Which test kits

[mccune]

Going to buy some new test kits what do you recommend
Red sea
Salifert
Going to be getting cal alk mag phos nitrate ph

 

[Billdogg]

I've been using Salifert for about 30 years. I find them to be easy to use, they give repeatable results, and are a reasonable price.

 

[hllb]

I like Salifert for nitrates and mg. I use Red Sea for calcium and Hanna checker for alk. The titration device in Red Sea pro is great and I actually use that with the Salifert mg test.

But you can’t go wrong with either of those.

 

[Wolf89]

Rikka for alk, cal, and mag.

 

[Quietman]

You gave either/or. I think more options as some really seem better at specific tests - easier maybe not better. If it's just one - Red Sea.

For me. Hanna LR Phosphorus and Alk. Aquaforest Mg. Red Sea Nitrate and Ca.

 

[Timfish]

Get what you find the easiest to use. I use API for alkalinity and pH, Nyos and Elos for phosphate, Nyos and Red Sea for nitrate and Red Sea for magnesium. I have Hanna for phosphate and alkalinity; Even though they take longer I've found the Nyos and ELos phosphate more convenient to use and when I got Hanna's alkalinity I checked it with a friends tester and got 4 different results that varied by .9 dKH using the 2 reagents in bothe testers, API's was easier, quicker and more than accurate enough.

 

[hotdrop]

Buy a Hanna alk tester. Everything else is kind of meh but the Hannah alk is a game changer. It’s so easy I test once a day in 1-2 min

 

[C. Eymann]

I liked TM old test kits, their alk/cal kits used a reverse titration, so instead of using nearly a full ML to test for 450ppm cal you would use only like .25ml

I also do like Salifert too, however for NO³ and PO⁴ I like RedSea or Hanna low range PO⁴

 

[X-37B]

Hanna for alk po4
Salifert for the rest
I have Elos for alk too and it is right on with Hanna and Salifert.

 

[ScottB]

Salifert: ALK, Ca, Mg
Red Sea: Nitrate
Hanna ULR Phosphate Checker

 

[mta_morrow]

Hanna for Alk and ulr phosphorus. Red Sea pro for nitrates. Salifert for calcium and magnesium.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Alk - Hannah checker
Phos - Hannah ULR phosphate checker
Calcium - Hannah for ease of use but Red Sea calcium pro for accuracy
Mag- salifert cheap and accurate

Where I have problem is good nitrate test kit. I have API and Nyos but I don’t think I’m getting good resolution on the near zero levels. Got my eye on Red Sea nitrate pro

 

[hllb]

Alk - Hannah checker
Phos - Hannah ULR phosphate checker
Calcium - Hannah for ease of use but Red Sea calcium pro for accuracy
Mag- salifert cheap and accurate

Where I have problem is good nitrate test kit. I have API and Nyos but I don’t think I’m getting good resolution on the near zero levels. Got my eye on Red Sea nitrate pro

I haven’t tried Red Sea but the Salifert does a good job at low levels and I find it very easy to read. Mine tests around 2.5