This kit is capable of at least 150 calcium determinations and is designed specifically for seawater. The test is based on titration of calcium with EDTA in the presence of a calcium specific indicator dye after the coprecipitation of magnesium and strontium. Natural sea water contains between 400 – 410 mg/L of calcium. A healthy reef environment should have between 380 – 420 mg/L of calcium. Levels above 420 mg/L are not beneficial. Levels below 380 mg/L should be corrected as soon as possible. ‘

If calcium levels are found to be deficient, Seachem offers a variety of products that can be used to increase calcium: Reef Complete®, Reef Advantage Calcium™, Reef Calcium™, and Reef Kalkwasser™. Seachem also offers other reef specific test kits: Reef Status™: Strontium, Reef Status™: Magnesium, Carbonate & Borate Alkalinity and MultiTest™: Reef Special (tests for phosphate, silicate and iodide).

The proper performance of this kit may be validated by running a test in the normal manner except that the reference sample is used in place of an aquarium sample. It is not necessary to run a reference test to use this kit. The only time you might choose to run a reference test is if you have cause to believe the test is giving incorrect results. If you run a test using the reference sample and obtain the correct result (based on the known reference value provided) then you know the test is giving correct results. To run a reference test use the Calcium Reference as the sample. Reference value is listed on the container label.