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12-11-2006, 10:03 AM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: up state new york
Posts: 55
Karma: 14
 |  Test Kits
I was wondering what kind of test kits do people use mine are almost done and i was just wondering what kind i should get to replace my old ones. I have been on sites and see all kinds of brands from cheap to expensive looking for a accurate brand.
Thanks
Tony
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55 gal
10 gal sump
surge 3500 return pump
rio 800 for protein skimmer
30 pd lr
25 pd br
1 maxi pro 900
1 pep shrimp
2 yellow tail damsels
2 clown fish
green zoo's coral
4 turbo snails
coralife 4x 65
48" Coralife Aqualight
Double Linear Strip Compact
80 lbs carib sea Aragamax Sand | 
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12-11-2006, 10:27 AM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami,Florida Age: 20
Posts: 864
  
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I am on the same road as you!! I have heard to stay away from hagen, red sea. Then they tell me that Lamotte is the best. You know what that means a lot of $$$, and then that salifert is just fine, accurate, and worth the price. So ima start buying salifert. _________ *Since 12/2002 40 gal. 85 lbs live rock. 3" fiji Live sand.wet dry filter and prizm protein skimmer. 192 power compacts
*Since 10/2006 125 gal. Built in Overflows x2, 3" LS(165 lb fiji pink) 175 lb of LR, 2x 36" aquatinics T5 HO fixtures(10x39W bulbs 2 gliesman aquablue+1 gliesman actinic+2 ATI aquablue special), mag 18 return pump, PM R30fuge. AquaC EV 180 skimmer.
**Working on CL with 2 4mdqx-sc little giants and a OM Super Squirt.  | |
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12-11-2006, 10:28 AM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Sailfin Tang
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,746
 
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Salifert for:
Calcium
Alkalinity
Magnesium
For pH, I use a pinpoint
Deltec (Merck) for soluble orthophosphates or Hach if I want to know organic phosphates as well.
(The Salifert doesn't read in low enough concentrations) _________ Curt  | |
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12-11-2006, 10:38 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Miami,Florida Age: 20
Posts: 864
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how bout for nitrite, nitrate and amonia? | |
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12-11-2006, 10:53 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 26
Posts: 1,200
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I've heard nothing beats Salifert. They are so expensive. There are other "specilized" tests that far surpass Salifert, but I doubt you'll look into them they are so expensive and "sophisticated."
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30g reef tank, CPR CY192 filter w/ DIY plumb running Rio 17HF return, Coralife 3x 9w UV Sterilizer, 3 24W T5-Helios 10K Daylights/3 24W T5-Helios Blue lights, 2 Logysis blue meteor light strobes (moonlights/24 Blue LEDs).
Tiger tail cuke, asst. snails/hermits, asst. feathers, rainbow acan,zoos,shrooms,bubble,galaxea, asst. shrimp, 2 ocellaris,mandarin,zebrasoma xanthurum,pink-spot watchman,red-striped pistol. | |
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12-11-2006, 11:01 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Sailfin Tang
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo4603  how bout for nitrite, nitrate and amonia? | I never test for Ammonia or Nitrite. For nitrate, I rarely test and I have both a Salifert and Tetratest. I use which one I happen to see first.
For Ammonia, I use one of these. Seachem Ammonia Alert - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store
EDIT: I want to make it clear that I'm not saying testing for those items isn't needed. I just kind of got into a groove with my tanks over time and I pretty much know when I need to do some maintenance. My nitrates are rarely above 5.
Last edited by inwall75; 12-11-2006 at 11:06 AM.
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12-11-2006, 11:06 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | KingFish
Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 38
Posts: 7,427
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Being a tight wad, I am happy with SeaChem. It's pretty darn good for the money. I especially like their calcium test kit. That said, some swear by salifert kits and make a strong argument that the money is worth the accuracy. | |
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12-11-2006, 11:09 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,227
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I use Red Sea and Salifert and I like them both equally. | 
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12-11-2006, 11:16 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: up state new york
Posts: 55
Karma: 14
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thanks guys like i said so many on the market and they all say they are accurate. I don't want to spend big bucks but i don't want to buy cheep stuff. so the next time i go to the lfs i will see what brands they have.
Thanks for the help
Tony  | |
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12-11-2006, 11:52 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 43
Posts: 3,932
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Seachem and Salifert! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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