Salifert vs. API test kits?

[Kasey Grohowski]

My api test kit is showing 2 ppm ammonia and salifert is showing .5, I've heard salifert is better just wondering your opinions.

 

[taricha_94]

In my experience, the API tests have always read differently than the other tests I use (Salifert, Red Sea, etc.). I try to stay away from API kits because of that.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

In my experience, the API tests have always read differently than the other tests I use (Salifert, Red Sea, etc.). I try to stay away from API kits because of that.

Do you like red sea or salifert better?

 

[taricha_94]

I prefer Red Sea but I haven't used Salifert nearly as much as I have Red Sea.. I don't think you can go wrong either way though

 

[homer1475]

The API kit is notorious for showing ammonia in a salt tank when nothing is present. It's just hard to guess whether it's slightly green, or full yellow?

After using Red Sea and Salifert for a while now, I just prefer the salifert for the ease of use.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

The API kit is notorious for showing ammonia in a salt tank when nothing is present. It's just hard to guess whether it's slightly green, or full yellow?

After using Red Sea and Salifert for a while now, I just prefer the salifert for the ease of use.

Do both show the same results?

 

[homer1475]

Salifert and Red Sea are pretty close. Close enough for the margin of error in our hobby grade test kits.

API I only use while cycling. They are easy to use, and if I show any color other then yellow, I know there is some ammonia. I don't worry about the actual level of ammonia, just when it hits 0.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Salifert and Red Sea are pretty close. Close enough for the margin of error in our hobby grade test kits.

API I only use while cycling. They are easy to use, and if I show any color other then yellow, I know there is some ammonia. I don't worry about the actual level of ammonia, just when it hits 0.

Yeah I am cycling showing 2 ppm ammonia 2 ppm nitrite and 60ish ppm nitrate.

 

[homer1475]

Only thing you really need to be concerned with while cycling is when ammonia and nitrite reach 0. Who cares what level they are. Only time an actual level is nice, is when first dosing the tank with ammonia. It's nice to know your at 2ppm and not 6, where that high of a level could stall the cycle.

Cycling a tank is an exact science, but all you have to be concerned with is when ammonia and nitrite reach 0.

 

[doughboy]

API test is fine.
Make sure it is not expired.
You can test on fresh saltwater mix to see if you get 0 reading. If you are getting a reading of 2 on fresh sw mix, then your kit is bad.

IMHO, not worth getting expensive test kit for something you would not need again after cycling.

These are pics of readings when I was cycling my tank

This next one was my last test

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

API test is fine.
Make sure it is not expired.
You can test on fresh saltwater mix to see if you get 0 reading. If you are getting a reading of 2 on fresh sw mix, then your kit is bad.

IMHO, not worth getting expensive test kit for something you would not need again after cycling.

These are pics of readings when I was cycling my tank

This next one was my last test

1st pic is what mine look like now, how long after did yours finish?

 

[doughboy]

1st pic is what mine look like now, how long after did yours finish?

the first and second pic are 4 weeks apart. I think I added livestock after another week or two.
so your API reading is around 0.2~0.5, not 2, which is essentially same as salifert reading.

as someone said, you don't really care about any reading except 0. and color for 0 is clearly different from 0.25 so it will be easier to distinguish. If you take pictures, you can see your cycle progress.

you are definitely not ready to add livestock yet.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

the first and second pic are 4 weeks apart. I think I added livestock after another week or two.
so your API reading is around 0.2~0.5, not 2.

you are definitely not ready to add livestock yet.

I'm well aware of that, honestly my tank dropped from 8 to 2 ammonia in 5 days, so I'm hoping 7-10 days I'll be ready for a fish.