Test Kits - Page 2

Xiztence · 02-07-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Av8Bluewater

API for calcium and dkh. Salifert for mag. I bought an expensive Elos dkh kit to confirm the API was accurate and it is. Easier to use than elos but the elos does do half increments dkh. If you want to see what your PO4 is you need a low range kit or photo meter. Most of the above mentioned kits only tell you if there is a real PO4 problem since they are high range kits. That's why so many people say their PO4 is 0 but it really isn't.

Alright thanx for the help

K+

Av8Bluewater · 02-07-2010, 12:53 PM

No problem.
Not saying run out and buy a photometer. As long as your tank is stable and you are getting good results of coral growth and color... then running GFO, carbon dose, refugium ect. may be keeping PO4 levels in check. If you suspect color and growth are not what it should be you may want to check in to it. I have the Hanna instruments PO4 meter and love it. I figure it pays for itself since it tells me I'm not changing my GFO too early.

Xiztence · 02-08-2010, 07:58 AM

Is this a good test kit & price?
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Test Kit

Xiztence · 02-08-2010, 09:13 AM

Bump

Xiztence · 02-08-2010, 10:33 AM

Can anybody help me I'm thinking of buying this test kit :/

Screwtape · 02-08-2010, 02:55 PM

Those are all good test kits to have. I don't know how good their phosphate kit is though, it has to be very precise at the low end of the scale to be really useful. It's also missing magnesium which is more necessary than phosphate IMO.
I'm not a big fan of their calcium test kit, mine always tested really high and I've heard the same from lots of other people, I didn't trust it.

sailorguy · 02-08-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiztence

Is this a good test kit & price?
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Test Kit

I have this kit,the price is really good for the four tests,accuracy is debatable.I say this because I also have a salifert Ca test and have used both to test my Ca at the same time with very different results.I did this just yesterday and got a reading of 430ppm with salifert and 520ppm with the API.I've done this several times and gotten similar differences in the results.Which is right? I really have no way of knowing other than the reputation of salifert being the better test kit.That being said,I'd still reccomend the API kit as a good value,it has to be btter than not testing due to the exspence of the kits.

sailorguy · 02-08-2010, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screwtape

Those are all good test kits to have. I don't know how good their phosphate kit is though, it has to be very precise at the low end of the scale to be really useful. It's also missing magnesium which is more necessary than phosphate IMO.
I'm not a big fan of their calcium test kit, mine always tested really high and I've heard the same from lots of other people, I didn't trust it.

Thanks Screwtape,just saw your answer after I finished typing mine.Glad someone else noticed this also,gives me a little more reassurance to go with the salifert result.

Xiztence · 02-08-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailorguy

I have this kit,the price is really good for the four tests,accuracy is debatable.I say this because I also have a salifert Ca test and have used both to test my Ca at the same time with very different results.I did this just yesterday and got a reading of 430ppm with salifert and 520ppm with the API.I've done this several times and gotten similar differences in the results.Which is right? I really have no way of knowing other than the reputation of salifert being the better test kit.That being said,I'd still reccomend the API kit as a good value,it has to be btter than not testing due to the exspence of the kits.

Alright thanx I will not get that test kit then

K+

Xiztence · 02-08-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screwtape

Those are all good test kits to have. I don't know how good their phosphate kit is though, it has to be very precise at the low end of the scale to be really useful. It's also missing magnesium which is more necessary than phosphate IMO.
I'm not a big fan of their calcium test kit, mine always tested really high and I've heard the same from lots of other people, I didn't trust it.

Alright thanx will not be getting it
K+

02-07-2010, 12:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
Av8Bluewater Hammer Head Shark Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Old Town-22314 Posts: 2,609 Skin: Mobile Karma: 16981	No problem. Not saying run out and buy a photometer. As long as your tank is stable and you are getting good results of coral growth and color... then running GFO, carbon dose, refugium ect. may be keeping PO4 levels in check. If you suspect color and growth are not what it should be you may want to check in to it. I have the Hanna instruments PO4 meter and love it. I figure it pays for itself since it tells me I'm not changing my GFO too early. _________ A LOT IS TWO WORDS. 180 Gallon Bullet 2 ,Reefkeeper2,250lbs rock,Koralia 4&6,ReefloDart,Algae Turf scrubber,760W,YTDamsel,Yellow & Regal Tangs, Yellowhead goby,firefish,True Clowns,WellsoBrain, Blue & Pink Goniopora,GSP,Strawberry Fields Acro& Strawberry Monti,ORARedPlanet,ORABlueChips & ORAGrnBirdnest,Yellow,Pink&AquaMill,Tyree PinkLemonade,TyreeIdahoGrape,Ricordea,Galaxea,Gree n Slimer,Acans,Various zoas My tank: .http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-tan...ter-52764.html

02-08-2010, 02:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
Screwtape Horrid Stonefish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,074 Skin: Mint Karma: 13847	Those are all good test kits to have. I don't know how good their phosphate kit is though, it has to be very precise at the low end of the scale to be really useful. It's also missing magnesium which is more necessary than phosphate IMO. I'm not a big fan of their calcium test kit, mine always tested really high and I've heard the same from lots of other people, I didn't trust it. _________ 75g display w/ 33g frag tank build: http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off...tem-74126.html

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02-08-2010, 07:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
Xiztence Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Bedford, Massachuesetts Age: 16 Posts: 393 Skin: Classic Karma: 2513	Is this a good test kit & price? Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Test Kit

02-08-2010, 09:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
Xiztence Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Bedford, Massachuesetts Age: 16 Posts: 393 Skin: Classic Karma: 2513	Bump

02-08-2010, 10:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
Xiztence Coral Banded Shrimp Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New Bedford, Massachuesetts Age: 16 Posts: 393 Skin: Classic Karma: 2513	Can anybody help me I'm thinking of buying this test kit :/