Salifert KH/Alk test kit

[jcmelski]

I have the above mentioned test kit and it has an Alkalinity check solution in a small bottle but the instructions don't say how to use it. does anyone have any idea how to use it?

[ccCapt]

Use the solution instead of tank water and run the test as normal. The solution will give you a reading of 8.1 dKH. Look on the test solution bottle and it will show the dKH of that solution since I'm not 100% sure they all say 8.1. But whatever it says, that's what the test will show.

[jcmelski]

I did a test just now of the 110g tank and the KH/alk were way off. It's higher than it should be but what I don't understand is I did a PWC yesterday and one today and it's still outrageously high. How can I get it down to NSW(8.1-8.3)?
my Sg is 1.025, NO3 is 5-10(it's hard to tell with the API test kist and the lights that I have in the room.),ph is 8.4.
I just tested my batch of SW the SG is 1.028, CA 440,kh 14.7!,Alk 5.26! I used a Sera test kit for the Ca and a Salifert test kit for the KH/ALk. I forgot to mention that I'm using Reef Crystals salt mix. Is the salt mix causing the problems? Should I mix up the bucket before I use it to throughly mix the salt incase it settled?

[ccCapt]

Did you do a test with the solution? Did your test result match the dKH printed on the bottle?

kh 14.7!,Alk 5.26!

dKH is your alk reading....so those are the same reading. 14.7 dKH = 5.25 meq/l
Are you adding any buffers? That alk is high...unusually high for RC alone.

I just caught this...

SG is 1.028

Are you using a refractometer? That is a little high. The higher the SG, the higher all the parameters will be.

[jcmelski]

Yes, I used the test bottle and got 8.1. I haven't added any buffers. I just got done using AZ-NO3 when I did the water changes. Yes I'm using a refractometer. I made the second PWC a little high since my SG in the tank was a little low. I usually try to make it 1.025.

[jcmelski]

I purchased a Sera kH test kit to verify my reading with the salifert kit. the Sera kit gave me a dkh of 15! I'm going to get a food grade container to see what happens.