Test kits that stick: best and worst

[LadyTang2]

Are there brands of test kits for any parameters that seem to stick as being the best or the worst?

I have definitely seen agreement in threads in the past "get this one" or many people saying "this one is terrible".

Please list the great ones and the ones NEVER to but

 

[Mr_Knightley]

My favorite kits are the Sera test kits, and the ones not to buy are top fin and any type of strip tests.

 

[MrSkumfrog]

I like the Hanna electronic DKH and ULR Phosphate; the Red Sea and Nyos Nitrate.

Tests I dislike: Hanna Calcium; Tropic Marin and Red Sea Calcium (I couldn’t distinguish a stop color with the Red Sea. Maybe it’s me.)

 

[LadyTang2]

My favorite kits are the Sera test kits, and the ones not to buy are top fin and any type of strip tests.

hmm had not heard of them before

 

[Steven91]

Favorites: Hannah for Dkh and Phosphate, Aquaforest for Mag

 

[W1ngz]

 

[mike550]

I use Hanna for salinity, alk, and phosphate. Using Salifert for Ca, Mg, and nitrate. Not thrilled by Salifert Nitrate as it’s hard for me to distinguish the 5-10 and 10-25 range. Considering NYOS or Red Sea for nitrate.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I avoid API for most anything after cycle.

 

[GoVols]

Use Hanna ULR checker for phos.

Has anyone tried the Seachem phos. kit?

 

[PatW]

The Bulk Reef Supply videos give a good discussion and talk about the tests in detail.

Alkalinity - Hanna is the best. Salifert and Red Sea Pro are both good.
Calcium - Hanna is not good. Salifert or Red Sea Pro.
Magnesium - Red Sea drives me crazy. I like Salifert. Aquaforest is supposed to be the best.
Nitrate - I like Red Sea Pro. But Salifert is good.
Phosphates - Hanna ULR phosphorous is the most sensitive. It and the Hanna ULR phosphate are the only test kits that can detect levels of phosphates low enough to be useful.

 

[Sorbi]

I also like the BRS suggestions. Has anyone tried Tropic Marine Ca/Mg Pro Test kit?
The reading of the residual volume of the reagents C and D is sort of difficult.

 

[Cory]

For alkalinity ive tried seachem, api, salifert and the hanna checker. I use salifert because it takes me a minute. Seachems eye dropper is so poor looking compared to a syringe. Api uses huge drops which isnt precise. And the alk checker takes wayyy to long when I test every day to a week.

 

[merkmerk73]

I like the Hanna electronic DKH and ULR Phosphate; the Red Sea and Nyos Nitrate.

Tests I dislike: Hanna Calcium; Tropic Marin and Red Sea Calcium (I couldn’t distinguish a stop color with the Red Sea. Maybe it’s me.)

I really like Hanna Alkalinity and Phosphate so far. It's easy and seems pretty accurate.

Hanna calcium is hot garbage. I don't care how many people try to tell you that you're not doing the test right.

Red Sea tells me I'm around 420-430. Hanna tells me I'm over 600+ no matter how many times I repeat the test and follow the complicated instructions.

I paid a ton of money for the hanna marine master kit and feel like a moron for doing it.

The reality is you have to mix and match various elements because each company does some stuff well and the other stuff horribly.

 

[David Carp]

I really like Hanna Alkalinity and Phosphate so far. It's easy and seems pretty accurate.

Hanna calcium is hot garbage. I don't care how many people try to tell you that you're not doing the test right.

Red Sea tells me I'm around 420-430. Hanna tells me I'm over 600+ no matter how many times I repeat the test and follow the complicated instructions.

I paid a ton of money for the hanna marine master kit and feel like a moron for doing it.

The reality is you have to mix and match various elements because each company does some stuff well and the other stuff horribly.

I also bought the M.M. I bought it way to early. I'm going to start writing NEGATIVE REVIEWS ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE I CAN. So much time wanted.