API Reef Master Test Kit

[GT3]

Do I need to calibrate this before using?

I am getting kh around 16-17, PH 8.0, not sure if they are accurate.

Thanks

[Dustin1300]

What are you calibrating? Alkalinity in that test kit is just one chemical and you await color to change. Is the kit expired? I very seriously doubt the KH is that high but could be. Is the water RO/DI?

[shifty51008]

I would agree with how old they are. API is usually a good test kit and accurate. either your not stopping at the 1st change of color or you have been overdosing something

[JoeRonda]

What salt are you using to mix S.W.? Usually a mixture will end up showing about 7-10 AK. Are you putting a bunch of Superbuffer dKH or Probuffer dKH in the mix or something?

[GT3]

I use reef crystals, when the salt completely dissolved in my bucket, I take a test, calcium high(520), kh (one time 17, mostly 15-16), PH 8.0 PO4 0.25, salinity 1.021. I use tap water.

PS: I know about the salinity is a bit low, I will slowly increase that up to 1.026 but since at 1.021 is already so high, if I do 1.026 I cannot imagine the test result. Reef crystal really high in trace elements?

[GT3]

What are you calibrating? Alkalinity in that test kit is just one chemical and you await color to change. Is the kit expired? I very seriously doubt the KH is that high but could be. Is the water RO/DI?

Could be expired on the shelf in LFS?? how do I tell? I bought it yesterday.

[JoeRonda]

I doubt the Reef Crystals are expired. I believe your problem lies with the tapwater. You aren't starting with pure water so there for all the minerals,silicates,phosphates,etc. are going along with your high trace elements salt mix right into your tank. Some people can get away with it, I would test all parameters of your tap. eg. TDS,PO4,NO3,NO2,NH3,CU2+,etc.

[GT3]

I doubt the Reef Crystals are expired. I believe your problem lies with the tapwater. You aren't starting with pure water so there for all the minerals,silicates,phosphates,etc. are going along with your high trace elements salt mix right into your tank. Some people can get away with it, I would test all parameters of your tap. eg. TDS,PO4,NO3,NO2,NH3,CU2+,etc.

Ca = 320
kH = 5
PO4= 0
NO3 = 0.25
NO2 = 0
NH4 = 0.25

PH 7.5

[shifty51008]

you have a KH of 5 before your adding salt mix? if so that could be your problem.

[GT3]

RO water has 0 kh?

[Dustin1300]

Earlier I was referencing the kit expiring and not the salt. Salt can last forever as long as it stays sealed and away from moister. On the bottle of the API test you'll find the expiration. Also, the earlier posted that API is a very accurate kit. Its a basic kit that gets by on some of the parameters. For calcium, magnesium, strontium, and nitrate I find that SeaChem is the most accurate test kit for these params. Quite a bit more expensive but more accurate with more granular results IMO.

[tynman]

I had a problem with reef crystils too but not like that. Just with the PH in the tank. But your problem is with the tap water and your test kit. API is the crappiest test kit I ever used. The only one that I still use from API is for nitrates. I would try a diffrent test kit, I use salifert for alk, mag, I also use a hanna phos meter.

[shifty51008]

yes RO water has o kh.

and sorry but if you look in the chemestry forum you will see that API rates up there with the good brand test kits like salifert and such so they are not crappy IMO. cheap don't always mean that.

[Dustin1300]

To correct my earlier post, I meant I use Salifert test kits for the other parameters I mentioned. I've got SeaChem on my mind as I'm thinking about switching salts;)

In regards to API being a crappy test kit, I could not disagree more. If it is not expired then they are the most solid 'cheap' test kit out. As I mentioned I test a few params outside of API as Salifert provides more granular results and seem to be more accurate.

[devilsthird]

My API kits have been accurate compared to other tests kits. I think for some people matching the colors is difficult and they find other test kits to be easier.

[DustinB]

The expiration date is not on the bottle, the manufacture date is. Most of their tests are good for 3-5 years from that date.

I have used API tests with good results compared to my salifert kits. The salifert kits are just more accurate to a lower resolution, as in 1ppm range etc...