Boron is natural trace element important to marine reef environments. Not enough slows the growth of corals and coraline algae, while too much creates boric acid, which kills beneficial bacteria. Salifert's Boron Test Kit is an extremely accurate and sensitive measure, detecting boron in steps of 0.5 mg/liter so that you can make sure your reef aquarium is getting a natural concentration.
Natural boron levels in the ocean range between 4.4 and 4.8 mg/liter. This test measures boron in marine water from 0.5 up to approximately 40 ppm. Each drop of reagent B-1 added corresponds to 0.5 ppm of boron in the aquarium water. We recommend monthly testing for a reef aquarium. Always wait to test 24 hours after adding boron.
For values higher than 20 ppm, use half the amount of water samples in steps #2 and #4. The amount of reagents remains the same. By taking a smaller water sample each drop of reagent B-3 now corresponds to 1 ppm of boron and not 0.5 ppm as stated in step #7.
Instructions:
Place the 2 empty test vials next to each other on a white underground
Add with the syringe 8 ml (2 times 4 ml) of water in the left hand side test vial
Add 8 drops of B-1 and 1 drop of B-3 to this vial and swirl gently for 20 seconds. If the color is yellow then the pH is too low and the test can not be performed.
With the same (empty) syringe draw 4 ml of the colored water from the left hand side vial and add this to the empty right hand side vial
Add 1 level scoop of B-2 to the right hand side vial and swirl the vial gently for 20 seconds
Add to the right hand side vial B-3 reagent drop wise. Swirl gently after each drop for 10 seconds. Continue adding drops of B-3 (and swirling after each drop for 10 seconds and remember to count how many drops are used) until the color matches with that of the left hand side vial. Remember to put the vial on the white underground for color comparison
Each drop of B-3 added in Step #6 corresponds to 0.5 ppm of boron
After the test, tighten caps properly. Reagents can pick-up CO2 from the air, reducing its strength and producing false high readings
The value you measured for depends partially on pH and can be adjusted slightly if you know what your pH was. (If not, it's no big problem.) If the pH of your water was 8.1 to 8.3 then no correction has to be applied. If it is lower than 8.1 then subtract 10% from the measured value and if it is 8.3 to 8.5 add 10% to the measured value.
