Reef test kits - Recommendations?

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

I'm planning on buying a new reef test kit mainly for calcium, dkh, and magnesium. I would also like to test other parameters as well. Do any of you experienced reefers recommend a kit that is consistently accurate and overall a good quality? Was looking at the red sea reef kit on brs.

mtraylor · Sep 23, 2018

I really like the red sea test kit. Its pretty good.

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

mtraylor said:
I really like the red sea test kit. Its pretty good.

I've heard they've been inaccurate for some people, has there been any issues with yours?

mtraylor · Sep 23, 2018

I haven't had any issues thus far. What were the complaints?

GoVols · Sep 23, 2018

Angelo Fatica said:
I'm planning on buying a new reef test kit mainly for calcium, dkh, and magnesium. I would also like to test other parameters as well. Do any of you experienced reefers recommend a kit that is consistently accurate and overall a good quality? Was looking at the red sea reef kit on brs.

Don't like the Red Sea Pro mag kit. It's burnt me a few times and tossed it.
Salfert is more acurate on mag and a lot quicker to preform.

No matter what.

Get the Hanna Alk (dkh) checker!!

GoVols · Sep 23, 2018

mtraylor said:
I haven't had any issues thus far. What were the complaints?

The mag kit can test up to 100ppm too high, from my experience and cross checking with other brands.

mtraylor · Sep 23, 2018

I use the red sea reef foundation pro

mtraylor · Sep 23, 2018

GoVols said:
The mag kit can test up to 100ppm too high, from my experience and cross checking with other brands.

Oh ok. I haven't heard that. Well I keep my Magnesium high anyway so it wouldn't matter if mine was 1200ppm or 1300ppm. Either way I would be happy. 1400 wouldn't bother me either. Too low and I would know because calcium would not get where I need it.

GoVols · Sep 23, 2018

mtraylor said:
I use the red sea reef foundation pro

Yeah that's what I used to used too.

Now, I run and combo/ from brands that I like / per the parameter that I'm testing.

GoVols · Sep 23, 2018

mtraylor said:
Oh ok. I haven't heard that. Well I keep my Magnesium high anyway so it wouldn't matter if mine was 1200ppm or 1300ppm. Either way I would be happy. 1400 wouldn't bother me either. Too low and I would know because calcium would not get where I need it.

Now,
I run at 1400 so it would not matter to me either...

GoPitt88 · Sep 23, 2018

I agree with GoVols with everything except for the team he roots for [emoji12]

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

GoVols said:
Don't like the Red Sea Pro mag kit. It's burnt me a few times and tossed it.
Salfert is more acurate on mag and a lot quicker to preform.

No matter what.

Get the Hanna Alk (dkh) checker!!

Was definitely looking at getting it! What does the salifert test for?

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

GoVols said:
Yeah that's what I used to used too.

Now, I run and combo/ from brands that I like / per the parameter that I'm testing.

Which brands are you using for each parameter? I dont mind getting multiple if that's what it takes

GoPitt88 · Sep 23, 2018

I use Red Sea for Calcium, Hanna Checker for Alk, and Salifert for Magnesium. I had bought the Red Sea Pro kit, but my magnesium always seemed to be at the max, or above the max. Then I read a lot of reviews where people felt it read higher than actual. The reviews for Red Sea for Calcium, Hanna for Alk, and Salifert for Mag all seem to be very positive.

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

GoPitt88 said:
I use Red Sea for Calcium, Hanna Checker for Alk, and Salifert for Magnesium. I had bought the Red Sea Pro kit, but my magnesium always seemed to be at the max, or above the max. Then I read a lot of reviews where people felt it read higher than actual. The reviews for Red Sea for Calcium, Hanna for Alk, and Salifert for Mag all seem to be very positive.

Does salifert do calcium as well? Is it also accurate?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 23, 2018

Angelo Fatica said:
Does salifert do calcium as well? Is it also accurate?

Salifert is a brand, like IBM. They make many products including many kits. Their alk kit is generally considered quite accurate.

GoPitt88 · Sep 23, 2018

Angelo Fatica said:
Does salifert do calcium as well? Is it also accurate?

I just Googled it, and it looks like they do. I have no idea about the accuracy. I’d check online for reviews.

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Salifert is a brand, like IBM. They make many products including many kits. Their alk kit is generally considered quite accurate.

Oh yeah sorry I guess my question was worded weird, I meant do they have a calcium test. [emoji23] do you know if their calcium test is considered accurate?

Angelo Fatica · Sep 23, 2018

GoPitt88 said:
I just Googled it, and it looks like they do. I have no idea about the accuracy. I’d check online for reviews.

Got it, thanks. I'll look more into it this week

GoVols · Sep 23, 2018

Angelo Fatica said:
Which brands are you using for each parameter? I dont mind getting multiple if that's what it takes

Well,
These are what I use:

Calcium - API does the job and you can pick it up anywhere
Alk- Hanna Alk Checker, but API will do the job too
Mag- Salifert
Nitrates - Salifert
Phosphates - Hanna ULR Checker, but going to move over to Elos

When you test Cal / Alk and Mag (The Big-3)
Test those at the same time of the day. The big-3 can read different during the day.
I test those at about 5:30 pm, because I'm home from work. So if I want to test on the weekend's, I still wait until 5 to 6 pm.

I usually preform my weekly water changes on Friday night and do check the Salinity, but hold off and test the big-3 on Saturday evening.

Be sure to use .35 solution to keep your refractometer calibrated. If you zero out your meter with RO/DI water it will not be accurate.
Been there and done that one...

Those kits are just one guys opinion and wish you all the best.