Test kits

[ndz98]

I'm thinking of buying a test kit soon. I've been looking at the API master test kit. Now I know it's not like the best test kit ever and it might not be as great at readings as Red Sea or salifert but I'm trying to not spend a lot of money. Also it's better than not checking at all is how I look at it. Maybe some time down the road I will get a better test kit but for now is this test kit okay?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unless you are cycling a tank, this isn't the way to go. Ammonia and nitrite are rarely used after initial cycling, and pH by kit is not very useful/needed.

If cost is a concern, I'd get an alkalinity kit first.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here are my go-to minimum tests for a reef tank:

Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium (I use Red Sea Pro Kit)

Phosphate (I use Hanna)
Nitrate

 

[ndz98]

Unless you are cycling a tank, this isn't the way to go. Ammonia and nitrite are rarely used after initial cycling, and pH by kit is not very useful/needed.

If cost is a concern, I'd get an alkalinity kit first.

What would make my alkalinity levels change and what can I do to prevent it?

 

[ndz98]

Here are my go-to minimum tests for a reef tank:

Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium (I use Red Sea Pro Kit)

Phosphate (I use Hanna)
Nitrate

Maybe I can talk my dad into buying me that Red Sea kit lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What would make my alkalinity levels change and what can I do to prevent it?

Alkalinity drops steadily in any reef tank, and the more hard corals or coralline algae you have, the faster it drops. A well established tank will drop several dKH in alkalinity every day.

So alkalinity is one of the main things that needs supplementing in a reef aquarium, and there are many ways to accomplish that.

This has more:

The Many Methods for Supplementing Calcium and Alkalinity - REEFEDITION
http://www.reefedition.com/the-many-methods-for-supplementing-calcium-and-alkalinity/

 

[john.m.cole3]

I had that kit when I first started out almost a year ago. It was ok to track my tank cycling, but now it's junk (I literally threw it away).

I prefer Sailfert for nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity and Hanna for phosphates.

If you don't plan on keeping corals, Red Sea oe salifert for nitrate and phosphate.

Nitrate and phosphate are important to track in order to manage nuissance algae growth.

 

[JimWelsh]

Salifert for alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, and nitrate. ELOS Phosphate Pro for phosphate.

 

[AdamNC]

I use all Red Sea Stuff, haven't regretted it. Red Sea Alk Pro, Ca Pro, Mg Pro, Nitrate Pro, Phosphate Pro and Seawater Refractometer. After the first few months I stopped testing for pH, Ammonia and Nitrite. Became redundant after a while.