Does anyone know how to use Salifert Alk/DKH test kit.

[Reef Guy11]

I have a Salifert Alk/DKH test kit. I don't understand how to use it. I did the test, and turned the syrige unside down. The black part of the plunger read 0.1 i cann't figure out what that would be for the ALK, and the DKH. Any help would be good.

Thanks

 

[mhurley]

Not trying to be rude at all...Do you have the instructions? If not, go here: http://www.chaoticreefer.com/TestKits/S ... linity.htm

If your plunger is at .1, you alk is 5.14 meq/L or 14.4 dKH.

Mike

 

[EmilyB]

Go slow on the drops, there is usually the one drop that will change back, then the next one will stay.

 

[Reef Guy11]

I have the Intruction. It just the Calculation that i am stuck on. well if you say that .1 would be 5.14ml for Alk 14.4ml for dkh that is almost where is should be. Hopefully my Calcium reactor will set it right. I will test again later tonight and see.

 

[LX302]

Yes it could be a little confusing at first, but once you know how to read it your fine.
Make sure you drop one drop at a time into the plastic container and it turns pink, read where the small syringe is at like EmilyB said. Mine ends up around .67 (usually).
So .67 x 16 = 10.72

The table on the right is a little confusing in that the reading is the amount used, not what's left in the syringe. So if I started at 1.00 and I ended up on .67, I used .33. According to the table, I would be at 10.72.

If I'm wrong, let me know.

 

[mhurley]

LX302, no...You're incorrect. You've got it backwards.

If you're using the table on the right, that's a direct reading table. You don't do that subtraction, you read it directly. So if your plunger is at .67, your alk is at ~5.2dKH.

OR, if you want to do the math way, you do this.
(1 - 0.67)*16 = 5.28.

Reread the instructions, it's confusing, but if you read it carefully...The table is a direct read. Doing the math manually requires you to do the subtraction. You can't combine the two methods.
If you did, you'd get two different answers.

Mike

 

[Reef Guy11]

Well thanks guys, I got it now. I will do the test again and see what is comes to. Ideally you want 2 for you ALK, and 12 DKH right.

 

[mhurley]

Not quite Darrell....an Alk of 2 meq/L equates to a dKH of about 5.5 (look at the table to see that conversion) and that's pretty low. Shoot for 3.5 meq/L or 10 dKH.