Salifert Test Kits - Inaccurate Results??

[Sunny]

Well I have heard a some hobbyist mention that they get wrong reading with these kits. I am specifically concerned about the Alkalinity TEST kit. I am getting vague readings. It reads my ALK at 10.8 while my API kit reads it as 8.

I am not saying that API is correct but it looks like it because my pH is low. I just started using Salifert and it always shows my ALK to be 10 or higher. I also took water for testing to a LFS and that reading matched my API readings.

Anyone else have similar experience with Salifert ALK Test Kit?

 

[njstillwell]

I use salifert all the time cant say anything bad about them.When you read the ALK testing paper it says results will vary +/- 5 % after a reading of 11. Have you tried the ALK test bottle that comes with it, which has an ALK of 8.1 once you have established this and your syringe is reading also at 8.1 you can now assume that the ALK levels are where they are suppose to be. If not and they vary from what is in the ALK test bottle SUBSTRACT or ADD that diiference off your final outcome.Wouldnt recomend API for anything other than normal testing of PH,AMMONIA,NITRITE AND NITRATE.Also make sure that the syrine is not all the way full to the 1.0 ml line this will throw your results off as well. There is suppose to be an air pocket between the 1.0 ml and 0.9 ml it will not affect your results this is normal so see what happend let us know.

 

[Sunny]

The syringe is not full. I have salifert mag, calcium and pH kits as well. They seem to be fine.

I did not quite get the "small bottle" part. How do I use that?

 

[john90009]

instead of drawing 4 ml of tank water take the water needed from the little bottle- what is written on that bottle should be the measure of how much drops is needed to get the color to change- that was has a specific alkalinity of ***

 

[Sunny]

Ok did that. It is off by 0.5.

 

[john90009]

yeah thats normal kinda- no test kit is perfict every time there are small things that contribute to inaccuracy- i use salifert and every test kit of salifert i use is accurate like they should be +-.3(each bottle is diff)

 

[Sunny]

Hmm. So why is the pH low - at 7.95? The ALK is 9.5?

 

[john90009]

even thought that they all have to o with each other doesn't mean that if one is at a level then the other isnt automatically at another- my ph stays at 8.1 but my alk can shift from 7 to 12 and my calcium can go from 350 to 450 and my ph could still be locked in at 8.1-i think its baking soda that rises the ph- i cant remember hopefully someone else will chime in- i cant remember but check your freshly made salt water and see what the ph is of that- if that is low then you will have to make each new saltwater higher.

 

[njstillwell]

Ok did that. It is off by 0.5.

Is it off by .5 or .05 big difference, also a ph of 7.95 is not that bad that could be the low of the tank. If you continue to get a problem mix your salt longer and add an airator to it.What type of salt are you using? what are your mixing methods? how long ? blah blah .....you get the point..but what ever its off either to low or to high compared to the 8.1 test bottle add that to your final results..let us know.Also instead of using baking soda you can try lots of other methods, but try letting us know about the questions above fist.