Red Sea test kit and other testing equipment

[Maxx Yung]

Hey fellow reefers,

Over the past several years, I’ve been using the Red Sea test kit for the big 3. Just recently, I got a phosphate tester, (salifert) and it said that the color has to be read from the top...

I am now wondering whether you read the color of solution from the top or the side of the vial?

I also had a cheap pH meter, and I suspected that it was broken (reading 7.7pH). I got an API and now it says 8.3...

How accurate is the API pH kit? (Also the color matching cards are totally different colors from my vials, but I just estimated.)

 

[andrewey]

In my experience, the API pH test kits are unreliable. Their accuracy is debatable. I would calibrate your pH meter or check it against a known standard to determine if it truely is broken or not. 7.7pH could be accurate or it might not be, I would check it out

Test vials for most other companies can be read from the side. Each company has directions for viewing (e.g. salifert nitrate for viewing from above vs. the side for <10ppm multiplication).