calcium trouble

maltxmaster · 08/10/2009, 06:02 PM

I am currently overhauling my tank and monitoring things closer now. I am now starting to watch iodine and calcium levels in the tank

Here is my problem My current Instant ocean mix when tested with an API calcium test shows blue after 1 drop. I thought maybe I have a bad batch. So I got a new batch of Reef Crystals and guess what one drop turns blue. 2 different batches of salt and a new API calcium test kit. I even tried adding some Kent calcium supplament. What am i missing here or doing wrong?

dma · 08/10/2009, 08:01 PM

After reading your post, I performed a calcium test on our aquarium's water using an API test kit. The result was a typical 400ppm ca3 (20 drops of part B). I then performed another test ommitting reagent A . This resulted in a clear solution after adding 2 drops of part B- not blue, so you probably aren't forgetting to add the requisite 10 drops of part A in the first step of your tests.
A while back I performed tests using API on several different samples of source (fresh) water in order to determine their relative purity. Those tests produced values similar to yours, but that was just plain old water.
So, unless you're performing this test before adding the seawater mix to your h2O, you got me.
Have you ever gotten different (normal) results using this test kit in the past?

Playa-1 · 08/10/2009, 09:19 PM

Have somebody else verify your results. You new kit might be bad.

maltxmaster · 08/10/2009, 09:43 PM

I am thinking it is the kit. I tried to get my LFS to test calcium for me but believe it of not they didnt have that test (might as well have been a petco). Ill have to see if anyone else has a kit to verify my results. Ill send that kit right back to fosters & smith.

Flipper62 · 08/10/2009, 10:09 PM

One thing to remember about the API kits ( or any kit ) Is they are only good for about a year. This doesn't count from the time that you bought it. If it sat on the shelf for 6 months, then you buy it....its realy only good for another 6 months.

Always check the date on the kits.

I Always do my tests every week, But every 4 to 6 weeks I do a test and then that same day I take some water into my LFS and have them do the tests. This way I know if my kits are good.

coral_lagoon · 08/10/2009, 11:56 PM

I used a API copper test kit to monitor my quarantine tanks. Making sure that the copper was at theuraputic levels. That test was a pita. So I ended up using Salifert's. with that being said. I like Seachem's calcium test. Its a very straightforward test. Easy to use, and read..

maltxmaster · 08/12/2009, 08:49 PM

Got back from petco a while ago. My water has about 420 for calcium. API made a bad test kit

08/10/2009, 06:02 PM	#1
maltxmaster Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brookfield, CT Posts: 12	calcium trouble I am currently overhauling my tank and monitoring things closer now. I am now starting to watch iodine and calcium levels in the tank Here is my problem My current Instant ocean mix when tested with an API calcium test shows blue after 1 drop. I thought maybe I have a bad batch. So I got a new batch of Reef Crystals and guess what one drop turns blue. 2 different batches of salt and a new API calcium test kit. I even tried adding some Kent calcium supplament. What am i missing here or doing wrong?

08/10/2009, 10:09 PM	#5
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	One thing to remember about the API kits ( or any kit ) Is they are only good for about a year. This doesn't count from the time that you bought it. If it sat on the shelf for 6 months, then you buy it....its realy only good for another 6 months. Always check the date on the kits. I Always do my tests every week, But every 4 to 6 weeks I do a test and then that same day I take some water into my LFS and have them do the tests. This way I know if my kits are good. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/10/2009, 08:01 PM	#2
dma Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 61	After reading your post, I performed a calcium test on our aquarium's water using an API test kit. The result was a typical 400ppm ca3 (20 drops of part B). I then performed another test ommitting reagent A . This resulted in a clear solution after adding 2 drops of part B- not blue, so you probably aren't forgetting to add the requisite 10 drops of part A in the first step of your tests. A while back I performed tests using API on several different samples of source (fresh) water in order to determine their relative purity. Those tests produced values similar to yours, but that was just plain old water. So, unless you're performing this test before adding the seawater mix to your h2O, you got me. Have you ever gotten different (normal) results using this test kit in the past?

08/10/2009, 09:19 PM	#3
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Have somebody else verify your results. You new kit might be bad.

08/10/2009, 09:43 PM	#4
maltxmaster Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brookfield, CT Posts: 12	I am thinking it is the kit. I tried to get my LFS to test calcium for me but believe it of not they didnt have that test (might as well have been a petco). Ill have to see if anyone else has a kit to verify my results. Ill send that kit right back to fosters & smith.

08/10/2009, 11:56 PM	#6
coral_lagoon Pushrod Powered Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Down The Corkscrew , CA Posts: 1,263	I used a API copper test kit to monitor my quarantine tanks. Making sure that the copper was at theuraputic levels. That test was a pita. So I ended up using Salifert's. with that being said. I like Seachem's calcium test. Its a very straightforward test. Easy to use, and read..

08/12/2009, 08:49 PM	#7
maltxmaster Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brookfield, CT Posts: 12	Got back from petco a while ago. My water has about 420 for calcium. API made a bad test kit