Marine Test Kit Recommendations

treemanone2003 · Nov 22, 2014

So I'm (we, GF included) are looking for info regarding marine test kits. A couple of things to help you help me are, I've got less than a year in SW (30 in FW) and currently use the API master kit. It has been sufficient for my 10g nano (I think) but will be upgrading within the next week or so to a 40b. My FW is a thriving 55g Discus tank that gets multiple large volume (at least 50%) weekly WC's, and rarely test it anymore.

Current stock to be transferred over includes:
Tiger Pistol/Goby pair
1 6-7" (widest point) Kenya tree
1 1-1/2" frogspawn
1 2-1/2" frogspawn
1 small Galaxia (maybe 10 heads ?)
1 3 headed Duncan (that looks to be splitting into 4)
About 10-12 pounds of LR

Over time, I (we) would like to add other items to the tank such as:
Palys
Zoas (or is it Zoos ?)
More frogspawn
Longnose Hawkfish
Wrasse of some kind (peaceful, reef safe)
2 OC Clowns (will be first addition)
Helfrichi Firefish (2 if pair or single if no pair local AND bioload permits)

So now for the questions:
1) Is there truly an AIO kit ?
2) What would be the MOST important kit to start with ? (2 OC's and some colorful corals to start)
3) Is one brand more accurate/reliable ?
4) Did I miss a question I should've asked ?

I do have a budget in mind, however, as with everything else in this hobby, that's a good one to laugh at.
TIA for looking and for all the feedback. It certainly is quite the journey !!!

Chalice addict · Nov 22, 2014

I use the api reef master test kit and have had no problems for the last 3 years I also use the salifert magnesium test kit. I keep lots of lps corals and sps (high end and normal ones and have had no problems.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 22, 2014

treemanone2003 said:
1) Is there truly an AIO kit ?
2) What would be the MOST important kit to start with ? (2 OC's and some colorful corals to start)
3) Is one brand more accurate/reliable ?
4) Did I miss a question I should've asked ?

What is AOI?

Alkalinity is the most important test kit, followed by calcium.

Don't bother getting nitrite, and if the tank is already going, no need for ammonia either (except perhaps for QT tank monitoring).

treemanone2003 · Nov 22, 2014

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What is AOI?

Alkalinity is the most important test kit, followed by calcium.

Don't bother getting nitrite, and if the tank is already going, no need for ammonia either (except perhaps for QT tank monitoring).

AIO as in "All-in-one". I've seen some brands that are singles, doubles, and triples but ant remember who offered what and what combos went together.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 22, 2014

I'm not sure I'd go the AOI route as different brands are better or worse for different kits, and many such AOI kits offer things you do not want (like a pH kit, which is far better measured with a meter).

treemanone2003 · Nov 22, 2014

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I'm not sure I'd go the AOI route as different brands are better or worse for different kits, and many such AOI kits offer things you do not want (like a pH kit, which is far better measured with a meter).

Thank you Randy !!! Exactly the kind of info I'm seeking. Now any suggestions as to which is better for what ?

dbl · Nov 22, 2014

I'm still relatively new to all of this, but when I got started I did a lot of research, mainly viewing quite a few forums where this very question is asked. Through my own polling, and what I ended up going with, was the Salifert for alkilinty, calcium and magnesium, and the hanna checker for phosphate. I started with the API kit so use that for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. As Randy said, I use a meter for pH.

Hopefully this helps. You'll get a lot a varying answers, and this is just one of them!!!