I'm using the nutrafin brand test kit. The only brand sold in my area, and I have checked all the local places. Most people seem to use Salifert, but I will have to order online to get it, or drive to K.C.
The KH/GH (carbonate and general hardness) test has a chart on the back stating that to obtain your readings multiply x drops by 10 to determine carbonate hardness (measured on the chart as mg/L and says a normal reading should be 105 mg/L), and mine is coming in now at ~ 70 mg/L so by this test chart I am still low.
The Ca test measures it as mg/L (ppm) also, and there I have to multiply x drops by 20 to optain the proper reading. Using this formula, it's coming up as >800 (ppm) I think this kit may be bad but the date on the box says it is good for three more years.
The Ph test is supposed to give a gradient between green and blue to register the ph readings, and here, I am totally guessing, because the color I get is actually more of a grey-blue (heavy on the grey) that doesn't really match anything on the charts.
My kingdom for a better way to do this. I will probably mix up a water change A.S.A.P. and run down some water for testing at the LFS just to double check things. Something tells me that things are probably pretty close to where they need to be and the stress my corals are undergoing is probably due more to the new lighting than tank parameters. However, I am waiting to see coralline, and am not, what with 2x250 HQI plus 2 X 54 HO actinic, I thought I would see something in the last week, but nada.
