recommend me bare bones budget testing kit/combo. . .

[MoshJosh]

So I am bad. . . I don't own a test kit other than my Hanna Salinity checker (that I don't entirely trust). . . otherwise I just test at the LFS. . . but now that I want to become a serious reefer I think I should get some tests. . . so what should I buy, can I buy a pack or set of them?

Thinking pH, Nitrate, Phosphate, for sure. . . what else is a MUST HAVE to get into the "serious reefer" club?

 

[doubleshot00]

Salifert for them all if you want to order from Amazon.

Or get a red sea master kit from ebay then get salifert phosphate test kit on Amazon.

 

[Acros]

Hanna works well for alk, ulr phosphorus, nitrate high range. I use Red Sea for Mag and Calcium.

No point in testing ph unless you can get a continuous ph monitor. So essentially a controller or one of the Milwaukee ph meters.

If you are to get one test kit, get the Hanna alk.

 

[mjw011689]

I generally trust my Salifert tests. You’ll want calcium, alk, mag, nitrate and phosphate

 

[jkcoral]

Hannah checkers are the coolest new thing, and many here will (rightfully) recommend several of them.

For an effective and cheaper option, look at Salifert test kits. I always have them handy and they are great for the price.

 

[MoshJosh]

I guess I didn't realize there were other "mater kit"s aside from API, which I have heard bad things about.

I am definitly interested in the Red Sea and Saltifert kits, Red Sea is cheaper but is one more accurate than the other.

 

[mjw011689]

Tomato tomato… you’re asking a question that’s gonna get a million different answers. The right answer (between Red Sea and Salifert) is get the one you personally can see the color differences better. They’re gonna be really close in accuracy, the bigger issue is some people can’t differentiate certain colors on the charts the same as others can. Neither option will give you readings that are way off. Neither option will give you readings that are dead on 100% lab accurate either. But they put you in a spot where you can use your judgement. If your calcium is reading 415 but might be a +/- 15ppm, does it really matter? You know you’re close to where it needs to be. Same with nitrates. Is there really a difference between 8 or 12? Probably not, but if you know you’re close, that’s all that really matters for the most part.

 

[MoshJosh]

I think I will go with the Red Sea. . . I will have to buy 2 kits to get everything I want and will get a few "extras" I wasn't really after (namely nitrite and ammonia) but they look pretty nice and easy to read. . .

 

[mjw011689]

Why buy nitrite and ammonia? You’ll more or less never use them. If your tank is already cycled, there’s no need for those two

 

[MoshJosh]

Why buy nitrite and ammonia? You’ll more or less never use them. If your tank is already cycled, there’s no need for those two

I don't want them, but wanted the other tests in that kit. . . but now that I look at it that still doesn't include phosphate. . . looks like no matter which route I take I will need to piece it together. . . ugggh.

 

[Aaron75]

I don't want them, but wanted the other tests in that kit. . . but now that I look at it that still doesn't include phosphate. . . looks like no matter which route I take I will need to piece it together. . . ugggh.

Amazon has a Salifert Master Kit for $100

 

[mjw011689]

I’ve always just bought them separate. For the record, even the Salifert master kit is not an actual kit. It comes out roughly the same price to buy them all individually, so definitely more convenient to just grab the kit that Amazon has for 99.

 

[GARRIGA]

What level of precision needed? API Reef kit might be sufficient. I don’t bother with ammonia or nitrite post cycle and at the moment don’t need precision. Plus my test tank is extremely stable since I don’t perform WCs and parameters rarely shift to the point it’s mature enough I let nuisance algae alert me to when I need to test and otherwise just enjoy the life in it. Is a test tank so take that with a grain of salt and my main build will rely on monthly ICP tests because then I’ll need extra precision yet I’ll still use the API since I just need to confirm no major shifts between tests and to ensure my dosing is working properly. No WC will be performed either

 

[Dbichler]

To start all I would buy is nitrate phosphate and alk. If you have coral issues then buy mag and cal. I use salifert for all but nitrate i use nyos.

 

[EricR]

Personal opinion but my vote, in order of importance, for the soft corals in your build thread would be:
1. Phosphate
2. Nitrate
3. Alkalinity

I use Hanna for all those but I'm color blind.
I use Salifert for (and just get help with colors) for Calcium and Magnesium.

 

[MoshJosh]

Personally opinion but my vote, in order of importance, for the soft corals in your build thread would be:
1. Phosphate
2. Nitrate
3. Alkalinity

I use Hanna for all those but I'm color blind.
I use Salifert for (and just get help with colors) for Calcium and Magnesium.

Most my corals are SPS and LPS now haha

 

[Dbichler]

Most my corals are SPS and LPS now haha

Still would be the three most important. But you probably want cal and mag then just to double check with your alk levels

 

[fish farmer]

I think the salifert is useless for phosphate unless it is high. I like salifert for ca, alk, mag and nitrate. I don't test pH much.

 

[flashsmith]

If you buy into Hanna just know you'll forever be buying reagents for your testers.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I think I will go with the Red Sea. . . I will have to buy 2 kits to get everything I want and will get a few "extras" I wasn't really after (namely nitrite and ammonia) but they look pretty nice and easy to read. . .

Red Sea mag is a pain to run... Get Salifert for that (at least)