Test kits

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by tkusc, Mar 1, 2016.

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  1. tkusc

    tkusc Plankton

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    What is the best, most accurate test kit?
     
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  3. chris adams

    chris adams Purple Tang

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    Can of worms!!! :)

    If you are just setting up tank there is nothing wrong with using the API test kit as colors tend to be quite definitive during cycle.
    Testing Ammonia, Nitrite, nitrate, PH

    As you start adding corals you will want to test ALK, CAL, MAG

    I think you may find the majority are utilizing salifert, red sea, and or hanna. There are quite a few who will have multiple brands :)

    I use Red Sea for MAG, CAL, Nitrate mainly. I do have other kits as cross reference just in case I get strange reading with 1.
    For ALK I use Hannah but also have a Red Sea for cross reference
     
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  4. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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  5. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    API for ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, pH

    Red Sea for alk, calc and mag.

    I will say I find Red Sea mag to be very unreliable and inconsistent; I plan to use Salifert for mag.

    Hanna checker for phosphates if you ever really get into fine tuning for SPS.

    I have a heavily dominated SPS tank and have yet to have a problem with testing aside from mag, luckily the value was actually good, but my test reading was bad. I set up my auto doser around these readings.
     
  6. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    I was a big fan of red sea pro test kits for a long time but I've noticed my tests became way off prior to the expiration date. Calcium, for example, was reading 400-420 so I dosed every day to keep my calcium at around 450 only to find out my calcium was over 500 when I bought my salifert kits. I double checked with another salifert to make sure. Almost lost some corals from that. I'm using salifert and couldn't be happier.