help choosing a phosphate and nitrate test kit

[David S]

I've gotten to the point, where I don't bother testing for NO3 or PO4 unless I see some evidence in the tank that things may be headed south.

For my money though, the Red Sea NO3 & PO4 kits give pretty good results in a narrow range, although their ease of use is not where you may desire it to be.
I use several Salifert kits, but I was really disappointed in their PO4 kit which does not have as narrow a range as I require.
Never used NYOS, so I can't comment on them.

As far as Hanna Checkers; Have had no luck with them and would not recommend them.

 

[cobast]

Like many others I use Red Sea for some of my parameter testing. Unfortunately I put too much trust in the kit and went chasing low calcium and alk. Long story short, got a new test kits (nyos for a change) and my calcium was at 575. AHHHHH! The old kit was 2 months out of date. Rooky mistake. Now to manage getting my calcium down to normal.

 

[Mrod]

For phosphate Hannah checker is the gold standard

For nitrates I find nyos easiest to actually tell between the colors. Others may or may not be as accurate but for ease of use and reading nyos has been the best for me.

 

[hatfielj]

I use Salifert for Nitrates. It's good enough for knowing where you are. You don't need a perfectly accurate read. You can pretty easily tell if you're in the 0.0-0.2 range or 2.5-5 range or higher. That's really enough info when it comes to nitrates.

For phosphates, it's a totally different game. The difference between 0.1 and 0.9 can be a very big deal to your corals. So, for phosphates, I splurged and got the milwaukee meter (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/mi41...MIz_qMmP2d2gIVgrXACh1vkAj8EAQYASABEgJI2PD_BwE). It's awesome! Super accurate and super easy to use. I think it's well worth the price and comes with a ton more test packets than the hannas. I've used the Hanna checkers in the past and did not feel they were all that reliable. But, whatever works for you is fine. As others have said, it's more important to pay attention to your corals than the numbers.

 

[40B Knasty]

ELOS hands down. Love these kits! Make sure you get the "PRO" phosphates kit if you choose this product.

 

[lbacha]

ELOS hands down. Love these kits! Make sure you get the "PRO" phosphates kit if you choose this product.

I really like the nitrate kit so much easier to read the colors than the Red Sea kits. I just tested nitrates this morning. 6 min later and I know my nitrates are 3ppm.

My only complaint is the dropper bottle doesn't have as much control as the Red Sea bottles so don't squeeze to hard, you will shoot a lot into the test

 

[40B Knasty]

I really like the nitrate kit so much easier to read the colors than the Red Sea kits. I just tested nitrates this morning. 6 min later and I know my nitrates are 3ppm.

My only complaint is the dropper bottle doesn't have as much control as the Red Sea bottles so don't squeeze to hard, you will shoot a lot into the test

ELOS claims that they have made the bottle so every drop is the same. Solid test kit. Just showing an option no one ever says and still don't know why after the BRStv video showing how inaccurate some are. Red Sea seems alright. If you can keep your nitrates within reason of 10pm. If it is reading 3ppm at 5ppm. It really doesn't matter. As long as your nitrates are not above 10ppm, but still you want as accurate as possible as a customer. Start this video at 6:52 in and you will see what I mean. Pretty unacceptable with the kits when they get in the 25ppm range, but if you are in that range. I would not be worried about the test kit. Just the persons lack of care for their tank. Test kit can't fix that.

 

[Huff747]

I don't have a nitrate kit preference, but if I were getting a phosphate test, I'd get the Hanna ULR (HI736).

Is the HI713 pretty well worthless for a reef aquarium? I picked one up before realizing it seems the ULR is the preferred one and all it has ever read is 0.00 and based on what I've read it's highly unlikely I'm actually at 0. Thanks.

 

[mta_morrow]

ELOS hands down. Love these kits! Make sure you get the "PRO" phosphates kit if you choose this product.

Thanks! I will watch this on my lunch hour!

 

[lbacha]

ELOS claims that they have made the bottle so every drop is the same. Solid test kit. Just showing an option no one ever says and still don't know why after the BRStv video showing how inaccurate some are. Red Sea seems alright. If you can keep your nitrates within reason of 10pm. If it is reading 3ppm at 5ppm. It really doesn't matter. As long as your nitrates are not above 10ppm, but still you want as accurate as possible as a customer. Start this video at 6:52 in and you will see what I mean. Pretty unacceptable with the kits when they get in the 25ppm range, but if you are in that range. I would not be worried about the test kit. Just the persons lack of care for their tank. Test kit can't fix that.

I wasn't really complaining about nyos at all I love the kit, easy to use and read. I was just warning people that the bottle can be a little touchy especially if you are used to the Red Sea dropper bottles that take a good squeeze to get a drop out.

 

[mta_morrow]

ELOS hands down. Love these kits! Make sure you get the "PRO" phosphates kit if you choose this product.

Great videos 40B Knasty! thanks for putting them together and sharing.

I gotta say thats easy and obviously very accurate if you follow the instructions.

Now I need to go find out where to buy them and get me one of each!

 

[40B Knasty]

I wasn't really complaining about nyos at all I love the kit, easy to use and read. I was just warning people that the bottle can be a little touchy especially if you are used to the Red Sea dropper bottles that take a good squeeze to get a drop out.

It's cool man. I honestly didn't think you were complaining at all. Just giving the heads-up and I appreciate that. I do that all the time. Things get lost in text sometimes with our different walks of life. Just how all our tanks are different
I was just explaining in the video from Marine Depot on how they claim to make a good bottle. Check it out.

 

[lbacha]

It's cool man. I honestly didn't think you were complaining at all. Just giving the heads-up and I appreciate that. I do that all the time. Things get lost in text sometimes with our different walks of life. Just how all our tanks are different
I was just explaining in the video from Marine Depot on how they claim to make a good bottle. Check it out.

I'm planning on it, I really like their kit I wish they sold replacement reagents but the kit is pretty cheap compared to others so it's another minor complaint ;-)

 

[40B Knasty]

I'm planning on it, I really like their kit I wish they sold replacement reagents but the kit is pretty cheap compared to others so it's another minor complaint ;-)

Agreed about buying a certain reagent of the mix when it runs out.
I will say I love the glass test tube and hard plastic cap for the Pro Phosphate Kit. Honestly every kit should have those so you don't have any leaking out while shaking. The reagents say corrosive right on it. Why put us in danger.

 

[lbacha]

Agreed about buying a certain reagent of the mix when it runs out.
I will say I love the glass test tube and hard plastic cap for the Pro Phosphate Kit. Honestly every kit should have those so you don't have any leaking out while shaking. The reagents say corrosive right on it. Why put us in danger.

That's why I like the Hanna cuvettes and Red Sea plastic caps I can shake those all day long and no leaking. The nyos nitrate I wrap in a towel when I shake because a little will get out

 

[Lazys Coral House]

Lol...I like that. Wasn’t trying to be adversarial. I just find PO4 levels to cause issues and keeping them under control is important. Testing results remain a frustrating part of this hobby.

I wasn’t either. I just posted that it was parts per billion in case you didn’t know that. My original Hannah tester from about 8 years ago was $350 and it was parts per million I think. I always wonders how something could measure at parts per million and when they can out with the ppb it blew my mind. I mean how on earth can something measure 1 part of a billion. I would think with the tiniest twist of the cuvette would give a wildly different reading. Technology is insane.

 

[Reef Jeff]

I wasn’t either. I just posted that it was parts per billion in case you didn’t know that. My original Hannah tester from about 8 years ago was $350 and it was parts per million I think. I always wonders how something could measure at parts per million and when they can out with the ppb it blew my mind. I mean how on earth can something measure 1 part of a billion. I would think with the tiniest twist of the cuvette would give a wildly different reading. Technology is insane.

I agree that measuring down to parts per billion is insane. Technology has come a long way. For measuring phosphate though it’s not accurate enough for the reasons I mentioned. We’ll get there some day. In the meantime Hanna’s test coupled with Red Sea as a double check (albeit a slightly higher reading every time) helps me know “sort of” where my PO4 is at.

 

[mta_morrow]

Decision made and delivered today!

 

[mta_morrow]

Well I’m bummed

Opened up my new test kits this morning and found this:

Sent off an email and pics to MD.

Their customer service has always been excellent for me so I’m sure it will get resolved

 

[mta_morrow]

Tested my phosphates with my new Hanna ULR.

Not good!

Checked nitrates with my API until my Red Sea replacement comes and it’s dead 0 as well.

I had been dosing 5 ml of Nopox daily as 2 weeks ago my nitrates were 15-20.