Lamotte test kit

[homegrown]

Perhaps an easy question. I purchased a Lamotte test kit (Calcium and alk. ). The results I got were outrageous, but I retested. Same results. Ca-588 Alk 144. Am I supposed to multiply by some factor? Am I using the wrong product?

[homegrown]

Nobody?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've not used a LaMotte alkalinity kit for more than 10 years, but the numbers may not be unusual. Some slat mixes fit that profile.

What salt mix are you using?

144 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents for alkalinity = 2.9 meq/L = 8 dKH.

[homegrown]

Thanks, Randy. I changed salt mix to Seachem Reef after using I/O for 3 years. I've been using Kent A/B and a little Purple up. I also recently added 45 lbs. cured rock.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the water had any of the fine aragonite particles in it from the purple up, you'll get a false high alkalinity test, and possibly calcium. Seachem is fairly high in calcium:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1287118

[IndyReefMan]

Divide the LaMotte Alkalinity reading (ppm) by 50 to get the alkalinity reading in meq/L. You can convert the reading in meq/L to dKH by multiplying by 2.8

[Billybeau1]

Those numbers do not surprise me for someone using Seachem Reef and Purple up.

FWIW, since you changed to Seachem Reef, Purple up is no longer needed.

The calcium and magnesium numbers from Seachem Reef are high enough already without an additive. :)

[homegrown]

Thanks all! Should I just let things settle down by not using Kent A/B for a while? Everything looks good, but I don't see any new growth from sps since changing to Seachem Reef salt. It's only been a few weeks, with two water changes of 35 gal. each on my 180 reef. I think a bit of patience may be in order.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd maintain the alkalinity and let the calcium drift down. :)