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08/07/2020, 06:04 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: England, Earl Shilton
Posts: 1,452
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Accurate home testing
Hello,
So regarding the home test kits, what are the DO's to make the test kits we have as accurate as possible? Thanks
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08/07/2020, 07:59 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 7,206
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Consistency with how you do the test.
If I need a small spoon of powder I level it off with some plastic so I get it right every time. Get the water sample as close to the same spot on the syringe line, things like these help.
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250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps. |
08/07/2020, 09:42 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: N.E.N.C.
Posts: 140
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Stay away from those cheepie API test strips, I had some that were reading false negatives.
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Oh..... Fishy Fishy Fishy FISH ! Current Tank Info: 60 Gallon Fish-Only With Dry Rock, Filtration: Aquamaxx HOB Filter/Skimmer & Aqua-Tech 30-60 300 GPH HOB Motor Filter, Livestock: Coral Beauty and Maroon Clown |
08/07/2020, 03:00 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
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I agree with consistency.
Follow the instructions carefully. For some test kits, like calcium, there is a time required for the reaction to occur, which means waiting between titration drops. Keep reagent bottles capped as much as possible. While the top is off, water can evaporate, which leads to incorrect readings over time.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
08/07/2020, 04:10 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2019
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 162
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Personally I use my phone timer when stirring up the solution. So if it says shake for 15 seconds I time it and stop at exactly 15 seconds. I had problems with Red Sea magnesium test until I started doing that
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08/07/2020, 06:13 PM | #6 |
RC Mod
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Get tests that return actual numbers, where possible. 'Kinda pink' is hard to classify. 8.3 is a fact, not an approximation of pinkness. Salifert is mostly numbers.
Watch for color flashes as you add drops in Salifert: those indicate you're reaching the critical point and it's close to 'turning' full-on done. Also: set your test tube on a white surface under good light and look down the tube when working, like adding drops; That gives you the truest view. View from overhead, never sideways. You're also more likely to see the flash when viewed from that angle. Also, anytime they give you a measure in tsp or such---they mean LEVEL, not heaping. That's basic cookery---and chemistry. If ever they want heaping they will use that precise word.
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Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. |
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