My AWT water test results

OneReef · 07/05/2009, 07:22 AM

I bought one of the one-time test kits to send in for water testing through AWT. I was surprised at a couple of the results.

I bottled two bottles of water for me to send in. I then immediately tested my water with my own test kits to compare mine vs theirs.

I tested with my own kits for Ca, Alk, and Mg.

My Elos Ca test: 460
AWT Ca test: 397

My LaMotte Alk test: 3 meq/l
AWT Alk test: 3.09 meq/l

My Elos Mg test: 1425
AWT MG test: 1264

Makes me wonder about the Elos kits now. The Lamotte Alk was very close.

On another note, looks like I am going to have to work on phosphate and silica. I had .10 phosphates, and .6 silica. I am adding a GFO reactor in the next few days.

Potassium was a tad low, but not bad. Iodine and all the other trace elements were in correct range. Ammonia and Nitites were around 0, Nitrates were 0.4.

MrRyanT · 07/05/2009, 07:51 AM

There was thread here some time ago discussing the accuracy of the AWT results. Nearly everyone agreed that the silica result was inaccurate. There was much discussion over the results, but at best it seems that AWT can only be trusted as a back up to your regular testing.

Mark426 · 07/05/2009, 10:56 AM

I had my water tested by AWT a long time ago with similar results. Some of my numbers were way different than theirs. I tested with 3 different brands of kits as well as having my LFS test things. My 3 and the LFS were fairly close to each other. The AWT tests are way off. Dozens of people here have reported the same problem. Sadly...trust your resuts...not AWT

07/05/2009, 07:22 AM	#1
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	My AWT water test results I bought one of the one-time test kits to send in for water testing through AWT. I was surprised at a couple of the results. I bottled two bottles of water for me to send in. I then immediately tested my water with my own test kits to compare mine vs theirs. I tested with my own kits for Ca, Alk, and Mg. My Elos Ca test: 460 AWT Ca test: 397 My LaMotte Alk test: 3 meq/l AWT Alk test: 3.09 meq/l My Elos Mg test: 1425 AWT MG test: 1264 Makes me wonder about the Elos kits now. The Lamotte Alk was very close. On another note, looks like I am going to have to work on phosphate and silica. I had .10 phosphates, and .6 silica. I am adding a GFO reactor in the next few days. Potassium was a tad low, but not bad. Iodine and all the other trace elements were in correct range. Ammonia and Nitites were around 0, Nitrates were 0.4.

07/05/2009, 07:51 AM	#2
MrRyanT MrRyanT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,731	There was thread here some time ago discussing the accuracy of the AWT results. Nearly everyone agreed that the silica result was inaccurate. There was much discussion over the results, but at best it seems that AWT can only be trusted as a back up to your regular testing. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 30 gal display

07/05/2009, 10:56 AM	#3
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	I had my water tested by AWT a long time ago with similar results. Some of my numbers were way different than theirs. I tested with 3 different brands of kits as well as having my LFS test things. My 3 and the LFS were fairly close to each other. The AWT tests are way off. Dozens of people here have reported the same problem. Sadly...trust your resuts...not AWT