API vs Red Sea test kits?

[jiggysmb]

I have noticed my API kit readings are always much different than my RedSea. Any advise on which I should be following or do I assume my numbers are somewhere in the middle? Is there another test kit I should be using?

For example,
PH - API 7.8 vs RedSea 8.1
KH - API 10 vs RedSea 8
PO4 - API 0 vs RedSea .25

 

[Idoc]

I've never used API test kits, but many on here report inaccuracies with their products. I would lean toward the Red Sea test kit results.

 

[shakacuz]

I've never used API test kits, but many on here report inaccuracies with their products. I would lean toward the Red Sea test kit results.

+1 to this. i have since moved away from red sea test kits, but use it as a back up to my hanna checkers whenever i run tests/

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

Most people don't trust API as they seem to have a larger margin of error. That being said, you could expect different results when comparing two different test kits anyway. I personally would just stick with one brand per parameter to avoid confusing myself.

 

[nereefpat]

I would say the pH readings are close enough to being the same. And I wouldn't worry about pH anyway.

Once phosphates are close to natural seawater range, the color comparison type kits aren't very useful. The Hanna Ultra low range kits are really the only kits useful in our range.

Both alk kits should work fine. Stability is more important than a specific number. FYI, you can lower the resolution of the API kit by increasing the test sample volume. For example, if you double the sample volume each drop will equal 0.5 dKH instead of 1.0 dKH.