Which Ca test - PPS Analysis and Feedback

luca61 · 02-17-2007, 07:54 PM

Several weeks ago I went off the Seachem feeding schedule and started using the PPS with water changes, so far so good (especially wallet-wise).

Over time, I'd like to switch to the... 'true' PPS.

I see I'll need a Calcium test. All the Ca tests I see are for saltwater. Is that what you guys are using?

Luca

azfishguy · 02-17-2007, 11:39 PM

Hagen has a Ca test for fresh and salt water tanks. You can get it at Fish Supplies, Online Fish Supplies, Aquarium Products, Aquarium Accessories at Big Al's Online

luca61 · 02-18-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azfishguy

Hagen has a Ca test for fresh and salt water tanks. You can get it at Fish Supplies, Online Fish Supplies, Aquarium Products, Aquarium Accessories at Big Al's Online

Thanks, I'll grab the Hagen test then.

Luca

Left C · 02-18-2007, 06:57 PM

I have this Hagen Ca kit. It says in the directions, "This test kit is not designed to measure precisely under a level of 20 mg/L."

I have soft water and it is no use to me.

luca61 · 02-19-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Left C

I have this Hagen Ca kit. It says in the directions, "This test kit is not designed to measure precisely under a level of 20 mg/L."

I have soft water and it is no use to me.

OK.... I happen to have soft water too. May I ask what are you using instead?

Luca

Left C · 02-19-2007, 12:51 PM

I'm not testing for Ca now.

yildirim · 02-21-2007, 01:31 AM

Best test for Ca is your plants. You will not get any accurete readings from any commercial products on the market as they are mostly for higher values for salt water. In fact you do not need to test it you can just check or ask to your local water disribution company or their sites to learn waht you have in your tap. You will get very accurate measurements from them. Besides if you observe your plants Ca defficiency could easily be understood from pale new growth and small and very little root formation. Excess could usualy be determined from GH tests as the water will get very hard.

luca61 · 02-21-2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yildirim

Best test for Ca is your plants. You will not get any accurete readings from any commercial products on the market as they are mostly for higher values for salt water. In fact you do not need to test it you can just check or ask to your local water disribution company or their sites to learn waht you have in your tap. You will get very accurate measurements from them. Besides if you observe your plants Ca defficiency could easily be understood from pale new growth and small and very little root formation. Excess could usualy be determined from GH tests as the water will get very hard.

I just found the water quality report for my municipality (average values for treated water):

Alkalinity as CaCO3 = 3.4, 8.5 or 10 mg/l respectevely, depending on which of the 3 possible water sources is used

Hardness as CaCO3 = 3.9, 2.97 and 5.16 mg/l respectively

Should I look at the alkalinity or hardness figures? Doesn't look like there is an awful lot of Calcium in the water either way...

Luca

Edward · 03-01-2007, 07:00 PM

Hi
Hagen Ca kit works just fine. If you use 10 ml instead of 5 then one drop equal 10 ppm of Ca. That is exactly what we need. Two or three drops changing colour from pink to blue works the best, 20 to 30 ppm.

Thank you
Edward