Which test kit to buy?

[Xclusive Reef]

been searching forum for which test kit to get and I see people recommend brands like red sea. Red Sea sells a lot of kits. Which kits are needed for mixed coral and fish? I saw a Red Sea marine test kit? Is this all that is needed?

Includes:
Ph
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
Alk

 

[MaccaPopEye]

When I first started I got the Red Sea Marine Care test kit that you are talking about. I highly recommend it and comes with everything you need to start off your cycle and first few months.

After a while you will want to add coral. While the Alk test in the marine care kit will do fine while you are relying on water changes to keep your parameters in check eventually you will need to dose, in which case you will also need to check Calcium and Magnesium (sometimes it could be handy to check them as soon as you start with coral anyway). In that case I would recommend also getting the Red Sea Reef Foundation test kit. That comes with Alk, Cal & Mag and is very cost effective for all of them.

You will also need a way to measure phosphate. I use the Red Sea Pro kit but this one isn't as cost effective as the others. I have heard good things about the salifert kit (cheap), but most people seem to use the Hannah low range checker which is expensive to start with but refills aren't too bad.

 

[tomtom2245]

When I first started I got the Red Sea Marine Care test kit that you are talking about. I highly recommend it and comes with everything you need to start off your cycle and first few months.

After a while you will want to add coral. While the Alk test in the marine care kit will do fine while you are relying on water changes to keep your parameters in check eventually you will need to dose, in which case you will also need to check Calcium and Magnesium (sometimes it could be handy to check them as soon as you start with coral anyway). In that case I would recommend also getting the Red Sea Reef Foundation test kit. That comes with Alk, Cal & Mag and is very cost effective for all of them.

You will also need a way to measure phosphate. I use the Red Sea Pro kit but this one isn't as cost effective as the others. I have heard good things about the salifert kit (cheap), but most people seem to use the Hannah low range checker which is expensive to start with but refills aren't too bad.

+1! Exactly the kits I use.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

When I first started I got the Red Sea Marine Care test kit that you are talking about. I highly recommend it and comes with everything you need to start off your cycle and first few months.

After a while you will want to add coral. While the Alk test in the marine care kit will do fine while you are relying on water changes to keep your parameters in check eventually you will need to dose, in which case you will also need to check Calcium and Magnesium (sometimes it could be handy to check them as soon as you start with coral anyway). In that case I would recommend also getting the Red Sea Reef Foundation test kit. That comes with Alk, Cal & Mag and is very cost effective for all of them.

You will also need a way to measure phosphate. I use the Red Sea Pro kit but this one isn't as cost effective as the others. I have heard good things about the salifert kit (cheap), but most people seem to use the Hannah low range checker which is expensive to start with but refills aren't too bad.

Thanks for the info..

 

[john.m.cole3]

I like Salifert for the obviouc color change in regards to their alk, calc, mag tests.
Easy to use and easy to read. Cheap but quality. those 3 tests go for $40 together. The Hanna phosphorus ULR checker is the most accurate kit I have used for checking phosphates. I don't test ph but have surface water rippling. salifert for nitrate, but that is hard to read for me.

 

[Mike_J]

I use a mix of test kits including API, Red Sea and Salifert. In terms of testing Mg, Ca, KH, I recently switched from Red Sea to Salifert and find it overall much easier to use, more cost efficient and in my experience, more accurate. For testing of PH, NH3/NH4, NO2 and NO3, I use API since it is extremely cost efficient for performing on a much more regular basis. Good luck!

 

[Duke4Life]

I personally stay away from API as I've found that their test kits aren't that accurate.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

I like Salifert for the obviouc color change in regards to their alk, calc, mag tests.
Easy to use and easy to read. Cheap but quality. those 3 tests go for $40 together. The Hanna phosphorus ULR checker is the most accurate kit I have used for checking phosphates. I don't test ph but have surface water rippling. salifert for nitrate, but that is hard to read for me.

I have heard that Salifert has very good and obvious colour changes. I find the Red Sea Cal & Mag tests have a good colour change but the Alk kit is hit and miss. The first lot of reagent I got I found it really hard to find an end point as it just gradually changed over time so I tossed it and got a refill. The second lot of reagent I got was fantastic and obvious but after that ran out the third reagent lot is somewhere in the middle, I can tell the end point, but I would like it if it was a bit clearer.

The cost of the Salifert kits for you is interesting though, how much are the Red Sea kits for you? Where I live getting Alk, Cal & Mag in Salifert kits is $70+shipping. Where as I got the initial Red Sea Reef Foundation kit on sale for $70 and then the Red Sea refills are $75+shipping for all 3 and I am pretty sure I get more tests out of the Red Sea refills so it ends up cheaper in the long run. Cost usually differs a lot depending on where you live though.

Really though I want a Hannah Alk checker. Seems so dang easy to use. I will probably get one more Red Sea Alk refill before giving in and getting a Hannah