ELOS N.I.S.T. certified test kits!

[40B Knasty]

A lot of people have a problem with test kits. My nitrate test kit was off. We can pretty much all guess which one it was haha. I went with a new one called ELOS. The ONLY certified test kits by N.I.S.T. We are always looking for that miracle cure. Well how about that miracle test kit!
I posted two videos. 40B Knasty on YouTube. One for the ELOS Nitrate test kit. Also one for the ELOS PRO Phosphate test kit. Shows you what comes in the box and how to use it. Hope this helps you with your next choice for a test kit. Personally I am done with all the rest.
Just buyer be ware. There is a "PRO"&"regular" phosphate test kit. The PRO is geared for us with a reef looking for the best possible test results. Even if you do not watch the video. I highly recommend the kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Let's be really clear what's true and what is not.

The kit and the results you may get from it are not "certified" by NIST. NIST is not saying the results are accurate, nor is there any NIST specification method for evaluating a hobby nitrate in seawater kit (I don't believe).

Here's what they say:

"Lab quality ELOS AquaTest NO3 Nitrate Test Kit employs highest-quality reagents validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples to ensure accuracy right from the source. "

and

"A range of freshwater & saltwater test kits of high precision NIST certified reagents"


What that means is that the chemicals in the kit are evaluated to be of a certain quality.

It does not mean that the kit passed some sort of special NIST accuracy test.

Is the failure of many test kits to give accurate data the result of poor quality reagents (what the NIST certification ensures) as opposed to poor measurements of the amounts of solids and liquids in the kit, poor timing and temperture control, poor color comparing capability by the tester, or simply poor design?

So while this kit may be a very nice one and may be very accurate, I do not consider the NIST part to be an important factor in selecting a kit.

 

[jason2459]

I agree and believe that most issues with results are the methods used to perform the tests and not the tool.

 

[40B Knasty]

So you are saying it is "the highest quality of reagents." They are saying it also. No one else can say that. So let's be clear about how can any other be better.
1) The BRS video. All the ones that were tested failed for precision. Some were horribly disappointing.
2) If a product can not get the fundamentals down first which is the reagent. Then there is no chance of accuracy. Making ELOS's N.I.S.T. certified reagents a factor if not the biggest factor of them all, because they have set the bar and you can't go above it, but only have the same reagents.
3) The measuring spoon can be leveled off for precision. They say every drop is to be the same for precision.
4) Temp and human error is the ONLY way this kit can have an error. Making N.I.S.T certified reagents and the ELOS test kit as a whole a precision test kit.
Precision does not have a high or low. Precision is defined as the quality, condition, or "fact of being exact and accurate."
If the size of a spoon that is 4ml or .15ml could be wrongly sized/molded and the drop can be inaccurate due to a bigger or smaller hole in the dropper which I highly doubt since they went through all the trouble of getting the reagents part right to be certified. You ask yourself why would they fall flat with the rest? Personally I will take the chances of it being those two reasons of "the kit" being at fault. The reagents that are certified that can give me a fact of being exact and accurate would put the kit at the top of list for the hobby, because no one else can. It has been proven and tested. If my test result are off. Sounds like it is my fault or the temp. Not the precision reagents, spoon, or dropper which is provided in the ELOS test kit.

 

[jason2459]

Easy to fall into marketing hype. There are many ways reagents can go bad even if NIST certified.

FWIW, I found the Elos Pro PO4 kit to be good and would use it if I didn't use my Hanna Checker.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

I found some of their other kits lacking
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So you are saying it is "the highest quality of reagents." They are saying it also. No one else can say that. So let's be clear about how can any other be better.
1) The BRS video. All the ones that were tested failed for precision. Some were horribly disappointing.
2) If a product can not get the fundamentals down first which is the reagent. Then there is no chance of accuracy. Making ELOS's N.I.S.T. certified reagents a factor if not the biggest factor of them all, because they have set the bar and you can't go above it, but only have the same reagents.
3) The measuring spoon can be leveled off for precision. They say every drop is to be the same for precision.
4) Temp and human error is the ONLY way this kit can have an error. Making N.I.S.T certified reagents and the ELOS test kit as a whole a precision test kit.
Precision does not have a high or low. Precision is defined as the quality, condition, or "fact of being exact and accurate."
If the size of a spoon that is 4ml or .15ml could be wrongly sized/molded and the drop can be inaccurate due to a bigger or smaller hole in the dropper which I highly doubt since they went through all the trouble of getting the reagents part right to be certified. You ask yourself why would they fall flat with the rest? Personally I will take the chances of it being those two reasons of "the kit" being at fault. The reagents that are certified that can give me a fact of being exact and accurate would put the kit at the top of list for the hobby, because no one else can. It has been proven and tested. If my test result are off. Sounds like it is my fault or the temp. Not the precision reagents, spoon, or dropper which is provided in the ELOS test kit.

Feel free to make the case that you think this kit is good.

I'm just pointing out that the NIST reagents criteria is not, IMO, of any import, and is likely being done for marketing purposes rather than any real need. There are lots of chemicals that are very high quality (which certainly can be higher than NIST reagent certification if one wants that). There are lots of different quality certifications, such as Amercian Chemical Society Reagent grade, Pharmaceutical grade, etc.). There's no reason to think these would be any less useful if put into a kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It has been proven and tested.

What has been proven and tested? You mean the BRS test?

 

[40B Knasty]

Easy to fall into marketing hype. There are many ways reagents can go bad even if NIST certified.

FWIW, I found the Elos Pro PO4 kit to be good and would use it if I didn't use my Hanna Checker.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

I found some of their other kits lacking
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

I completely understand about marketing hype in the hobby. There is way to many.
My LFS who has gotten me this far down the road. Always 100% honest about everything as much as you wish it wasn't at times. He is someone who has a passion for the hobby. He did not sell me the test kit. He just said,"there is no reason to use any other test kit." That says a lot about where I coming from about it all. I am not selling anybody anything either. Just highly recommending it, because no matter how much someone says this kit works. I seen the BRS video. Facts are facts. I take those to heart, because I am not made of money and the passion for the hobby is there. My tank inhabitants lives are stake. Like now. I just lost a 1 year old cleaner shrimp. I never used a chemical in my life. Got to talking about my tap water with Randy. Thought hey maybe I should use Prime to remove chlorine or chloramine. Not even two days later I have a die off. So to me. Back to the old. Prime goes in the trash. He didn't suggest it, but I know what he was getting at.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

. Thought hey maybe I should use Prime to remove chlorine or chloramine. Not even two days later I have a die off. So to me. Back to the old. Prime goes in the trash. He didn't suggest it, but I know what he was getting at.

You think Prime killed things in your tank? Seems very unlikely unless you used way too much.

 

[jason2459]

Our tanks are full of chemicals.

 

[40B Knasty]

Feel free to make the case that you think this kit is good.

I'm just pointing out that the NIST reagents criteria is not, IMO, of any import, and is likely being done for marketing purposes rather than any real need. There are lots of chemicals that are very high quality (which certainly can be higher than NIST reagent certification if one wants that). There are lots of different quality certifications, such as Amercian Chemical Society Reagent grade, Pharmaceutical grade, etc.). There's no reason to think these would be any less useful if put into a kit.

Then I will use the best reagents till someone can prove a higher quality of reagents and assure precision if I do it right and the temp is right. Simple enough. Doesn't need to be justified.
I understand about the marketing. I am a firm believer on also not trying to reinvent the wheel. I am also not happy about my test kit that was way off. I seen the nitrate test kit video. Was very disappointed. API, Red Sea, and Salifert. Like I said"Personally I am done with all the rest." I don't need a case. There was no other place to the forum that related test kits, but here to put a heads up out there if another person was looking for a test kit that was different from the wheel we have as consumers of the hobby have to deal with. You were there part of the conversation when I was talking about the ELOS kit and there were people asking if it was easy to use. Yes it is. Here is a video. Here is the reagents quality. Be maybe excited about it, because I know you are highly disappointed in the others like I am and just using whatever works instead of what could truly work.

 

[jason2459]

.... Be maybe excited about it, because I know you are highly disappointed in the others like I am and just using whatever works instead of what could truly work.

Randy, did you state this?

40B Knasty this is the second time at least in this thread you have spoken for Randy. According to his post count it seems he knows how to type.


I personally am more then happy with several different kits out there and I don't believe BRS tested Salifert Nitrate as they had a difficult time seeing the colors. I found it easy to use for a quick check.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrate-test-kit-shoot-out-nyos-salifert-redsea-api.221323/

 

[40B Knasty]

Well you can knock it back down to one. It was not directed at him or from him. It was in general of what the other people were feeling about the others involved in the conversation. And my bad it was revhtree. Not Randy that was there.

 

[40B Knasty]

You think Prime killed things in your tank? Seems very unlikely unless you used way too much.

I don't think it. It could be other factors. I am not going to start guessing, but that is the first and last chemical going into my tank. For 4 1/2 gallons. I used 10 drops. Isn't the recommended 2 drops per gallon?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The ELOS is likely a fine kit. I'd just want to see actual test results against other good kits to have any confidence that it was better.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't think it. It could be other factors. I am not going to start guessing, but that is the first and last chemical going into my tank. For 4 1/2 gallons. I used 10 drops. Isn't the recommended 2 drops per gallon?

Recommended dose is 1 mL per 10 gallons.
"Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 200 L (50 US gallons) of new water. "

I've heard of lots and lots of people using Prime and not heard of any livestock loses that could be attributed to it.

 

[40B Knasty]

Yup that's what the directions say.
I have one question about something I noticed on the new bottles vs the older one. The old bottles "Provides Slime Coat." Did they change up the products chemistry or did someone bust them and say that is one heck of a marketing hype going on there and it is false advertising?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure what else they may or may not have added, but the main claimed ingredient in Prime isn't a slime coating:

Ammonia and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/rhf/index.php

Treatments for Elevated Ammonia: Hydrosulfite and Bisulfite

A second type of compound used in commercial products (such as Seachem Prime) that claim to bind ammonia in marine aquaria is said to contain hydrosulfite (could be either HSO2- or - O2S-SO2-) and bisulfite (HSO3-). These compounds are well known dechlorinating agents, reducing Cl2 to chloride (Cl-), which process is also claimed to occur in these products. It is not apparent to me whether these ingredients actually react with ammonia in some fashion, or whether unstated ingredients in these products perform that function. Seachem chooses to keep the ingredients of their product secret, so aquarists cannot determine for themselves what is taking place, and how suitable it might be. Nevertheless, many aquarists seem to have successfully used products such as these to reduce ammonia's toxicity.

Note: products such as Seachem Prime hamper the ability to test for ammonia when using certain types of test kits (see above). Presumably, the product formed is still reactive with the Nessler reagents, even though it is not ammonia.

 

[Rybren]

Knasty, please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that you are insinuating that the API test kit is garbage or inaccurate.

FWIW, I recently purchased a nitrate reference solution from a German company called Fauna Marin. The reference solution is stated to be 11mg/L. Using this solution, I tested four nitrate test kits. I made two tests for each of the test kits and the only one that came close to the reference solution was the API; the Salifert test may or may not be correct as discussed below.



Both API tests showed slightly darker than 10ppm.
Both Salifert tests showed a tad lighter than 50ppm. It should be noted that my test kit came with a colour reference card that is different from the old cards. Habib, owner of Salifert, acknowledged that the colour card should not have changed and was investigating the situation. Unfortunately, he stopped posting in the related threads both here and on RC and he hasn't replied to PMs. In any case, the colour for 50ppm on my new card is roughly the same colour as 10ppm on the old card. I really don't know which card to follow.
Both Seachem tests showed roughly 5ppm, and
Both Nutrafin tests showed roughly 4ppm

 

[d2mini]

They're not new, Elos has been making test kits for many years. Unless they've been updated.
Can't remember being overly thrilled with them but maybe I'll give them another shot next time I need one.