Not sure if anyone is aware but thought I would share.
I picked up some Sera tests kits a while back . I have used them before with good results . These were to replace the Tropic Marin Kits i have .
I ran out of the TM and did a few tests with the Sera . I kept getting a low DKH and low Ca levels .
As a result of this I kept adjusting the dosing pumps . I added some CaCl to the tank 1/3 the dosage per the calculator to raise the levels to NSW parameters. It immediatley precipitated out of solution .
This gave me a HMM moment .
I left the dosing pumps and set them back as they were .
I then out of curiosity took a syringe and measured out 5 ml of tank water per directions .
WOW .
It read 7 ml on the test tube label . I then measured to the 5ml mark with the test tube and took out the test water with the syringe .
It measured out as 3 ml .
Both my calcium and dkh sera beakers measured the same . 5 ml is truly 3 ml .
I could have seriously screwed my tank up .
The tests come out correctly if I measure 5 ml or use the 7 ml mark for the test sample water .
Here is a pic .
Water sample on the left is drawn out by the syringe in the middle came out to 5 ml .
Water sample to the right came out as 3 ml by the syringe .
Proly not worth complaining to Sera about it . I talked to a buddy in NC and his test tube bottle is off the same way .
In a nut shell if I went by the test tube ml mark I got a test of 5 dkh .
If I added 5 ml and tested I got a result of 8 dkh .
The calcium is saturated atm . PHEW .
I picked up some Sera tests kits a while back . I have used them before with good results . These were to replace the Tropic Marin Kits i have .
I ran out of the TM and did a few tests with the Sera . I kept getting a low DKH and low Ca levels .
As a result of this I kept adjusting the dosing pumps . I added some CaCl to the tank 1/3 the dosage per the calculator to raise the levels to NSW parameters. It immediatley precipitated out of solution .
This gave me a HMM moment .
I left the dosing pumps and set them back as they were .
I then out of curiosity took a syringe and measured out 5 ml of tank water per directions .
WOW .
It read 7 ml on the test tube label . I then measured to the 5ml mark with the test tube and took out the test water with the syringe .
It measured out as 3 ml .
Both my calcium and dkh sera beakers measured the same . 5 ml is truly 3 ml .
I could have seriously screwed my tank up .
The tests come out correctly if I measure 5 ml or use the 7 ml mark for the test sample water .
Here is a pic .
Water sample on the left is drawn out by the syringe in the middle came out to 5 ml .
Water sample to the right came out as 3 ml by the syringe .
Proly not worth complaining to Sera about it . I talked to a buddy in NC and his test tube bottle is off the same way .
In a nut shell if I went by the test tube ml mark I got a test of 5 dkh .
If I added 5 ml and tested I got a result of 8 dkh .
The calcium is saturated atm . PHEW .
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