Marine Calcium Test (Ca)
User manual
Understanding and controlling Calcium levels
Calcium is the most important element in seawater for the growth of corals, as coral use calcium to build up their skeleton. Therefor, calcium levels normally decrease significantly in a marine tank due to this uptake for coral growth. As a healthy coral is growing and thus in continuous need for calcium, it is vital to measure and correct calcium on a weekly basis. We advise to keep calcium levels between 400 and 430 mg/l.
General Guidelines
- Always take care that the test tube is clean before use.
- Clean the tube directly after use.
- Take the volume of the water sample as precisely as possible.
- Keep the drop bottle perfectly vertical during dropping.
- Take care that no air bubbles are included in the drops.
Test procedure:
- Take a water sample of 5 ml.
- Add 5 drops of Ca-1 fluid and mix a white deposit should precipitate on the bottom of the test tube.
- Add 1 scoop Ca-2 test powder (green tube) and shake the test tube; the water sample becomes dark red – red purple of colour.
- Mount the plastic tip onto the 1 ml syringe and fill the syringe with 1 ml Ca-3 test fluid. Above the fluid an air bubble will appear, this is normal. The air compensates for the volume in the tip. Add the fluid slowly until the water sample colours blue.
- Multiply the volume of Ca-3 test fluid (in ml) required to change the colour from red/purple to blue by 500 to determine the calcium content. (E.g. 0,7 ml needed to convert from red/purple to blue = 0,7 x 500 = 350 mg Calcium per litre).
Alternatively, use the chart in this manual.
Test procedure:
- Take a water sample of 5 ml.
- Add 5 drops of Ca-1 fluid and mix a white deposit should precipitate on the bottom of the test tube.
- Add 1 scoop Ca-2 test powder (green tube) and shake the test tube; the water sample becomes dark red – red purple of colour.
- Mount the plastic tip onto the 1 ml syringe and fill the syringe with 1 ml Ca-3 test fluid. Above the fluid an air bubble will appear, this is normal. The air compensates for the volume in the tip. Add the fluid slowly until the water sample colours blue.
- Multiply the volume of Ca-3 test fluid (in ml) required to change the colour from red/purple to blue by 500 to determine the calcium content. (E.g. 0,7 ml needed to convert from red/purple to blue = 0,7 x 500 = 350 mg Calcium per litre).
Alternatively, use the chart in this manual.
