What do you use to test water parameters?

[Wolperthinger]

Hi all! I have been using some water test strips that I got on Amazon about 9 months ago. They are able to get me a rough estimate on Nitrite, Nitrate, Chlorine, Hardness, Carbonates, Phosphates, and Ammonia (separate strips). I question the accuracy of these test strips.

Is there something more I should be testing for? Calcium maybe?

Does anyone have suggestions on testing products? I have looked into Hanna testers but they are a little on the spendy side. If you use Hanna instruments which ones are the most important to have?

 

[Cell]

If you can afford just 1 Hanna Checker, get the Alk. 2? I'd probably go Alk and ULR PO4. Ideally, you get Alk, ULR PO4 and HR Nitrate.

Salifert Calcium

Aquaforest Mg

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

I use all Hanna. I test for:
pH
Alkalinity (in dKH)
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate

 

[Wolperthinger]

If you can afford just 1 Hanna Checker, get the Alk. 2? I'd probably go Alk and ULR PO4. Ideally, you get Alk, ULR PO4 and HR Nitrate.

Salifert Calcium

Aquaforest Mg

Thanks Cell, I'll check it out!

 

[BetterJake]

All Hanna here.

Alkalinity
Phosphate ULR
Nitrate LR
Calcium
Magnesium

 

[Miami Reef]

Hanna: Phosphate ULR and Nitrate HR

For calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity: Red Sea Pro

For salinity: Tropic Marin Hydrometer.

 

[ErikVR]

I switched to all hanna testers because reading the color charts is a pain.

 

[Icryhard]

Thanks Cell, I'll check it out!

If you don’t want to use (or cannot yet afford) PO4 ULR Hanna checker, go for RedSea PO4. Way more accurate than salifert PO4. That one returns a 0 value as of 0.7 PO4.

 

[exnisstech]

If you can afford just 1 Hanna Checker, get the Alk. 2? I'd probably go Alk and ULR PO4. Ideally, you get Alk, ULR PO4 and HR Nitrate.

Salifert Calcium

Aquaforest Mg

This ^^ with the exception of my mag which is salifert

 

[Rmckoy]

I use Hanna for Alk and ulr phosphate
Salifert for everything else

 

[Alexraptor]

Hanna checkers, they are just so much easier to use.

 

[Propane]

Aqua Forest has a test kit for 60 that includes Alk Mag and Cal.
That said I use Hanna for phos. Nitrate and alk. as colors aren’t easy for me to discern

 

[Cell]

The Hanna Ca+ Checker is often avoided because it's multi-step and can reportedly be a bit inconsistent.

 

[Wolperthinger]

Thanks for the input everyone! Sounds like most of you are confirming the use for Hanna checkers. Time to go shopping!

 

[PapaFishRocks]

Another vote for Hanna. I shamefully admit to having an API kit. But I have seen the light, and have been gathering up Hanna checkers.

Check out the Marketplace. (Actually don’t, cuz I still want to snag a Calcium and don’t want any competition. JK)

 

[In the sticks]

Yea Hanna seems to be the top dog! I use them for alk nitrate phosphate salinity and have there tds meter. Is use Red Sea for cal and sailfert for mag. Also have a trident

 

[soreefed]

I use Hanna for phos and alk, but I keep a back up of salifert tests in case I get a weird result on the checkers. I have a Hanna calcium checker but it’s a pain in the butt to use. Typically I use salifert for nitrate, calcium, magnesium, and PH.

 

[Rmckoy]

Aqua Forest has a test kit for 60 that includes Alk Mag and Cal.
That said I use Hanna for phos. Nitrate and alk. as colors aren’t easy for me to discern

I bought the Alk af test kit to try when I was having weird numbers from my Hanna .

But haven’t used it
Are they good kits ?
Easy to use ?

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Another vote for Hanna. I shamefully admit to having an API kit. But I have seen the light, and have been gathering up Hanna checkers.

When I was young and naive, a friend who was a veteran in the hobby highly recommended API, so I started with those. I too have seen the light and now only need magnesium.

 

[Propane]

I bought the Alk af test kit to try when I was having weird numbers from my Hanna .

But haven’t used it
Are they good kits ?
Easy to use ?

Seems pretty easy but it took me a few tries to see the color change

I bought the Alk af test kit to try when I was having weird numbers from my Hanna .

But haven’t used it
Are they good kits ?
Easy to use ?

the alk turns from purple to pink when it’s done so it took me a few tries to see the color change. The mag and cal turn purple to blue so it was easier.