Test kits

jay1980 · Nov 10, 2022

Hi all I'm new to reef tanks, I have a question that I'm hoping sombody could advise me on please. So I am into day 8 of my fishless DR tims cycle using the one and only and ammonium chloride, since day 2 of testing my parameters iv been using the salifert nh3 test kit and the JBL combiset marin, and eveytime I test my ammonia levels the salifer kit says I have 1.5ppm where as the JBL says I have 0.5ppm and I am confused what to belive, my nitrite level started at 0.2ppm and today is on 1.0ppm.

Jekyl · Nov 10, 2022

Never heard of JBL. I'd trust salifert. If unsure have your local fish store test the water for you to be sure. Also when dosing anything, keep in mind the displacement of the rocks and sand. For example a 20g tank may only have 15g of water.

jay1980 · Nov 10, 2022

Hi thank you for the reply, I have taken into consideration the rock and sand used and been dosing the tank Accordingly, I just couldn't get my head round the 2 different readings.

Jekyl · Nov 10, 2022

jay1980 said:
Hi thank you for the reply, I have taken into consideration the rock and sand used and been dosing the tank Accordingly, I just couldn't get my head round the 2 different readings.

As said I've never heard of your other kits in the 6 years or so I've been at this now. Salifert, red sea and Hanna are the top recommended tests.