How do I calibrate a test kit?

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Sicklid

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
Aug 8, 2006
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Location
Brandon, FL
I see this in discussion all the time, and I suspect my cheapo nitrate and phosphate test kits to be off the mark. Can someone please explain it to me as if I was a five year old? What chemicals do I use to make the calibration solution? Do I need RO water to do it, etc? Any help is appreciated!
 
Pretty simple, but a little laborsome. Start with distilled water. Find a calculator online and measure out a precise dose of NO3 (for example) in a measured quantity of water. So basically you know you have created a 10ppm solution say. Run that through your test kit and compare it to your color chart for accuracy. Then make a 5ppm, 20ppm etc ... keep these samples and compare against your tank test for a much more accurate reading.

Kind of a pain though.
 
What I needed to know was how much nitrate or phosphate per liter to add to bring it up to certain levels. Also, I only have seachem liquid ferts which I am not sure I should be using as my calibration medium. It does say right there on the bottle, but I am not 100% positive I am doing it correctly. Thanks for your help.
 
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