Here is a real quick video that shows exactly how to use and read a Salifert Calcium test kit. its about 7 minutes, and i hope many people new to test kits or to Salifert test kits find it helpful

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SalifertCa-TR-Ep68

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Great video Rob showing exactly how the test is done. I can't count how many times I have seen people posting about how to do this test and I now have a perfect place to point them.

still downlodin'

Good video. That is exactly the purple that I get. Too bad that my directions didn't say anything about purple. Especially since purple is the color you get between red and blue.

Great video! It's wierd...such a simple thing can be so screwed up.

Great video! It's wierd...such a simple thing can be so screwed up.
exactly.. that's why when it was brought up in the forums, i thought, that would be a perfect quick little video.. :)

Great video Rob for those just starting to use this kit. What I have trouble with is trying to read the various Nitrate tests on the market. I have ones from Red Sea, Sea Chem, and Salifert of course. They all read differently. The nitrate tests that have you determine many different shades of pink are frustrating to read.

Why is nitrate such a hard thing to test for and does anyone prefer one kit over another?

WOW...was that THE Rob that replied to my post?

On podcast AND on forums. What next?

How about how to build a DIY kalk reactor. Pretty easy, IMHO.

Just a thought.

Here is how I read the tests that you have to judge between shades of the same color. (First of all make sure you are reading it in the correct light. Read your directions to see the recommended light.) Take the tube of tested water and use the colored water to partially cover the color key. The colored bar that "disappears" when viewed through the water is the correct one.

Whirley welcome to TR, hope you enjoy your stay...

Here is the link for the episode rob did on a Kalk Doser. ( if you didnt already know )
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=674

yep, and i am in the works with someone to help come up with some detailed instructions on various DIY items, might not make ti to a podcast, but I'll see what i can do

The colored bar that "disappears" when viewed through the water is the correct one.

Brilliant. I have been having trouble with the subtle shades of blue on Salifert's Phosphate test. It does not help that the Phosphate test vial is irregular; it causes caustic reflections in the vial that interfere with the reading.

I'll have to try your tip next time CJ!

I was just reviewing this video and I have a quick question. The directions clearly say the color you are looking for is blue clear which is a step beyond purple. Aren't you reading a low calcium level by stopping at purple and doubly so when you do the half test.

Hello rutledgek and :welcome: to TR.
Well, if you were doing this in a lab you would be titrating to a specific pH. Here you use a marker that changes color when the correct pH is reached and what you are looking for is the color change, not the specific color. (What color is clear blue anyway? I never ran across it in a box of Crayolas.) It is 1 drop between purple and blue so it would be a difference of <5% if you are keeping Ca around 400. In the scheme of things this is probably not significant.

I just thought that since there was a specific demarcation between purple and blue that it would be better to go to the blue color.

It probably is.

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