Inacurate Salifert Readings ?

Steve 926 · 06/09/2007, 06:07 PM

Hello To All

I have been curing 60lbs. of LR in a 20 gal. Rubbermaid container since Thursday 6/7. There are 2 powerheads for circulation / heater / HOB penplax power filter ( 150 gph) no real light other than ambient from the garage

I cleaned the LR with a brush before soaking it.

The test results I get after 48 hrs seem unusuall ?
all are Salifert test kits, & I don't know if there is a problem with them. I know that the KH/Alk kit has been an issue on the forums, and I believe that I have a bad one. My concern now is for the rest of the kits

Here are the results as of an hour ago

Temp 80 Digital
SG 1.026 Ref.
Ph 8.1 Meter
NO2 4 Exp. date of 6 / 2007
NO3 80~100 ppm. Exp. 10 / 2008
NH4 < 0.25 Exp. 8 / 2008
KH / ALK 15.4 Exp. 09 / 2011

What do you think ?

All Opinions Are Appreciated

Steve 926

Tehrab · 06/09/2007, 06:10 PM

How uncured was the rock when you started curing it for yourself?

Steve 926 · 06/09/2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tehrab
How uncured was the rock when you started curing it for yourself?

The rock was pretty clean when it arrived. I know that it was somewhat cured before, but for how long I don't know.
I did not expect to have the high NO2 & NO3 readings in this short of a time.

NaH2Ofreak · 06/09/2007, 07:12 PM

Those numbers look pretty reasonable except for the alkalinity as you suspected. My salifert alk kit that exp the same time yours does was bad. I just got the lamotte test and it showed my tank at 8.4dKH. The Salifert kit showed it at 10.6dKH. The Lamotte kits appear to be of really good quality and cost about the same as the salifert kits. Marine depot stocks them.

Dennis

Tehrab · 06/09/2007, 07:13 PM

My experience was similar but I did pay for cured rock so maybe you got lucky.

As always, stability over time will be your best indicator.

Steve 926 · 06/09/2007, 07:21 PM

Thanks for the reply's NaH2Ofreak & Tehrab.
Should I let it go longer or do a W/change Tommorow

I was planning on doing a W/C about every 5 days or so for the next 3 weeks

Steve 926

frederickk · 06/11/2007, 02:10 PM

I would go on with the water change.

06/09/2007, 06:07 PM	#1
Steve 926 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ. Posts: 555	Inacurate Salifert Readings ? Hello To All I have been curing 60lbs. of LR in a 20 gal. Rubbermaid container since Thursday 6/7. There are 2 powerheads for circulation / heater / HOB penplax power filter ( 150 gph) no real light other than ambient from the garage I cleaned the LR with a brush before soaking it. The test results I get after 48 hrs seem unusuall ? all are Salifert test kits, & I don't know if there is a problem with them. I know that the KH/Alk kit has been an issue on the forums, and I believe that I have a bad one. My concern now is for the rest of the kits Here are the results as of an hour ago Temp 80 Digital SG 1.026 Ref. Ph 8.1 Meter NO2 4 Exp. date of 6 / 2007 NO3 80~100 ppm. Exp. 10 / 2008 NH4 < 0.25 Exp. 8 / 2008 KH / ALK 15.4 Exp. 09 / 2011 What do you think ? All Opinions Are Appreciated Steve 926 __________________ Experience is something you don't get, until just after you need it . Current Tank Info: Small in nature (50gal. Reef) Large in Heart. Re-occurring dream of a 300 gal.

06/09/2007, 07:21 PM	#6
Steve 926 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ. Posts: 555	Thanks for the reply's NaH2Ofreak & Tehrab. Should I let it go longer or do a W/change Tommorow I was planning on doing a W/C about every 5 days or so for the next 3 weeks Steve 926 __________________ Experience is something you don't get, until just after you need it . Current Tank Info: Small in nature (50gal. Reef) Large in Heart. Re-occurring dream of a 300 gal.

06/09/2007, 06:10 PM	#2
Tehrab Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 116	How uncured was the rock when you started curing it for yourself?

06/09/2007, 07:12 PM	#4
NaH2Ofreak Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,468	Those numbers look pretty reasonable except for the alkalinity as you suspected. My salifert alk kit that exp the same time yours does was bad. I just got the lamotte test and it showed my tank at 8.4dKH. The Salifert kit showed it at 10.6dKH. The Lamotte kits appear to be of really good quality and cost about the same as the salifert kits. Marine depot stocks them. Dennis

06/09/2007, 07:13 PM	#5
Tehrab Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 116	My experience was similar but I did pay for cured rock so maybe you got lucky. As always, stability over time will be your best indicator.

06/11/2007, 02:10 PM	#7
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	I would go on with the water change.