Help with test kit decision..

[mrniceguy]

So im still new too reef keeping. I start and still using api test kits marine&reef kits. Which i found out almost immediately i choose the wrong ones. Now christmas and anniversary is coming up soon so time to make my list.[emoji48][emoji48][emoji48] ive done my research and was going to choose salifert. But i also was tempted my the redsea pro kits a little more pricey but looked like you might get better results with the test. Then there was hanna checkers.Ive seen a couple videos and read ups and downs with them and a little pricey and a exact read would be worth it if its accurate. So i decided to come here so see whats works best. Thanks for your time heres a couple pics of my 29biocube

 

[Flippers4pups]

Me, salifert for alkalinity and mag.
API for calcium, N03, PH.
Hannah checker for P04.

 

[klesel]

Hanna p04 n alk redsea rest or salifert both are top notch

 

[Big G]

Hanna Checker for PO4 & for HL Copper <<<<< this one is a game changer - way cool
Salifert or Red Sea for the rest.

 

[jp_75]

Hanna - Alkalinity,Copper,Phosphate
Red Sea- Calcium,Magnesium

 

[Hitman]

Hanna for PO4
Salifert for everything else.

 

[starypotter]

What sort of difference are we talking here for PO4 especially. I know myself, and I know that I will neglect testing in favor of the Hanna cleaning regime. I'll do it for copper since that's a whole other ballgame that's way more closely related to the deaths of my fish, but if I'm only running LPS and softies do you think I could get away with RedSea for all of the tests?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I started using RedSea Pro a long time ago.

 

[Flippers4pups]

What sort of difference are we talking here for PO4 especially. I know myself, and I know that I will neglect testing in favor of the Hanna cleaning regime. I'll do it for copper since that's a whole other ballgame that's way more closely related to the deaths of my fish, but if I'm only running LPS and softies do you think I could get away with RedSea for all of the tests?

Yes you can, but some redsea kits are tough to use/hard to read from what I've heard. Mag kit drove me nuts years ago. I'll let others chime in on their experiences with them.

 

[Amoo]

I use Hanna for PO4 and Alk, Red Sea for the rest.

 

[starypotter]

Yes you can, but some redsea kits are tough to use/hard to read from what I've heard. Mag kit drove me nuts years ago. I'll let others chime in on their experiences with them.

It's a start at least thanks! I'm hopping around all of these threads to get as much input as I can before I upgrade from my API

 

[Amoo]

It's a start at least thanks! I'm hopping around all of these threads to get as much input as I can before I upgrade from my API

This is sound thinking on EVERYTHING in this hobby.

 

[starypotter]

This is sound thinking on EVERYTHING in this hobby.

Thanks! I was planning to get the Hanna until I read (thank goodness!) that you need to like obsessively clean them and I barely manage to clean my api vials so I know that something more intense like that will not go over in the slightest. I figure the slightly less accurate test is a whole lot better than not testing with the super accurate one.

 

[Amoo]

Thanks! I was planning to get the Hanna until I read (thank goodness!) that you need to like obsessively clean them and I barely manage to clean my api vials so I know that something more intense like that will not go over in the slightest. I figure the slightly less accurate test is a whole lot better than not testing with the super accurate one.

I actually got some little hanging clips from the store for like $3. I added a 1ml syringe to the clip and it holds the vial up allowing it to dry properly and not leaving water spots on the inside. For the outside I always have lint free rags on my desk and I clean the outside of all of my test vials so it works out.

 

[starypotter]

I actually got some little hanging clips from the store for like $3. I added a 1ml syringe to the clip and it holds the vial up allowing it to dry properly and not leaving water spots on the inside. For the outside I always have lint free rags on my desk and I clean the outside of all of my test vials so it works out.

So what's your process like then? You just have to rinse it with RODI and let it dry on your clips? Do you need to worry about a dusty or pet-hairy environment? I would guess if I just keep a gallon of RODI at whatever area you do your cleaning it should be okay for a quick rinse or is it more intense?

 

[Amoo]

So what's your process like then? You just have to rinse it with RODI and let it dry on your clips? Do you need to worry about a dusty or pet-hairy environment? I would guess if I just keep a gallon of RODI at whatever area you do your cleaning it should be okay for a quick rinse or is it more intense?

I rinse them in regular sink water and let them air dry upside down. We have 6 dogs a cat and a 5.5 year old. Hanging them upside down lets everything drain out and I don't have to worry, it also helps to keep the pet hair out. I basically, use them, rinse them, toss em on the rack, rinse/repeat next time.

 

[Amoo]

These clips + a 1ml syringe and it keeps all of my test bottles upside down and allows them to dry

 

[starypotter]

I rinse them in regular sink water and let them air dry upside down. We have 6 dogs a cat and a 5.5 year old. Hanging them upside down lets everything drain out and I don't have to worry, it also helps to keep the pet hair out. I basically, use them, rinse them, toss em on the rack, rinse/repeat next time.

Those clips are clever that's cool, we've got some really terrible water here but if you're able to get away with sink water I could probably manage with RODI. Do you find that they're at all as sensitive as some say, no fingerprints, always needing to put the vial in in the same direction, the cleaning, trouble with reagents, anything like that? Any tricky little problems you come across that are worth noting?
Also 6 dogs... where do you live and at what hours of the day is nobody home. Just you know, for science

 

[Amoo]

Those clips are clever that's cool, we've got some really terrible water here but if you're able to get away with sink water I could probably manage with RODI. Do you find that they're at all as sensitive as some say, no fingerprints, always needing to put the vial in in the same direction, the cleaning, trouble with reagents, anything like that? Any tricky little problems you come across that are worth noting?
Also 6 dogs... where do you live and at what hours of the day is nobody home. Just you know, for science

My wife is a vet and we live in the middle of nowhere. We have 2 acres of out own, about 3/4 fence and farm fields all around us. 2 dogs go to work with my wife everyday, 3 go outside all day long and one stays inside all day with me as I work from home. Everybody comes inside every night at about 7ish or if it's storming or too hot or too cold.

The only two things you have to worry about are putting the bottle in the same way and fingerprints. I get packages of those lint free rags from lowes for like $10. Anytime I'm testing I always wipe the bottom down, hold it with the rag, shake it with the rag...etc. I basically use the rag/cloth like a pot holder and it works fine. In regards to putting them in the same way every time. They all say 10ml on them. I just make sure this is always facing me when I put the vial in. It's really not very difficult to get repeatable results with a potholder rag for wiping and keeping the 10ml facing the same way every time.

 

[starypotter]

My wife is a vet and we live in the middle of nowhere. We have 2 acres of out own, about 3/4 fence and farm fields all around us. 2 dogs go to work with my wife everyday, 3 go outside all day long and one stays inside all day with me as I work from home. Everybody comes inside every night at about 7ish or if it's storming or too hot or too cold.

The only two things you have to worry about are putting the bottle in the same way and fingerprints. I get packages of those lint free rags from lowes for like $10. Anytime I'm testing I always wipe the bottom down, hold it with the rag, shake it with the rag...etc. I basically use the rag/cloth like a pot holder and it works fine. In regards to putting them in the same way every time. They all say 10ml on them. I just make sure this is always facing me when I put the vial in. It's really not very difficult to get repeatable results with a potholder rag for wiping and keeping the 10ml facing the same way every time.

Okay that's reassuring since I've been tallying what everybody on the different threads says about each test and Hanna is overwhelmingly voted for with PO4. Sounds like I'll have to do a lot of legwork to visit steal all of your dogs but I'll make it work