all In One Test Kit

jsker · Apr 13, 2015

Is there a all in one test kit for reef aquariums or do I need two different ones? I am using the tetra easy strips very simple with no mixing.

zesty · Apr 13, 2015

For a reef tank, at minimum you'll want these test kits:

Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate

jsker · Apr 13, 2015

zesty said:
For a reef tank, at minimum you'll want these test kits:

Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate

Thank you for your reply, is there a kit with all of these elements or do I have to purchase multiple kits two accomplish this testing?

zesty · Apr 13, 2015

The closest thing that I know of is the Red Sea kits. They have bundles, where one bundle has alk/ca/mag and another bundle will have your nitrate etc.

You will be saying goodbye to your strips...

jsker · Apr 13, 2015

zesty said:
The closest thing that I know of is the Red Sea kits. They have bundles, where one bundle has alk/ca/mag and another bundle will have your nitrate etc.

You will be saying goodbye to your strips...

I was looking at the Red sea kit and you answered my question exactly. I was think I need to by two kits but want to be sure before incurring that expense. thank you again. I like the comment about the strips

zesty · Apr 13, 2015

Glad to hear! :wink: I think a lot of us come from the test strip time. As technology and techniques get better, so do some products and this is one of those areas. It's nice to see choices of kits! I use the read sea kits and those are my preferred choice, but it's so nice to have options!

enjoy!

glb · Apr 13, 2015

You also need to check for salinity and ph. I highly recommend a refractometer for salinity and a digital ph monitor for ph. Good luck!

jsker · Apr 13, 2015

zesty said:
Glad to hear! :wink: I think a lot of us come from the test strip time. As technology and techniques get better, so do some products and this is one of those areas. It's nice to see choices of kits! I use the read sea kits and those are my preferred choice, but it's so nice to have options!

enjoy!

I see a few in this blog use Red Sea products. I used to use the Red Sea salt on my other setups and decided to give the reef crystals a go, but I am going back to the Red Sea salt once I use up the reef crystals. Thank you again for your input it will go a long way. This tell you how long it has been sense my last tank, there were no reef blogs out there to ask question like this. You just played mr. chemist and blow thing and start all over again.

jsker · Apr 13, 2015

glb said:
You also need to check for salinity and ph. I highly recommend a refractometer for salinity and a digital ph monitor for ph. Good luck!

Thank you. I have that covered. the refractometer is a pretty cool device to use.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2015

Most test kit packages have useless kits in them, such as nitrite, and even ammonia gets used rarely (except perhaps in a QT).

I'd generally look to the individual kits you really need from reliable brands for those particular kits. The mixed kit packages won't be cheaper in the long run, and you may not find a single brand that makes all kits that you think are reliable.

jsker · Apr 13, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Most test kit packages have useless kits in them, such as nitrite, and even ammonia gets used rarely (except perhaps in a QT).

I'd generally look to the individual kits you really need from reliable brands for those particular kits. The mixed kit packages won't be cheaper in the long run, and you may not find a single brand that makes all kits that you think are reliable.

agreed.

AdamNC · Apr 13, 2015

Red Sea and Salifert Tests are nice. Yes they are pricey at first but then you just buy the refills rather then a whole new kit when you run out of reagent.

JimWelsh · Apr 13, 2015

AdamNC said:
Red Sea and Salifert Tests are nice. Yes they are pricey at first but then you just buy the refills rather then a whole new kit when you run out of reagent.

Salifert sells reagent refills? News to me. Link?

Still, I'm not in any way arguing against Salifert test kits. I use them for Alk, Ca, Mg, and Nitrate.

glb · Apr 14, 2015

I use different brands for different tests through trial and error:

NO3, Mg and Ca: Salifert
Alk and Phosphates: Hanna Checkers

Salifert's great because it's easy to use, not too expensive and the change in water color is easy to read.

Hanna checkers are more expensive but for Alk and phosphates I think they're worth it. The original kit is about $45 I think, but the reagent refills are about $15, so once you have the Checker, the reagent refills are comparable to other test kits.

I used API for ammonia and nitrites during the cycle. I saw no point in buying expensive tests that I wouldn't use again before they expired. Some may disagree but this worked for me

AdamNC · Apr 14, 2015

JimWelsh said:
Salifert sells reagent refills? News to me. Link?

Still, I'm not in any way arguing against Salifert test kits. I use them for Alk, Ca, Mg, and Nitrate.

no my bad I was talking about the Red Sea kits on the refill. Don't know why I said Salifert.

jsker · Apr 14, 2015

glb said:
I use different brands for different tests through trial and error:

NO3, Mg and Ca: Salifert
Alk and Phosphates: Hanna Checkers

Salifert's great because it's easy to use, not too expensive and the change in water color is easy to read.

Hanna checkers are more expensive but for Alk and phosphates I think they're worth it. The original kit is about $45 I think, but the reagent refills are about $15, so once you have the Checker, the reagent refills are comparable to other test kits.

I used API for ammonia and nitrites during the cycle. I saw no point in buying expensive tests that I wouldn't use again before they expired. Some may disagree but this worked for me

Thank you, I put them into my wishlist