Salifert Test kit KH/ALK Question

I got a Salifert KH/Alk today. I've never used this brand to me and I'm confused. I did the "low resolution" test. I have 0.45 left in the syringe. what does this mean? It says for low res. test multiply the calculated result by 2. So next to the 0.4 it says 15.4 (for KH is DKH value). Alk in meg/L says on the instructions is 5.49 what does this mean and is this good? if not what do I do to correct it?

 

Hey gras. You can get the dKH from meg/L by multiplying by 2.8. The table Salifert gives to derive the meg/L is the first step. For you, what happened is, the remaining .45 in the syringe is multiplied by 2 because the "low resolution" test uses half the amount of product (low resolution mode will yield you twice the amount of tests per box, but the test results are less accurate.)

Had you not done the low resolution test, your result would have still been in the neighborhood of 5.9 meg/L, which you'd multiply by 2.8 to convert to dKH.

Hopefully this didn't just confuse you more. So, to review, in order to convert meg/L to dHK you multiply by 2.8. In your case, the extra step of multiplying by 2 is only because you chose a low resolution test, which uses half the reagent (so the test result must be doubled to be meaningful.)

If that didn't clarify it, please tell me, and we'll work it out.



Oh yeah, I almost forgot--a dKH of 15 is pretty high. In Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley, he recommends keeping dKH between 7-11.

 

if you use 1 ml instead of 2 ml, just double the answer when using 1 ml

that all depends on your Ca, 20ppm Ca to 1 meq/L (2.8 dKH)

again depends on your Ca

 

Sparky, I figured it out! I understand it now. Yes 15 is high and I read that article last night good article btw!

Guru, Ca is 320 so when I raise that, the KH should lower? Mg 1545, pH 8.3, Nitrates <0.3, Ammo <0.25 what else can I test for lol

 

Get the Ca up and then see what the others say. I run my dHK at 13 to 15 so I don't think they are high. I never use the low resolution part of those kits to save any money, I always do the full one.

 

Gotcha! since my Ca doesn't need to go rise more than 100, I've dosed a little Ca and will do that until I get to 420-440 then I'll check the KH again and I'll do the full test.

Thanks Otty, RG & RS!

 

ditto

uh, no. Ca,dKH,Mg all work hand in hand. the elements bind together along with other elements. so, after adding a dose of Ca then test the dKH and Mg, add them to make up the difference. its a slow climb, patience. basically dont wait until the Ca is up 100ppm to test.

 

I added 4 capfuls of ESV Ca to the tank and waited about an hour and tested again and I got this... my Ca is at 480, KH 15, Mg 1500......looks good now

and I now understand how to read the KH test too! Going to test again around noon to see if they're all good.