Reliability

[frag!]

Can anyone give me some advice on a reliable accurate test kit? I dont know how they expect you to keep a thriving reef system when you cant even get accurate test results. This includes API and Salifert. My LFS tested my water with salifert twice and got two completely different test results with alkalinity and magnesium. I asked him what I was supposed to do, split the difference? Just tired of never getting accurate tests and am wondering what everyone else is doing or using. Thanks.

 

[StikHedRon]

So with test kits, I would use salifert or redsea, I've heard elos is good but never used them. You MUST test at the same time every day you test to get accurate results, you MUST use the same lighting every time to see the reagent color change, you MUST follow the instructions to a T every time you test. This is the only way to get true accurate test results. If you are following these steps you should be able to get a good baseline. Our test kits are only so accurate but if you repeat the same process everytime you can then create stability which is more important than say a specific level to keep your tank at.

 

[Pete polyp]

I had issues with salifert CA test kit reading high. Elos and API both tested the same

 

[cdness]

I used API for YEARS before going to Red Sea. I will not knock the API kits as they are simple and to be honest much easier to tell the color changes than the Red Sea...

However following the directions is the most important part. If it tells you to shake bottle #2 VIGOROUSLY for 30 seconds, shake the crap out of it. The reagent can settle a bit causing differences in the tests very easily...

For example, there used to be an LFS in town who would test your water for you. They never shook the bottles of the calcium test kits for API. As the kits get used up, the parameters are way out of whack and never get good results. When confronted about shaking the bottles, they said they never shake the bottle and have never shaken it before testing. That means they have bad results for all customers who come into the store. They just put the bottles back into the bit and waited for the next test...

With that said, ALWAYS know the correct process to do the test. Follow the directions as they are written. Get your own test kits so you are 100% sure it is being done right...