water testing questions! help

Blakeup295 · 05/12/2010, 02:20 PM

i cant figure out my calcium so the water got pink but the other drops didnt change the water color to the end color at all! i endup using 10 drops and giving up i dont want to waste is all do i just have no calcium in my tank at all??

and i also wanted to know about the phosphate test do u look at the water color looking at the tube or do u literally look from the top on the tube to the bottem with lid off?

both were red sea tests.

thanks for your help!

reefvilla · 05/12/2010, 02:53 PM

All test kits usually have clear instructions as far as testing and looking through the tube @ 20cm or vertically.

As far as calcium.... Maybe its sky high!?
You need to run the test again and go step by step with the instructions...Add as many drops as neccessary to get to the color. Then you'll know where your at.

Do you do weekly water changes?
Do you dose anything?
What gives Wally...

IslandCrow · 05/12/2010, 03:07 PM

It may help if you tell us what test kit you're using.

sslak · 05/12/2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blakeup295

i cant figure out my calcium so the water got pink but the other drops didnt change the water color to the end color at all! i endup using 10 drops and giving up i dont want to waste is all do i just have no calcium in my tank at all??

and i also wanted to know about the phosphate test do u look at the water color looking at the tube or do u literally look from the top on the tube to the bottem with lid off?

both were red sea tests.

thanks for your help!

10 drops isn't enough. If you are using an API test and your Ca is where it should be it should take around 22 drops before it changes.

Read the directions. Follow the directions. "Giving up" wasn't on the instruction sheet.

Blakeup295 · 05/12/2010, 03:39 PM

islandcrow i did mention what test kit im using red sea

and i read the thing it says around 4-5 drops in normal so when i doubled it i dident want to keep goin and waste it all as its a small relatively expensive bottle.

Blakeup295 · 05/12/2010, 04:13 PM

ok i figured out how the calcium worked i have 350

05/12/2010, 02:20 PM	#1
Blakeup295 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: walnut creek Posts: 437	water testing questions! help i cant figure out my calcium so the water got pink but the other drops didnt change the water color to the end color at all! i endup using 10 drops and giving up i dont want to waste is all do i just have no calcium in my tank at all?? and i also wanted to know about the phosphate test do u look at the water color looking at the tube or do u literally look from the top on the tube to the bottem with lid off? both were red sea tests. thanks for your help! __________________ ~sit back relax and enjoy the ride~ Current Tank Info: 120 gal reef, with a 55 gallon sump. 400W MH soft coral and fish.

05/12/2010, 03:07 PM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	It may help if you tell us what test kit you're using. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

05/12/2010, 03:39 PM	#5
Blakeup295 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: walnut creek Posts: 437	islandcrow i did mention what test kit im using red sea and i read the thing it says around 4-5 drops in normal so when i doubled it i dident want to keep goin and waste it all as its a small relatively expensive bottle. __________________ ~sit back relax and enjoy the ride~ Current Tank Info: 120 gal reef, with a 55 gallon sump. 400W MH soft coral and fish.

05/12/2010, 04:13 PM	#6
Blakeup295 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: walnut creek Posts: 437	ok i figured out how the calcium worked i have 350 __________________ ~sit back relax and enjoy the ride~ Current Tank Info: 120 gal reef, with a 55 gallon sump. 400W MH soft coral and fish.

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05/12/2010, 02:53 PM	#2
reefvilla Moved On Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 464	All test kits usually have clear instructions as far as testing and looking through the tube @ 20cm or vertically. As far as calcium.... Maybe its sky high!? You need to run the test again and go step by step with the instructions...Add as many drops as neccessary to get to the color. Then you'll know where your at. Do you do weekly water changes? Do you dose anything? What gives Wally...