Test kits?

Trandall · May 22, 2009

What brand do you use? Is it your favorite and would you recommend it?

I now have the Hagen Master kit but the reagents are getting close to their date. I picked up an API kit at our LFS to compare and there's a pretty good difference in the results between API & Hagen even though I also bought new reagents for the Hagen amm, etc.

I'm thinking there might be better reef test kits out there.
Thanks for any input!

str8salt · May 22, 2009

Not sure which ones are the best. I have been using the hagen I think. Everybody else in town is running them so it made it easier to compare numbers and aclimate frags.

JR's Reef · May 22, 2009

I use API

Reef Empire · May 23, 2009

Salifert has been used around here for years. They're not too expensive or complicated to use, and they seem to be accurate enough.

Natclanwy · May 24, 2009

I have been using API for Calcium, Alk, Nitrate, Phosphate and have been happy with the results, and have never had any issues with them. My magnesium test kit is a Red Sea I believe and it seems to work well also other than there are so many steps that I have trouble getting consistant results once in a while.

acanman · May 24, 2009

i use api and i use instant ocean to double check my results sometimes.

Paul_N · May 24, 2009

API.

I have used Salifert and Red Sea also. I used Seachem and hated them.

Trandall · May 24, 2009

Thanks everyone. I've been using the Hagen for a long time but just aren't happy with it lately. I got a *weird* color not even on the color chart for ammonia when testing my new tank. Thought it was weird so I tested my big tank and got the same strange color and I KNOW there's zero amm. in it. So I got brand new reagents for it thinking my reagents were getting old and got the same weird color. I just don't trust it anymore. That's why I went to my LFS and bought the API.

From the responses and doing a bit of research on my own, I think I'll keep going with the API and also get one of the Elos kits from Marine Depot < which come highly recommended> as a check and balance.

Several people have told me that while salifert was one of the best for years, their quality has gone down hill the last year or so. A couple pros < who make their living from reefs> said the Salifert Alk test is completely unreliable anymore.

Appreciate the responses, thanks again~

Wy Renegade · May 27, 2009

Terri, I've tried Hagen, API, and Salifert, and of the three, I far prefer the Salifert. I've never tried Elos.

Weetabix7 · May 27, 2009

I have been happy with API and Salifert.
I've had very bad results with Red Sea.

Trandall · May 27, 2009

I'm thinking of going with mostly Salifert except Alk. I've hear their Alk test is not accurate at all.
I'm going to try the Elos to see how they are for a couple as well.
I'm keeping the API and want the other as a check and balance.
Moving away from Hagen. Haven't been accurate for me lately at all.

kelleyga36 · May 27, 2009

I use API and Seachem

AD87 · May 27, 2009

ph probe for ph,
salifert for cal
lamotte for alk
salifert for mag
thats all I test for.

Pappy · Aug 17, 2012

Ive been using API but know there are def way better ones out there. I've got the red sea mg and like it seems to be pretty accurate. +1 seachem sucking. Well lemme rephrase seachem doesn't suck its just a major pain in the butt. My wife calls me the mad scientist whenever I break that one out.