Which test kits do you trust?

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

• Salifert
• Instant Ocean
• API
• Seachem
• Red Sea
• Other (noted in post)

Just wondering For the following Calcium, Alkalinity, Nitrate, pH, Magnesium

Thanks in advance
H2O

 

[cee]

API and Elos for alkalinity and calcium, Red Sea (after a correction factor) and Salifert for Mg, LaMotte's for alkalinity, Merck for PO4, none for pH (meter only), and I don't measure nitrate because it always shows zero.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

I make all of mine, I guess I should have started

I should have added Elos. Mereck is an amazing company for water testing but most would not have these, or LaMotte, and Hach.

 

[paintballer768]

I use API for ammo, trite, trate, pH. Red Sea for phosphate, and Hagen for calc/alk.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

Hagen ?!?!?! Well now I have more research to do ...

Thanks Paintballer and cee

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I can add others to the poll if you want me to. Just list what else you want added. It's still early so we can!

 

[Poseidon]

I am currently using Salifert for Mg, and Ca, Tropic Marin for Alk. I also have SeaChem for NH3/4 NO2 and NO3, oh and SeaChem for pH too, but I don't test those very often.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

I would appreciate that!

Can we add Elos in a new line

And LaMotte, Hach, Merck can all be together on one line

I truely appreciate the help

 

[Reef Pets]

If you try 5 different test kits and get different reading from each kit how do you know which one is accurate and which one to trust?? If they are different how are you to know the correct reading?
I typically use API just because they are sold at a decent price at the fish store that I visit often.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

If you try 5 different test kits and get different reading from each kit how do you know which one is accurate and which one to trust?? If they are different how are you to know the correct reading?

Are you trying to ruin a possible article on R2R?? I'm kidding

We will go over that but in another thread

Some things that will be in there will be using household reef items to verify your test kits But don't ruin it

 

[Poseidon]

If you try 5 different test kits and get different reading from each kit how do you know which one is accurate and which one to trust?? If they are different how are you to know the correct reading?
I typically use API just because they are sold at a decent price at the fish store that I visit often.

You don't. That is the problem. I hear the Elos kit is very accurate, but also a PITA to use.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

Are you trying to ruin a possible article on R2R?? I'm kidding

We will go over that but in another thread

Some things that will be in there will be using household reef items to verify your test kits But don't ruin it

Just quoting as there were 3 post quickly.

 

[iani]

Elos alk is the same exact kit at the api alk. Seachem is supposed to be one of the only good mag tests.

Personally I use a calibrated api test kit for alk. And salifert for everything else.

 

[Reef Pets]

Oh no not trying to ruin it at all. After reading what I posted I can see where you would think that. My question was for information only. Meaning if I were to have 5 test kits and they all test differnt how would I know which kit to trust? I would like to know so that I can use the most accurate on the market. I will wait for the thread on this information. API got my vote.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

I was just kidding it also gets people interested in the thread Also sparks interest on other forums and lurkers.

We need to find a supplier (hopefully a sponsor) of gram scales with .01 resolution +/- .01.
You can find them on E-bay but some links to e-bay are not ok. Maybe a sponsor could start stocking some of the $20 ones that are useable up to 100g or 200g.

From there we can get excetionally accurate water measurements, and chemical measurements.

 

[AquaWorldPSC]

Elos for Calcium
Sailfert for Alkalinity
Elos or Sailfert for Nitrate
Hanna for Phosphate
Hanna for pH
Sailfert for Mg

 

[ss7]

LaMotte and ELOS are the only budget minded tests I trust.

 

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

aqua world I assume you are refering to Hanna's meters?

 

[JuniorMC8704]

Lamotte test are incredibly accurate. But very expensive for the first kits. the refills are very reasonable.

Sooner or later im just going to get a spectrometer based test system and be done with the guess work. im color blind in one eye, so its always fun for me.

 

[aquarius77]

I use api for alk and salifiert/api for calcium, salifert for mag.