Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Calcium test kit And Calcium Question

[cdemeritt]

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Calcium test kit. Any one use?

I have a question about. I dose with both Kalk and Calcium Chloride. Does this kit detect both? I've read someplace that some test kits won't "see" the true level of calcium in the water because of the ionic configuration. Don't know if this is true or not, but I have been getting odd readings since buying the kit.
The first test I did resulted in a 380 ppm, a little low, so I dosed up with CC and waited 24 hrs, tested again, and got 360ppm. I followed this with a 10% water change, tested the change water, got 340ppm, Added More CC to the change water, waited 24 hrs, got 320 ppm. mixed 1 1/2 gallons kalk, tested it, got 700ppm calcium in the kalk water. Added to the tank. Waited 2 hrs and tested again, got only 300ppm calcium.

Any thoughts as to why the drop in Ca levels? Thought of Phosphate precipitation, but phosphate levels test as undetectable. Is it possible that the test kit isn't reading CC and as the Calcium carbonate levels are being used the level is dropping, even though the Ca is being added?

Thanks,
Chris

[LiquidLunch]

AP test kits are a joke. Spend the extra sheckles on Salifert test kits.

Originally Posted by cdemeritt

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Calcium test kit. Any one use?

I have a question about. I dose with both Kalk and Calcium Chloride. Does this kit detect both? I've read someplace that some test kits won't "see" the true level of calcium in the water because of the ionic configuration. Don't know if this is true or not, but I have been getting odd readings since buying the kit.
The first test I did resulted in a 380 ppm, a little low, so I dosed up with CC and waited 24 hrs, tested again, and got 360ppm. I followed this with a 10% water change, tested the change water, got 340ppm, Added More CC to the change water, waited 24 hrs, got 320 ppm. mixed 1 1/2 gallons kalk, tested it, got 700ppm calcium in the kalk water. Added to the tank. Waited 2 hrs and tested again, got only 300ppm calcium.

Any thoughts as to why the drop in Ca levels? Thought of Phosphate precipitation, but phosphate levels test as undetectable. Is it possible that the test kit isn't reading CC and as the Calcium carbonate levels are being used the level is dropping, even though the Ca is being added?

Thanks,
Chris

[hng]

I use the aquarium pharm calcium kit and I think that it is pretty good. It's a titration kit just like the salifert kit. I've tested my water and then had my LFS (which uses the salifert kit) and gotten the same results on more than one occasion. Maybe someone with a calcium monitor will reply. In any case, I don't think that every test kit not named salifert is crap. Don't know why you're getting unusual readings, maybe someone with more chemical expertise can help.