Is There A Poll,......On Accurate Test Kits ?

427HISS · Jan 31, 2017

Through searching, I have not found a poll, on which test kits are most accurate ?
Just because the low cost kits such as API, doesn't mean their not accurate, vs high dollar brands.

So, is there a poll here or do we need to ceate one ?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 31, 2017

A poll for accuracy wouldn't be useful. A test would be:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

427HISS · Jan 31, 2017

Why not, if you at least a few reefers test the the same sample with different company's test kits, I'm sure a poll could be done as to which company faired the most accurate.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 31, 2017

427HISS said:
Why not, if you at least a few reefers test the the same sample with different company's test kits, I'm sure a poll could be done as to which company faired the most accurate.

A poll is an opinion. A test is fact.
And its already been done. A lot, for years.

ahiggins · Jan 31, 2017

I could see a poll on what people prefer but for accuracy you would have to test them all on the same sample yourself then get an ICP(possibly ICPMS) test to read the actual values.

427HISS · Jan 31, 2017

ahiggins said:
I could see a poll on what people prefer but for accuracy you would have to test them all on the same sample yourself then get an ICP(possibly ICPMS) test to read the actual values.

That's what I was trying to say,....Thank You.

All of us have a paticular manufacture we like for various reasons, and some test their water with a couple to several different manufactures, rather than one for all tests.

I mean if one company's test for nitrate is 20ppm, and company number two is 30ppm, 40ppm, or 50ppp, .....(exaggerated)
why even test ?

It's not worth our time and money.

So, can we or someone test, who has the most accurate test kits ?

ahiggins · Jan 31, 2017

yes we can-I believe it was linked above that someone already had.
If you want to test for say...nitrates. Pick up salifert, red sea, api, etc. test for nitrates. Grab a 500ml or so sample of your aquarium water. Test THAT sample with each kit you bought. Then send the remainder of that sample to triton (they use an ICP-OES I believe) to get a breakdown of all things in your tank. You could do calcium or alk or whatever you wanted. If you wanted to be super thorough, make sure the temp of the sample is consistent through all tests-ie 76 or 74 degrees.
Simple as that

I prefer salifert due to ease of test and legibility of results.

427HISS · Jan 31, 2017

I'd rather not spend that much money, so I was hoping that someone already has.
I'll look over the linked post.

Have you found all of Salifert's test to have good accurate results, but how would we know ?
I've used theirs and API, but haven't tested against each other.

ahiggins · Jan 31, 2017

Oh god, salifert far outweighs API.
I've found salifert ammonia, nitrate, calcium, alk, and mag are all extremely accurate.
99.9% of "accuracy" lies in preparation and physically doing the test. Human error is what makes tests inaccurate. Just keep that in mind.

427HISS · Jan 31, 2017

Cool. I'll order the Salifert kit.

I see they have the two different ranges within the kit, a low range for phosphate-phosphor from 0.01 - 1 mg/L and a medium from 0.02 - 2 mg/L.

Thanks bud.