Salifert New and old Kit Difference ???

[ChrisB]

The new kit which expires in 2016 powder portion is lighter and measured mag over 1500 . Used whole ml of titration fluid .
Old kit which expires in 2014 powder portion is darker and never measured over 1230 mag .Even fresh batch of water made with red sea coral pro at 1026 salinity it measured low. I am stumped on which kit is correct.
Todays test new kit over 1500 and odl kit was 1170-1200.

 

[Awibrandy]

This is troubling to say the least..

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I used to love salifert. I'm thinking I'm going to give the Red Sea kits a try this time around when I finally get to setting up my 90.

Judging from the look of the powders shade, maybe they made a bad batch possibly?

 

[ChrisB]

Does any know the custmer service number for Salifert?

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

I just had the same problem with the Red Sea Pro test kits. The powder for the older one is lighter than the newer one as well. I bought one in Oct and one in Nov. One expires 07/14 and the other 01/15. I've tested both back to back on several occasions over the last couple of weeks before and after water changes and every time they were showing my params were on the high range across the board. Compared them with Elos at the lfs and they were showing my params on the low range. Was going to buy some Salifert tests this weekend, but this is making me question whether or not I should. I'm shooting an email off to Red Sea to see what they have to say. Right now I have no clue where my params are at and refuse to dose anything until I get this figured out. According to the Elos tests...I would've needed to dose a gallon to bring my Mg up to where it should be. Red Sea kits ran several times were showing that my Mg was between 1400 and 1600. Even ran through the tests with another reefer with Red Sea's youtube tutorial and instruction booklet and they agreed that I was doing the testing correctly and that something is way off.

Here's a pic...

The one on the left is the older kit and the one on the right is newer...I've even shaken them really well when I first noticed it thinking that it may be because of settling...no difference.

Very stressful...

 

[lnevo]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but isn't the powder for the Calcium test in the red sea kit?

 

[Awibrandy]

This is so ridiculous! We all depend on these test kits for the health of our reefs. If we can't depend on them then what?

 

[Awibrandy]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but isn't the powder for the Calcium test in the red sea kit?

Not sure what you are asking.

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

Does any know the custmer service number for Salifert?

Might want to check the box. I tried to google it but there are several threads dating back to '03 complaining of no working phone number or email address. Their website seems to be under construction and offers zero information.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but isn't the powder for the Calcium test in the red sea kit?

Sorry, yes...I should have clarified that the powder in the Rea Sea Pro kit is for Calcium, but it is also disturbing the color variation between the kits.

 

[lnevo]

This is so ridiculous! We all depend on these test kits for the health of our reefs. If we can't depend on them then what?

I lost most of my SPS...my API nitrate kit showed me 0 every time...took a sample to the LFS and it was off the charts...I spent weeks depressed watching everything STN...after many gallons of water change, whatever is left is starting to come back. I now have the Red Sea nitrate/phosphate kit and I really like it. Both have really fine resolution unlike the API 0,5,10,20... color chart...

 

[lnevo]

Any way...moral is bad test kits suck and its definitely not uncommon..

 

[Awibrandy]

I lost most of my SPS...my API nitrate kit showed me 0 every time...took a sample to the LFS and it was off the charts...I spent weeks depressed watching everything STN...after many gallons of water change, whatever is left is starting to come back. I now have the Red Sea nitrate/phosphate kit and I really like it. Both have really fine resolution unlike the API 0,5,10,20... color chart...

I was referring to the higher end test kits. I use Salifert

 

[ChrisB]

Turns out I tested a new batch of red sea coral pro at 1025 and the kit with the lighter colored powder portion was spot on . So this whole time I have been using this mag kit with the darker powder I was getting low readings all the time , dosing and chasing mag when I should not have been. I prob will be switching to Elos kits after my Saliferts are used up.

 

[piranhapat]

With all the different brands of test kits and salts. Their is no exact reading from these. Best maintain water changes and proper feeding and not over stocking. Daily maintenance,cleaning skimmer, ect.... These kits should be a guide line or ball park figure. Red Sea kits not to reliable either.