Best Test Kit Brands for SPS

[Brandon McHenry]

Hey guys,
So I am at the end of my Red Sea Pro test kit and I am open to switching brands. There was nothing particularly wrong with Red Sea but I was wondering if there was another brand that performed better than Red Sea. The parameters I am most concerned with are naturally Calcium, Alkalinity, Phosphate and Nitrate. pH is also a concern for me and my particular tank. I know Salifert and Hanna seem to be the best and I am considering both but I would just like some more opinions.

PS
I have added a poll to this thread and allowed up to three votes per person because I understand some people may prefer different brand for different parameters. If you so chose to pick different brands please note which brand you prefer for which test.

 

[James55r]

Salifert is more complicated API is Easier but not as accurate sea hem is ok but I prefer Red Sea overall

 

[smh254]

I have used almost all of the testing kids out there and this is what I like. Hanna for Phosphate and RedSea for everything else. Apex for PH

 

[smh254]

Ha ha kits

 

[Brandon McHenry]

I have used almost all of the testing kids out there and this is what I like. Hanna for Phosphate and RedSea for everything else. Apex for PH

Yes I heard Hanna is the best for phosphate regardless. Any reason for choosing Red Sea over the others?

 

[Tab28]

I also use hanna for alk and phosphate. Red sea seems to be more accurate or i would say more precise numbers than other tests i have used. Granted they take longer and have more steps to them than others.

 

[smh254]

Yes I heard Hanna is the best for phosphate regardless. Any reason for choosing Red Sea over the others?

It seems to be more consistent than the other brands and I can read the color charts color changes better.

 

[James605]

I like the salifert, but am going to look into some Hanna stuff

 

[KingTriton]

I have the Hanna Checker, Red Sea, and Salifert. I like Salifert the best.

 

[Russ265]

get a salifert po4 test.

it always read 0 for me. and enough for amazon complaints to agree as well as marine depot.

but hey... if you like false 0. salifert is great.

i would go hanna for po4 and alk. rest: red sea / pro.
ph would do best with a neptune controller or something of the like if you are that worried about ph.

my .02

 

[WindeyD]

I use the Hanna for alk & phosphate, Red Sea for calcium and mag.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

When everyone says Hanna for phosphate, are you referring to the phosphate checker or the Ultra Low Range Phosphorus checker? Just curious.

 

[smh254]

When everyone says Hanna for phosphate, are you referring to the phosphate checker or the Ultra Low Range Phosphorus checker? Just curious.

You would need the 713 model

 

[Brandon McHenry]

You would need the 713 model

So that's the one that ranges from 0-2.5 ppm of phosphate. Is that resolution the best option? I see one that reads in ppb but that's for phosphorus not phosphate.

 

[esolo16]

I use the hanna ulr phosphorus one. You take the ppb reading and multiply it by .003 to get your phosphates in ppm. I originally bought the phosphate checker but there was too big of margin of error for me.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

I use the hanna ulr phosphorus one. You take the ppb reading and multiply it by .003 to get your phosphates in ppm. I originally bought the phosphate checker but there was too big of margin of error for me.

I can see that. Especially if you are trying to get down to a very precise value for manipulation. Is the 0.003 multiplication stated on the package or is that a value you derived elsewhere?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Salifert if I can't find it then elos and Hanna for po4

 

[Sabellafella]

Elos only has 2 votes wow am i doing something wrong here?

 

[Sabellafella]

Yes I heard Hanna is the best for phosphate regardless. Any reason for choosing Red Sea over the others?

If your not gunna buy the ulr hannah phos, the elos professional p04 is what i use, granted it cost around 50 bucks but its well worth amount of tests, i got my hands on all the new nyos kits put salifert to shame as well

 

[Greenstreet.1]

What make you say they put salifert to same?(nyos)