Testing for Calcium/Magnesium

pam0630 · Sep 9, 2013

i dont have a testing kit for these...any recommendations.......dont want a dirt cheap, but dont want the most expensive either???

had an acro die, maybe calcium too low...just did a water change yesterday 15 gallons for my 125 gallon...and still nitrates high between 10-20 ppm:frusty:

glb · Sep 9, 2013

You definitely want both for corals. I use Red Sea pro for magnesium and Red Sea for calcium. They both run about $40-50 but last a while and you can buy refills of the reagents I believe. These two go hand in hand with alk so you want to keep them all in balance. Good luck!

redfishbluefish · Sep 9, 2013

Without a doubt, the best (and in the end the least expensive) is the Red Sea Pro kit that contains ALK, CALC and MAG test kits. It runs $50 for the kit, but the saving come when you buy the inexpensive refill kits.

EDIT TO ADD: I just looked it up on Premium Aquatics and it is now cheaper than what I paid a year agoâ€¦.HERE it is on PA website.

NanaReefer · Sep 9, 2013

Been using the Red Sea Pro kit for over a year. Love it!

Scribe · Sep 9, 2013

Sailfret is what I use. Calcium, magnesium and alkalinity are important to keep in check. Take a water sample to your LFS. They should be happy to test for you if they are any bit customer friendly.

glb · Sep 10, 2013

I just got a hanna checker for alk and I love it!

Duffam3434 · Sep 10, 2013

NanaReefer said:
Been using the Red Sea Pro kit for over a year. Love it!

+1 It's the best I've used!

RacinRevo0818 · Sep 10, 2013

I use Red Sea pro with great results. Every once in a while I use my elos or salifert test kit and they test within 10%

pam0630 · Sep 10, 2013

thanks everyone..ill look it up

pam0630 · Sep 10, 2013

?? for everyone...can you get great deals on anything, supplies, corals and all that stuff at the Expo shows????

Chameleon · Sep 10, 2013

pam consider an alk kit for sure. its the most important for sps. next would be calc and last would be mag.

glb · Sep 10, 2013

pam0630 said:
?? for everyone...can you get great deals on anything, supplies, corals and all that stuff at the Expo shows????

I find good deals on amazon. Just make sure the kit you buy is new.

beaslbob · Sep 10, 2013

At first I used a red sea old timie not pro and it did not have the sensitivity.

So.

I used the seachem calcium test kit which I found good and it also included a test sample to test the test. Also used salifert which i Liked also.

and ditto for magnesium

alk can be measured with api KH kits.

But I did look up the red sea pro kit and I must say it look impressive. Much better then the older kit.

here is a you tube on that kit:

Red Sea's new Calcium Pro Test-Kit - YouTube

my .02

Reefing Madness · Sep 10, 2013

API for Cal, cheapo, and Salifert for Mag, not cheapo. Ya gotta clean up the water first, because if you don't, it won't matter if your water parms are in line, the Nitrates will kill the SPS.