Kh advice please

[eddie2425]

I have a salifert kh test kit, but not sure exactly how it works, I add 5 ml of tank water to the vial, add 2 drops of KH-ind. Then i get 1.00ml of KH reagent, so far so good then i drip it into the test tube vial, and waited till it changes from blue/green to orange-red or pink color, trouble is i used all 1.00ml and it did not change color at all.So what is my KH reading?
I bought some cleaner shrimps a couple of months ago from lfs, they died in 1 day, so he checked my water, and the only thing wrong was my KH was a little low so he advised a kh buffer by seachem, and to slowly increase the KH, and then add on a regular basis as recommended.
There are 3 columns on the instuction sheet, reading in mls, KH value in dkh and Alkalinity in meg/l. Chemistry is not my fav subject. any advice please Eddie

[reefcoral]

Eddie, reading my Salifert KH instructions it says add 4ml of water. You mention 5ml below. Are you swirling the vial between drops? I usually add about 80% of the KH reageant I know I'm going to add, swirl, and then go drop by drop until the colour changes, swirling in between each drop.

Try 4ml instead of 5 and see if you get any sort of reading.
Dave

[matt h]

as above 4ml:D

[eddie2425]

thanks guys sorry misquoted should have said "add with 5ml syringe 4ml of water", but just to make sure i have just retested using 4 ml of water, same results, still cant get a reading, does this mean i have no KH.
thanks Eddie.

[cav]

thanks guys sorry misquoted should have said "add with 5ml syringe 4ml of water", but just to make sure i have just retested using 4 ml of water, same results, still cant get a reading, does this mean i have no KH.
thanks Eddie.

Have you tested the kit against the reference solution? If you are using a full syringe then your dkh will be off the charts:eek:

What are you mag, calcium, ph and salinity levels? Are you dosing any carbonate (reef buffer) to the tank?

[eddie2425]

Hi cav previously had lfs do tests but decided i want to do my own tests. No i have not tested reference solutions, mag and calc not got that far yet. ph 8.3 salinity 32/1024 using a refractometer but was advised by lfs that my kh was low so bought a test kit (salifert) and yes have added a buffer (seachem). If KH is too high how do i get it down, the old saying dilution? I do have a marine lab test kit but not sure if it reliable, so am changing to salifert gradually,starting with Kh dont understand it all yet.only keeping softies if that helps.
Cheers Eddie

[cav]

Hi cav previously had lfs do tests but decided i want to do my own tests. No i have not tested reference solutions, mag and calc not got that far yet. ph 8.3 salinity 32/1024 using a refractometer but was advised by lfs that my kh was low so bought a test kit (salifert) and yes have added a buffer (seachem). If KH is too high how do i get it down, the old saying dilution? I do have a marine lab test kit but not sure if it reliable, so am changing to salifert gradually,starting with Kh dont understand it all yet.only keeping softies if that helps.
Cheers Eddie

You need to get yourself a magnesium test kit. Magnesium is the most important element out of the 3 (Ca/Ma/Alk) as if it's not at the correct level (1350ppm) it will throw the other levels out and even cause false results on the test kits.
Your lfs should of advised you on that before telling you to play around with alk supplements. I'd stop adding any more of the buffer until you know what your mag level is.

There should be a reference solution bottle in your Salifert kit (little white bottle). You basically use this solution by perfoming the test as you would normally but instead of using 4ml of your tank water you use 4ml out of the reference solution bottle.

[eddie2425]

thanks cav bought a shrimp it died within 24 hours took it back where he tested my water and told me my KH was too low and sold me some buffer never said anything about mag, thanks need to do some more home work, how do i get kh down

[cav]

thanks cav bought a shrimp it died within 24 hours took it back where he tested my water and told me my KH was too low and sold me some buffer never said anything about mag, thanks need to do some more home work, how do i get kh down

The only way to get it down really is to let it lower of it's own accord and through water changes but depending on the level of your fresh mix could end up maintaining the level it is at.

[eddie2425]

ok mate thanks for your help