Red Sea Test kits: I need reviews on em
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Downbeach
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Salifert vs Red Sea Pro
I posted this somewhere on here, but can't find it. I did a cost/accuracy comparison between my Salifert kits and the Red Sea Coral Foundation Pro kit over a three week period last November and re-checked them in July of this year, here are the results:
I re-tested these two kits on 7/7/12. The first test was done on 11/21/2011.
Salifert, Ca, Mg and Alk kits total: $61.20
# of tests/cost
Ca = 50 @ $ 23.40/kit - $.48 ea./per test
Mg = 50 @ $ 24.30/kit - $.49 ea./per test
Alk = 100 @ $13.50/kit - $.14 ea./per test
Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Kit: $49.99
# of tests/cost (using refill costs)
Ca = 75 @ $13.00/refill - $.17 ea./per test
Mg = 100 @ $12.00/refill - $.12 ea./per test
Alk = 75 @ $12.00/refill -$.16 ea./per test
There is a real cost savings with the Red Sea kits. But, how did they test out as far as accuracy?
I've done three sets of tests now over the last three weeks.
Salifert
Week 1 Ca = 410 - Week 2 Ca = 400 - Week 3 Ca = 420 ------7/7/12 Ca = 410
Week 1 Mg =1350 -Week 2 Mg = 1340 - Week 3 Mg = 1340 -- 7/7/12 Mg = 1350
Week 1 Alk = 8.6 - Week 2 Alk = 9.3 - Week 3 Alk = 8.9 -----7/7/12 Alk = 8.6
Red Sea Pro
Week 1 Ca = 400 - Week 2 Ca = 390 - Week 3 Ca = 410 ------ 7/7/12 Ca = 400
Week 1 Mg =1360 - Week 2 Mg =1350 - Week 3 Mg =1350 ----7/7/12 Mg = 1350
Week 1 Alk = 8.4 - Week 2 Alk = 9.0 - Week 3 Alk = 8.7 -------7/7/12 Alk = 8.5
I think the numbers speak for themselves. I will continue to monitor these tests until my Salifert kits are used up.
The one caveat here is that the Red Sea kit calculation is determined by taking your end point reading from the plunger in the syringe and deducting it from the 1mL you started with, to determine how much of the titrant was used, i.e. if the reading on the syringe is .37 you used .63, which is the number you need to determine your reading. It isn't hard, but you have to do the math, and I see it as an area for potential human error. The Salifert kit just gives you the reading without the user having to do any additional calculations.
I posted this somewhere on here, but can't find it. I did a cost/accuracy comparison between my Salifert kits and the Red Sea Coral Foundation Pro kit over a three week period last November and re-checked them in July of this year, here are the results:
I re-tested these two kits on 7/7/12. The first test was done on 11/21/2011.
Salifert, Ca, Mg and Alk kits total: $61.20
# of tests/cost
Ca = 50 @ $ 23.40/kit - $.48 ea./per test
Mg = 50 @ $ 24.30/kit - $.49 ea./per test
Alk = 100 @ $13.50/kit - $.14 ea./per test
Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Kit: $49.99
# of tests/cost (using refill costs)
Ca = 75 @ $13.00/refill - $.17 ea./per test
Mg = 100 @ $12.00/refill - $.12 ea./per test
Alk = 75 @ $12.00/refill -$.16 ea./per test
There is a real cost savings with the Red Sea kits. But, how did they test out as far as accuracy?
I've done three sets of tests now over the last three weeks.
Salifert
Week 1 Ca = 410 - Week 2 Ca = 400 - Week 3 Ca = 420 ------7/7/12 Ca = 410
Week 1 Mg =1350 -Week 2 Mg = 1340 - Week 3 Mg = 1340 -- 7/7/12 Mg = 1350
Week 1 Alk = 8.6 - Week 2 Alk = 9.3 - Week 3 Alk = 8.9 -----7/7/12 Alk = 8.6
Red Sea Pro
Week 1 Ca = 400 - Week 2 Ca = 390 - Week 3 Ca = 410 ------ 7/7/12 Ca = 400
Week 1 Mg =1360 - Week 2 Mg =1350 - Week 3 Mg =1350 ----7/7/12 Mg = 1350
Week 1 Alk = 8.4 - Week 2 Alk = 9.0 - Week 3 Alk = 8.7 -------7/7/12 Alk = 8.5
I think the numbers speak for themselves. I will continue to monitor these tests until my Salifert kits are used up.
The one caveat here is that the Red Sea kit calculation is determined by taking your end point reading from the plunger in the syringe and deducting it from the 1mL you started with, to determine how much of the titrant was used, i.e. if the reading on the syringe is .37 you used .63, which is the number you need to determine your reading. It isn't hard, but you have to do the math, and I see it as an area for potential human error. The Salifert kit just gives you the reading without the user having to do any additional calculations.
turfster26
Active Member
Yes, thank you for the comparison. I used Salifert for years and switched to the Red Sea Foundation kit. I mainly use the Cal and Mag with the RS kit and rely on the Hanna Checker for Alk.
To that end, I do like the RS kits and will continue to use until they run out. I may try to jump back to Saifert for ease of use, but as the above posted tested, the kits do comare well to each other.
In regard to the end point on the RS test, I lay down a white towel underneath when testing and it does help alot when determining the "true blue" end point. Once you get used to it you do get a lot better at finding the end point. It is usually 2-3 drops once it begins to turn purple.
HTH
To that end, I do like the RS kits and will continue to use until they run out. I may try to jump back to Saifert for ease of use, but as the above posted tested, the kits do comare well to each other.
In regard to the end point on the RS test, I lay down a white towel underneath when testing and it does help alot when determining the "true blue" end point. Once you get used to it you do get a lot better at finding the end point. It is usually 2-3 drops once it begins to turn purple.
HTH
