All these test options are making my head explode!

[Junkmanthom]

Hey y’all! When I was a young lad, keeping up with my fish only Saltwater aquarium wasn’t so difficult because there were limited options to use in testing. Now that I am older, not wiser, but have a couple more bucks to my name, I’m going reefing! I know how important it is to keep up with the water parameters. This being said, I’m a wee bit overwhelmed by the different test kits. I didn’t win the lottery so, Apex is out. Seneye or that price range is closer to my budget. What in the wide wide world of sports is the best test kits?? Help!

 

[S2G]

I like redsea and salifert. The hannah digital checkers are really nice but pricey.

 

[Billldg]

I like Red Sea test kits and Hanna checkers. I use them both to test against my Apex. I have heard good things about Nyos test kits also.

 

[Junkmanthom]

I like redsea and salifert. The hannah digital checkers are really nice but pricey.

Are the hannah reliable? Better than the chemical kinds you like? I’ve heard good things about both of the two you mentioned

 

[Junkmanthom]

I like Red Sea test kits and Hanna checkers. I use them both to test against my Apex. I have heard good things about Nyos test kits also.

Now that is what I call redundancy! Lol. Thank you

 

[Billldg]

Now that is what I call redundancy! Lol. Thank you

As much as I like technology, I don't fully trust it. I had the Red Sea and Hanna Checkers before I got the Apex and the Trident.

 

[Bender]

Like everything in this world you are going to get different answers. I use:

Alk: Hannah dKH
Cal: Salifert
Mag: Salifert
Phos: Hannah UL
Salinity: Refractometer
Copper (Qurrantine): Hannah High Range

 

[Greybeard]

Nitrate: hands down, Nyos kit. It's just easier.

Phosphate: At intended reefing levels, the ONLY way to go is the Hanna ULR Checker. Easy, quick, accurate, reads the < .2 target ranges that most of us look for without issue.

Calc/Alk/Mag: Sailfert or Red Sea... I'm using a Trident now, yes, I consider it worth the price.

pH: Sailfert (Apex probe)

Salinity: Calibrated refractometer

Oh, and I send a sample to Triton once or twice a year, just for a bit more info

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm a Hanna fan!

 

[Quietman]

Depends on corals you want to keep. High end SPS and/or sensitive LPS - invest in something that allows you to read fairly easily the levels those require. Low demand corals - softies...got with what's cheapest and quickest. Middle demand - you probably see where I'm going.

I have mid demand LPS/SPS. I use Hanna for Alk, Salifert for Phosphates, RedSea for Nitrates and Mag. AquaForest for Ca. pH - hand held pen and salinity a refractometer. If i go higher end I'd probably up the Phosphates to a Hanna ULR but leave everything else as is.

If I had a softie only tank (as I plan this spring) - I may go with API to save the money and time.

 

[Billldg]

I'm a Hanna fan!

Hanna what, Hanna Montana fan, LOL!!! ;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[Quietman]

Also, my tests are selected for 'accuracy' as well as 'readability'. Someone might find the RedSea easy to differentiate colors scale, while I found it very difficult for Ca. I had to experiment a bit to see which I found easiest to read.

 

[lapin]

Like everything in this world you are going to get different answers. I use:

Alk: Hannah dKH
Cal: Salifert
Mag: Salifert
Phos: Hannah UL
Salinity: Refractometer
Copper (Qurrantine): Hannah High Range

Im with Bender on test kits
If you are going to have fish only, the test kits are not super important

 

[Quietman]

Lastly...one thing I'd wish I'd done was save my money on high end test kits until I actually got the corals that required it. I was dropping bucks on Red Sea during cycling, which is silly honestly.

Oh and buy saltwater standards samples with known values. Learning how to read even a lower end test kit gave me a lot more confidence in the values I was seeing.

 

[S2G]

Are the hannah reliable? Better than the chemical kinds you like? I’ve heard good things about both of the two you mentioned

The Ultra low p and alk have been. The rest red sea or salifert is a toss up imo. The Hannah's aren't necessary I just like the digital because alk is a pain running a liquid test on imo. Phosphate is the boogeyman so I like to have a digital #.

Either of the liquid tests will serve you well.

 

[APT]

Lastly...one thing I'd wish I'd done was save my money on high end test kits until I actually got the corals that required it. I was dropping bucks on Red Sea during cycling, which is silly honestly.

Oh and buy saltwater standards samples with known values. Learning how to read even a lower end test kit gave me a lot more confidence in the values I was seeing.

Do you have any recommendations on the salt water standards samples you are referring to? I love to try and test against known values to double check my methods. Thanks!

 

[Quietman]

Do you have any recommendations on the salt water standards samples you are referring to? I love to try and test against known values to double check my methods. Thanks!

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/fauna-marin-multi-reference-solution.html

 

[Quietman]

There are others...AquaForest includes in test kits (small amount though) and Hanna has standards as well I believe (haven't used them).

 

[APT]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/fauna-marin-multi-reference-solution.html

Thank you!

 

[Junkmanthom]

Like everything in this world you are going to get different answers. I use:

Alk: Hannah dKH
Cal: Salifert
Mag: Salifert
Phos: Hannah UL
Salinity: Refractometer
Copper (Qurrantine): Hannah High Range

I know I know! My wife thinks I’m Crabby Patty when I have my nose in the dirt and trying to find the best way to do something. “Honey, I’m just trying to be right!” Lol. Question, Do i need to consume myself with worry over ammonia testing?