Video of API Calcium Test?

strike2867 · 12/12/2010, 12:05 AM

Could someone please take a video of how to use the API Calcium Test Kit? I am getting ridiculous results of over 600 with 2 of them, bought years apart.

chris88 · 12/12/2010, 01:59 AM

its pretty simple. take 5 mls of water and then add 10 drops of bottle one. swirl it awound. Shake the hell out of bottle to and then add it drop by drop until it goes from pink to purple. Each drop is 20ppm so you just add up. When i tested them againts sailfers and elso i found that on average he api test kit were only 20ppm off the others.

strike2867 · 12/12/2010, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris88

its pretty simple. take 5 mls of water and then add 10 drops of bottle one. swirl it awound. Shake the hell out of bottle to and then add it drop by drop until it goes from pink to purple. Each drop is 20ppm so you just add up. When i tested them againts sailfers and elso i found that on average he api test kit were only 20ppm off the others.

Does the entire solution need to turn purple? Should I be shaking the test tube in between drops? And what about it turning blue as per the instructions?

lbaldrey · 12/12/2010, 05:49 AM

That test tube is far too narrow for me.

I use one of my spare tubes that is broader and easier to swirl. That way the reagents mix easier and i dont need to shake the hell out of the tube.

stanlalee · 12/12/2010, 08:11 AM

follow the initial instructions. the water level should just touch the bottom of the fill line. dont use precision syringes for a true 5ml, use the line. (add 10 drops of solution one, shake 10 seconds, shake solution two bottle for 10 seconds) then:

1. add 15 drops of solution two and shake so it mixes (I use a waiving hand type motion). dont rigorously shake like the initial instructions just make sure it mixes with all the solution not just the top half. 15 drops only equals 300ppm of calcium. thats just where I start (dont know why since my calcium is always above 400ppm. could start at 18 drops or anywhere below where your SURE your calcium will be).

2. from there add one drop, cap, shake like described above and repeat (yes you must shake to completely mix the solution after each drop)

3. once it turns from pink to purple you can stop right there. it will take one more drop to reach the blue end color but why waste a drop when I'm sure after 5yrs of using it, one drop past any initial color change from pink is your result. dont go chasing the perfect end color, once it turns dramatically from pink to purple you could be adding several more needless drops looking to color match the end point blue. you arent painting a car, the dramatic pink to purple switch is the real indicator your looking for (just dont forget to add a drop to your calculations after that).

strike2867 · 12/12/2010, 08:08 PM

I've tried all these tips and still no luck. Found out a LFS uses them, might stop by to watch him test my water.

chris88 · 12/12/2010, 09:25 PM

i find them very easy to use. If your having trouble and following the instructions perfectly then maybe you have a dud test kit.

allsps40 · 12/12/2010, 09:35 PM

Yep pretty simple and fairly accurate. 5ml of water 10 drops of solution 1 and I start with 20 drops of 2 that is 400ppm the very min I want. Shaking well each time you add, compair to color in directions, should end up being a dark purple.

d0ughb0y · 12/12/2010, 10:52 PM

it is possible there may be something in the water causing the high test result. It happened to me on an api ca kit I have used from time to time and results were fine. then one time I got a really high reading. So I ended up getting a salifert, and the test numbers were more normal/expected. After a while, I tried the same API kit again and the results were now the same as the salifert test.

12/12/2010, 12:05 AM	#1
strike2867 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buffalo Grove, IL Posts: 700	Video of API Calcium Test? Could someone please take a video of how to use the API Calcium Test Kit? I am getting ridiculous results of over 600 with 2 of them, bought years apart.

12/12/2010, 05:49 AM	#4
lbaldrey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Posts: 401	That test tube is far too narrow for me. I use one of my spare tubes that is broader and easier to swirl. That way the reagents mix easier and i dont need to shake the hell out of the tube. __________________ Let Him Who Hath Made No Mistakes Cast The First Live Rock... Current Tank Info: 175G Mixed Reef, Aqua Excel Skimmer, 2x150w 20K Radium, 200w VHO Actinics, MP40x2

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12/12/2010, 01:59 AM	#2
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	its pretty simple. take 5 mls of water and then add 10 drops of bottle one. swirl it awound. Shake the hell out of bottle to and then add it drop by drop until it goes from pink to purple. Each drop is 20ppm so you just add up. When i tested them againts sailfers and elso i found that on average he api test kit were only 20ppm off the others.

12/12/2010, 08:11 AM	#5
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	follow the initial instructions. the water level should just touch the bottom of the fill line. dont use precision syringes for a true 5ml, use the line. (add 10 drops of solution one, shake 10 seconds, shake solution two bottle for 10 seconds) then: 1. add 15 drops of solution two and shake so it mixes (I use a waiving hand type motion). dont rigorously shake like the initial instructions just make sure it mixes with all the solution not just the top half. 15 drops only equals 300ppm of calcium. thats just where I start (dont know why since my calcium is always above 400ppm. could start at 18 drops or anywhere below where your SURE your calcium will be). 2. from there add one drop, cap, shake like described above and repeat (yes you must shake to completely mix the solution after each drop) 3. once it turns from pink to purple you can stop right there. it will take one more drop to reach the blue end color but why waste a drop when I'm sure after 5yrs of using it, one drop past any initial color change from pink is your result. dont go chasing the perfect end color, once it turns dramatically from pink to purple you could be adding several more needless drops looking to color match the end point blue. you arent painting a car, the dramatic pink to purple switch is the real indicator your looking for (just dont forget to add a drop to your calculations after that).

12/12/2010, 08:08 PM	#6
strike2867 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buffalo Grove, IL Posts: 700	I've tried all these tips and still no luck. Found out a LFS uses them, might stop by to watch him test my water.

12/12/2010, 09:25 PM	#7
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	i find them very easy to use. If your having trouble and following the instructions perfectly then maybe you have a dud test kit.

12/12/2010, 09:35 PM	#8
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	Yep pretty simple and fairly accurate. 5ml of water 10 drops of solution 1 and I start with 20 drops of 2 that is 400ppm the very min I want. Shaking well each time you add, compair to color in directions, should end up being a dark purple.

12/12/2010, 10:52 PM	#9
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	it is possible there may be something in the water causing the high test result. It happened to me on an api ca kit I have used from time to time and results were fine. then one time I got a really high reading. So I ended up getting a salifert, and the test numbers were more normal/expected. After a while, I tried the same API kit again and the results were now the same as the salifert test.