Test kit advice and other questions

[Jdeleon]

Sorry not even sure how to ask this..... Well ive posted here and there on my new tank (also new to the hobby). im at the end of cycle on my red sea 525Xl has been up and running for about 7 weeks now. I pretty much cycled and testing with API test kit. I have read several mention how inaccurate they are. So im looking around at what test kit to buy and I find the red sea reef care program. now I go to red sea and they have a BUNCH! of testing kits, sell them all separately... has anyone used the program, by what I watch on videos its to enhance coral color and growth. What im mainly keeping in my tank will be LPS, Zoas and fish. Is the purpose of the red sea program to basically start dosing? Should I wait until my tank has more life before I even get into that? or is dosing mainly for SPS? If anyone knows of any good links to introduction of dosing that would be great also.

 

[morpheas]

You should have a quality set of test kits from as early as you can. For me at least, it helps me stay in tune with my reef. After buying a host of test kits and finding my favorites and the ones that just sit on a shelf doing nothing here is a list I would recommend:

Salinity: Buy a refractometer, if you have the money a digital one (milwaukee)
Ammonia: API is fine, should not be concerned with on a cycled tank except for rare occasions for which API is good enough (for me at least)
Nitrites: Ditto
Nitrates: Red Sea Nitrates pro with a Salifert as backup. I can't stress enough how much I like their wheel and color separation especially for someone so bad with colors as me.
Carbonate Hardness (Alkalinity): Hanna checker in dKh with a Salifert as a backup
Calcium: Salifert (the API is fine as backup)
Magnesium: Salifert
pH: Salifert with API as backup
Phosphate: Hanna ULR phosphorus checker (no backup I can't read the colors in any, all are sitting on my shelves haha)

These are my staple testers. Many will have different opinions.

As for dosing, in the beginning you shouldn't need dosing especially with a good water change schedule. As time goes by and you put more corals your tests will tell you

 

[RJinPV]

There is a pretty good Youtube video from Bulk Reef Supply on test kits. You should check it out:

They do a hands on comparison between most of the Red Sea, Salifert and Hanna test kits

 

[RJinPV]

You should have a quality set of test kits from as early as you can. For me at least, it helps me stay in tune with my reef. After buying a host of test kits and finding my favorites and the ones that just sit on a shelf doing nothing here is a list I would recommend:

Salinity: Buy a refractometer, if you have the money a digital one (milwaukee)
Ammonia: API is fine, should not be concerned with on a cycled tank except for rare occasions for which API is good enough (for me at least)
Nitrites: Ditto
Nitrates: Red Sea Nitrates pro with a Salifert as backup. I can't stress enough how much I like their wheel and color separation especially for someone so bad with colors as me.
Carbonate Hardness (Alkalinity): Hanna checker in dKh with a Salifert as a backup
Calcium: Salifert (the API is fine as backup)
Magnesium: Salifert
pH: Salifert with API as backup
Phosphate: Hanna ULR phosphorus checker (no backup I can't read the colors in any, all are sitting on my shelves haha)

These are my staple testers. Many will have different opinions.

As for dosing, in the beginning you shouldn't need dosing especially with a good water change schedule. As time goes by and you put more corals your tests will tell you

I like the Red Sea Nitrate kit too. How do you like the Hanna ULR phosphorus kit? I have the low rang Phosphate kit and it always seems to give me 0.00 no matter if it's tap water, RO water, or salt water. The only time I get a reading is when I test a freshwater tank sample that is very neglected

 

[azbigjohn]

I haven't used the entire Red Sea program, but did have their "Reef Essentials" (Calcium, Alk, Mg). There test kits are pretty accurate (as long as you have a slow hand and are patient) and there are YouTube videos showing how to use them right.

That being said, after I started running low (spilled some reagent) I got a Salifert for my Mag, and it is even easier, and easier to read.

As mentioned above, you mainly need to primary test kits until you start getting into needing to supplement your tank. Then you can expand into all the "minor" kits (iodine, potassium, etc...)

 

[morpheas]

I like the Red Sea Nitrate kit too. How do you like the Hanna ULR phosphorus kit? I have the low rang Phosphate kit and it always seems to give me 0.00 no matter if it's tap water, RO water, or salt water. The only time I get a reading is when I test a freshwater tank sample that is very neglected

It's the only kit that gives me any reading (usually around 10 ppb). The salifert and red sea I can't read and I don't have experience with the phosphate Hanna but I am guessing it wouldn't be able to read well...

That being said, after I started running low (spilled some reagent) I got a Salifert for my Mag, and it is even easier, and easier to read.

Saliferts are much cheaper and usually less involved. Some might not be as accurate as the red sea or elos counterparts (nitrate for example) but always a good test to have around...