Test kits ?

[Piece of reef]

Hey guys just want to know what test kits you guys recommend
Or what brand you use for each test ?

And do i only need to buy tests for

Alkalinity
Amonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Calcium
Ph
Phosphate
Magnesium

Thanks

 

[Zach B]

I like the salifert test kits. I use a couple of hannas handheld meters as well that I like a lot

 

[Reefingmama]

Hey guys just want to know what test kits you guys recommend
Or what brand you use for each test ?

And do i only need to buy tests for

Alkalinity
Amonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Calcium
Ph
Phosphate
Magnesium

Thanks

Alk, calcium, PH, magnesium all on the trident if you can swing it.
If you can’t do trident, I would do Red Sea or Hanna for Alk/calcium and anything for PH

I don’t test amonia or nitrite.
For nitrate I like nios or Red Sea

phosphate is Hanna all the way.

 

[Reefingmama]

Alk, calcium, PH, magnesium all on the trident if you can swing it.
If you can’t do trident, I would do Red Sea or Hanna for Alk/calcium and anything for PH

I don’t test amonia or nitrite.
For nitrate I like nios or Red Sea

phosphate is Hanna all the way.

Oh also, I put our nitrate and PO4 in our apex so we can see trends.

 

[muggle0981]

Salifert

 

[Jib]

Nitrate I like Nyos
Alk, Mag, Calcium I like salifert.
phosphate I’m not certain of. Using salifert currently but it’s hard to read lower levers. Might be getting a Hanna or try nyos.

 

[DirkCourage]

Hey guys just want to know what test kits you guys recommend
Or what brand you use for each test ?

And do i only need to buy tests for

Alkalinity
Amonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Calcium
Ph
Phosphate
Magnesium

Thanks

Starting out, I’ve been very happy with Salifert tests. They work well, are some of the simplest to use, and are the cheapest. When you get to the stage in your reef where you’re really dialing in parameters, particularly at low levels, then you’ll want something more refined.

You’ll only be testing Ammonia and Nitrite through your cycle, and maintaining calcium and magnesium is really only a concern once you get LPS/SPS corals going. So, really Alk, PH, Nitrate, and Phosphate are your regular tests. The Hanna Alk checker is popular because it’s the top combination of testing frequency, ease, and accuracy. I have the Hanna PH checker and that’s good too, though most people use a pen. Nitrates are my least favorite test. RedSea was complicated and difficult for me to read, Salifert is... as accurate as I need it right now, I’m trying the Nyos next.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Hey guys just want to know what test kits you guys recommend
Or what brand you use for each test ?

And do i only need to buy tests for

Alkalinity
Amonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Calcium
Ph
Phosphate
Magnesium

Thanks

You gunna need a salinity checker as well if you don’t already have

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Oh also, I put our nitrate and PO4 in our apex so we can see trends.

First time I realized to start to do this in apex I was just so excited it was like a new toy without having to buy anything. Sad part was didn’t realize for years haha

 

[Reefingmama]

First time I realized to start to do this in apex I was just so excited it was like a new toy without having to buy anything. Sad part was didn’t realize for years haha

I watched the BRS “what you are missing with your apex” video and learned that. Absolutely awesome to look back and see trends

 

[Piece of reef]

Thanks everyone for the advice, wouldnt it be just great if we could just buy a complete set of tests from a single company thats reliable lol
Thanks again guys

 

[Billdogg]

I use Salifert for anything I need to test. Easy to use, repeatable results, and a decent price.

And FWIW - I haven't tested Ammonia, Nitrite, or pH in over 25 years.

 

[Piece of reef]

Thanks,n im definately going to look into salifert
Im just starting out so ill be testing for ammonia ph etc
Fingers crossed i last 25 years lol

 

[ReefRusty]

Thanks,n im definately going to look into salifert
Im just starting out so ill be testing for ammonia ph etc
Fingers crossed i last 25 years lol

I currently using salifert and testing Ammonia,Nitrites and soon nitrates kits for my cycle. 6 days in the cycle process.

Just bought hanna alk and ph testers. Heard the calcium tester is not really that good. Reading lots of review's

Will go with calcium and magnesium salifert test kits. And phosphate.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I watched the BRS “what you are missing with your apex” video and learned that. Absolutely awesome to look back and see trends

That is exactly what I did and rhen smack my forehead and said duhhh I should be using that feature instead of my note pad

 

[PatW]

I keep an SPS dominant tank.

Ammonia and nitrite I test during the cycle and not since.

Nitrate: I use Red Sea Pro but Salifert is good.

Phosphorous: Only Hanna is sensitive enough to be useful. I use Hanna ULR phosphorous (a bit more sensitive than the phosphate ULR).

Calcium: I use Red Sea Pro but Salifert would be fine. Heck even API is OK.

Magnesium: I test once in awhile. My water changes keep this pretty constant so it is yup still constant. I use Salifert. Red Sea Pro drive me crazy on this one.

pH: I don’t test. I have a pH electrode on my Apex controller but I don’t really trust it to be accurate but it is close enough.

ALK - this is the most important test because SPS corals use it up and it needs dosing and monitoring in my system. I find that Red Sea Pro is good as is Salifert. Hanna is good also. All three seem to vary about the same amount. So it is a PICK EM.

 

[Ippyroy]

If at all possible I'd check with your LFS and see which ones they use. If you can watch someone use a test kit it would be a lot easier to do it yourself and you could then decide which one you like. Test kits require color codes which can be hard to tell apart for a lot of people. The easiest thing to do is get the one that you can tell apart the easiest. Good Luck!

 

[Piece of reef]

Thanks everyone, ive written it down in notes on my phone
Ill be watching the brs video on it aswel
Didnt know phosphate and phosphorous was the same lol

 

[rbuttigl]

I am starting my first reef tank after being out of it 20 years (and was FO back then). Is there a schedule to these tests that changes from initial startup, to different tests once fish are in, and finally different (or more) tests once corals are added? I plan to stay away from SPS until I have success with LPS. I should also note I'm setting up a 24gal nano reef tank so I'll do regular water changes. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Reefingmama]

I am starting my first reef tank after being out of it 20 years (and was FO back then). Is there a schedule to these tests that changes from initial startup, to different tests once fish are in, and finally different (or more) tests once corals are added? I plan to stay away from SPS until I have success with LPS. I should also note I'm setting up a 24gal nano reef tank so I'll do regular water changes. Thanks for the advice!

I would recommend testing nitrate and phosphate 2x a week until you have a really solid idea of what they are doing in your tank. Make sure to document it so you know if they are going up or down. Alk honestly should be tested daily... my trident tests 4 times a day... but that’s obviously difficult. If you can test 2x a week, that would be good enough with LPS/softies for a while. Calcium same thing, 2x a week is probably sufficient. After cycling I never test ammonia/nitrite. PH should be monitored at least weekly but it’s a minute by minute thing so it’s easiest to get a probe. Salinity, PH, ORP, PH, temp, alk, calcium and magnesium all get tested by my trident/apex which has been amazing. It also depends on your tank in particular