Easy and Accurate CA tests?

[SnowManSnow]

Honestly, I think I've tested my Ca once.. ever.. . The problem is that I hate those kits where you have to fill up a tube so much.. then add so many drops of a certain solution.. then shake.. then add so many of another solution.. count how many you added then refer to some chart to tell you what your Ca lvl is.

Isn't there an easier way to do it thats just as accurate?

B

 

[Anonymous]

most likely... not for as cheap as test kits go for.
Aquarium Pharmicidical ones is one of my faves, not terribly accurate, +/- 20PPM but honestly it's accurate enough for me to get an idea of the range. Each drop = 20 ppm. I don't need to pull out the calculator for that one

 

[Anonymous]

The Tunze kit (made by Macherey/Nagel) has worked well for me. It gives consistent results, and many tests per kit.

And for the first time in my life, I understand that blue is indeed different from purple. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

>...blue is indeed different from purple

Really? :?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, just barely different.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I can tell the difference between periwinkle and orchid-pink :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Then you are lightyears ahead of me. :lol:

Seriously though, to me the trick with all the Ca tests is being able to judge the color change.

 

[Anonymous]

That's why I like the API, because the change is from pink to purple, it gets brighter pink until bam it pops to purple. And because the range of it is 20ppm, that change is very abrupt and not gradual at all, now if you doubled or quadrupled the resolution (5ppm) by using 4 times as much water, then you might have a harder time seeing the change.

 

[das75]

One reason I like Salifert, just press the syringe until the colour changes in the test vial. Still has a lookup chart but at least not counting drops.

 

[SnowManSnow]

seems there would be a strip you could dip in the water and it tell you what the CA lvl is.. Are any of the pinpoint monitors accurate ?

B

 

[Ben1]

From what Ive read the pinpoint CA moniters are very inaccurate, or plagued with issues.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Ya, I've read the same thing. I would LOVE a digital status thing that would read out things like PH, ALK, Ca, Temp.. that sort of thing at the push of a button, but if the monitors are inacurate there's really no point.

B

 

[Anonymous]

That's why I like the API, because the change is from pink to purple, it gets brighter pink until bam it pops to purple. And because the range of it is 20ppm, that change is very abrupt and not gradual at all, now if you doubled or quadrupled the resolution (5ppm) by using 4 times as much water, then you might have a harder time seeing the change.

great advice, I bought one and it works exactly as you said it would.