of drops equals the dKH (alk) reading. You can't achieve a 17.8 reading with this kit. It's only whole numbers. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

12/19/2017, 03:37 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some calcium kits stay purple unless the solution is mixed well and let to sit for a while for the reaction to complete. I titrated my IO kit until it turned purple, then waited 1 minute, and from there one more drop or so would complete the color change to blue. Your kit might need more time, as well. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/19/2017, 10:49 AM	#3
foneman02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 22	Rob you are correct. My dkh was always an 8 and I never added any buffer. I always thought the result was incorrect. I would add calcium when needed to maintain a 400. But the dkh would never go down. So I did add a little and decided to test about 2 weeks ago and the dkh was high. A local pet shop went out of business last week and sold a lot of Stoney corals frags very cheap. I bought some and I didn’t have a choice but to put them in my tank. I hope all the water changes I do doesn’t kill them.

12/19/2017, 01:08 PM	#7
foneman02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 22	Thanks for clearing up test. I ran test for alklanity, cal, mg,pH phos and nitrate.I must of misread instructions.