API test kit worth it

[Perthegallon]

Are the api test kits worth it I just feel like 40$ is a lot to spend for something

 

[jeffchapok]

Not really. They aren't very accurate and often give false readings for ammonia. You'd be better off with a set of Red Sea or Salifert kits. They are even a little more costly but it's the best money you'll ever spend. Corals and saltwater fish aren't cheap. It won't take the kits long to pay for themselves.

 

[Copingwithpods]

No they aren't but not for that reason. They aren't accurate enough for fine adjustments.

I use these for the big 5



Redsea alk/cal/mag = $59
Hanna phosphate ULR = $49
Nyos nitrate = $25

Testing is not cheap but it is an essential part of the hobby.

 

[ryshark]

Are the api test kits worth it I just feel like 40$ is a lot to spend for something

I think it depends on which kits. The Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are fine for cycling. I find the KH kit to be reliable for alkalinity within .5. For example if the color turns from blue to green then add .5. It is yellow you are where you need to be by the amount of drops. I have a Hanna Alkalinity checker too and it matches up closely.

 

[vetteguy53081]

$40 to bring tears to your eyes and mislead you is a Huge waste of money.
Go Hanna or Salifert

 

[lilgrounchuck]

The kh and ca are ok. Ca one comes close enough to my salifert and kh is good enough for .5 dkh as posted above. The nitrate and phosphate don’t test low enough to get you a good idea of where your nutrients are. If you’re just keeping softies and stuff it’s ok. FYI those kits are only $24 on Amazon.

 

[Perthegallon]

Sorry guys I said the wrong thing I meant the api ones not apt I have hanna checkers for all my test I don’t skip on those

 

[kevin_e]

Are the api test kits worth it I just feel like 40$ is a lot to spend for something

Not compared to most things in this hobby. Plus, the testing is one of the most crucial aspects to keeping coral. That's not where you skimp.

 

[Perthegallon]

Oh no I said the right thing I didn’t mean those apt ones I mean the api were you send in the sample

 

[Perthegallon]

Not compared to most things in this hobby. Plus, the testing is one of the most crucial aspects to keeping coral. That's not where you skimp.

I meant these sorry I didn’t specify

 

[Copingwithpods]

Oh no I said the right thing I didn’t mean those apt ones I mean the api were you send in the sample

You mean ICP?

 

[Perthegallon]

You mean ICP?

These

 

[muzikalmatt]

I think the ICP tests are absolutely worth it but only once every 3 to 6 months. The value is that they can test your water for trace elements and heavy metals, items that you can't typically test for with hobby-grade test kits.

ICP is the type of test, and ATI is the brand providing the test in this case. There are several different companies that provide this type of testing including ATI, Triton Labs, and ICP-Analysis.com. I've used ICP-Analysis.com as it was the cheapest and the testing is done here in the states so the results come back faster. However, I've heard from various posters here on R2R that it's an inferior test compared to the others, including @Randy Holmes-Farley who's opinion I respect and trust.

I think it's good to do these tests periodically but they are also heavily recommended when reefers are encountering issues with their tank and can't pinpoint the cause. Sometimes it's heavy metals that can't be detected by other means.

I'm certainly no expert, but I hope this information helps. I'm sure others will chime in as well!

 

[Reefer37]

These

This is a one time test that you send in to ATI. Basically they test your water for most all elements in your tank and sends you the results back.

It's usually for people who want to know where most all major and minor elements are at or for people having weird issues in their system and want possible causes.

For normal every day testing for your tank, I personally recommend Hanna checkers for ALK and ULR Phos. Red Sea or something comparable for most other elements. Even Salifert isn't too bad and pretty inexpensive.

 

[kevin_e]

That's a one time test. Sorry, I thought you mean the cheap API ones. I'd suggest Red Sea, Salifert, Hanna or a combination of for the main constituents we test for. For me, I test weekly.

 

[Perthegallon]

That's a one time test. Sorry, I thought you mean the cheap API ones. I'd suggest Red Sea, Salifert, Hanna or a combination of for the main constituents we test for. For me, I test weekly.

Yeah I use hanna weekly and just bought a Neptune trident

 

[Perthegallon]

I think the ICP tests are absolutely worth it but only once every 3 to 6 months. The value is that they can test your water for trace elements and heavy metals, items that you can't typically test for with hobby-grade test kits.

ICP is the type of test, and ATI is the brand providing the test in this case. There are several different companies that provide this type of testing including ATI, Triton Labs, and ICP-Analysis.com. I've used ICP-Analysis.com as it was the cheapest and the testing is done here in the states so the results come back faster. However, I've heard from various posters here on R2R that it's an inferior test compared to the others, including @Randy Holmes-Farley who's opinion I respect and trust.

I think it's good to do these tests periodically but they are also heavily recommended when reefers are encountering issues with their tank and can't pinpoint the cause. Sometimes it's heavy metals that can't be detected by other means.

I'm certainly no expert, but I hope this information helps. I'm sure others will chime in as well!

I might give it a shot I don’t have any issues with my tank and it’s brand new from waterbox so I’d be surprised if I saw something important

 

[muzikalmatt]

I might give it a shot I don’t have any issues with my tank and it’s brand new from waterbox so I’d be surprised if I saw something important

Yeah, if your tank is less than 6 months old and you're not experiencing any issues it's probably not worth it. It's nice down the road to check to see if any of your trace elements are getting depleted or if you're slowly building up heavy metals.