Exact iDip Digital Water Testing

lnevo · Oct 26, 2015

Thats the price for just the photometer without the case and test kit pack. Plus some of us were able to get the MACNA show special. Maybe they'll do a black Friday sale *hint* *hint*

lnevo · Oct 26, 2015

Heres the link to the photometer only. http://www.sensafe.com/idip/ by the time you add all the reagents ~$13-25 per test and and the case at $60. You're at the $300 mark or over.

thedru13 · Oct 26, 2015

Just retested again. Used my ipad this time instead of my iphone. Sort of stinks you can't see your results from other devices anycase.. Still a bit baffling. Results below
570 Phosphate P04 : LO ppm
570 Alkalinity, Total AL : 93ppm - 5.208dkh
570 Calcium (as CaCO3) CA : 375 ppm
570 pH PH : 8.5 pH

Didn't do Nitrate.. These numbers are just so much different from my Salifert testing just not sure which ones is right. The calcium has me really wondering what is going on. My Calcium numbers have been way higher and my ALK has been a lot higher as well. I check my Mag tonight with a Salifert test and it was on the high side. 1470.. Not sure how I can be messing this stuff up at this point. have been reading and watching the videos.. Using Reef Crystals salt.. Tank is only 3 months old and has no fish just rock and sand with 2 small frags and snails and thats it. ---scratches head---

Greenstreet.1 · Oct 26, 2015

My idip and salifert when it comes to alk is usually off by a little if idip say 8.12 salifert will be 8.10 I don't think the salt brand has anything to do with it I use esv

Steve Maxwell · Oct 27, 2015

This looks like it could be great...I hate using chemical tests and trying to figure out if the water looks more this color or that color or if I'm in enough daylight or holding to close/far from the reference card, ect.! Just wish the strips weren't so expensive...maybe if they get more popular then they'll have cheaper prices on Amazon

watchguy123 · Oct 27, 2015

I like this product with a few caveats. The testing is really operator friendly, tracks results on your iPhone or iPad, that is pretty darn cool. Oh and the test strips are about 10-20 cents each, not a throw away but ok. My experience has been the alkalinity test is as consistent with my hanna checker. No complaints about the calcium test. The nitrate lower limit is 15ppm, phosphate is .09 ppm, and the magnesium test is not really possible because of upper limits of total hardness test but they hope to have all of those resolved maybe by year end. Also, you can test and walk away and the results do not vanish like on most other kits or testers. So its not perfect but pretty cool and when they correct some of the issues addressed this should be the cat's meow for now. At least until someone comes up with a better device for testing.

And yes for the time being, I cross check my results with my hanna checkers (Alk and ULR phosphorous), API (nitrate), Salifert (Nitrate) and Red Sea pro test kits (Nitrate, phosphate, dKh, CA and Mag) but hopefully all of those will go soon enough to the back of the drawer and I'll be using this photometer for all my testing until or unless something better comes along.

Ultimately the key to testing is reliability, consistency, accuracy, operator friendliness and cost.

thedru13 · Oct 27, 2015

Going to email them tonight and see what they say. Something just ain't right. The tests are just to far off. My calcium and alk are way low on the idip and my pH is saying Hi. Here is a pic of ph comparison the color is hard to see but it's close to 8.0 on the salifert test. I tried 3 times on the idip all times showed Hi. Getting a bit worried since I don't want to damage anything in the tank

IronVulture · Oct 30, 2015

I can't find the marine kit on their web site.

thedru13 · Oct 30, 2015

I have contacted support at idip for help with the issues with my readings. Have not heard back yet. Hope to hear back from them. I am back to testing with the Salifert testers since the readings with the idip are so low.

IronVulture · Oct 30, 2015

I have complete confidence that this company that has specialized in water chemistry for 25 years will nail down the issues that differ fresh and saltwater testing.

watchguy123 · Nov 4, 2015

I recently tested calcium and it was both unreliable and inaccurate. First test 270, second 220 and third 170. My Red Sea calcium test was 390. I pm'd @Christian K a few days ago and no response yet. Not sure what went wrong but certainly concerned.

lnevo · Nov 4, 2015

I'm surprised at those who are getting varied results. Just about every repeat of a test I've done has been spot on between the different results. I did three calcium tests the other day before a water change (398ppm) new water (432ppm) and then after water change (421ppm).

Alk tests have been within +/- 2ppm of eachother..

Would definitely like to see this addressed...

thedru13 · Nov 4, 2015

I have continued to test using both salifert and idip. my alk and calc have been way different between the 2. I also added a 3rd tester to the mix. I checked using a Hanna tester for alk and ca. The Hanna tester and Salifert testers were very close..

I also have a few emails sent to them. Have not heard back yet.
Number were ..
Alk
idip = 6.4
Hanna = 11.592
Salifert = 12.2 - this was a day lag due to more recent dosing

Greenstreet.1 · Nov 4, 2015

No problems here. Hope they answer o have to order more alk strips

thedru13 · Nov 16, 2015

Well I am about to give up on the idip. Have not heard back from them in regards to my issues. Tests are still way off Ph reads as hi all the time now and ca and alk are much lower than both Hanna and salifert tests.

lnevo · Nov 16, 2015

I've been surprised at the lack of response from them here. Christian where did you go? Would really like to see these issues addressed.

Steve Maxwell · Nov 16, 2015

Yeah...looks like customer service may be slacking off a bit. Shame, 'cause I am really watching this product and I heard they might be coming to Reef Currents this year.