Water Testing Kits

Can you guys recommend any test kits. I have been using a API Saltwater kit and thought I was good and took a water sample to another guy around here and he has one of those electrical pH checkers and turns out my test kit was not accurite with my pH.

 

I have used api for a long time. I used salifert before that but when they put out a bad batch of alk kits and never said anything to anyone or wouldn't answer questions from consumers, I decided to stop using their products. I however never bother testing my ph. If your alk is nice and stable, it will keep your ph stable.

 

yeah the api should be fine. i use there kits and every once in a while ill take it up to my lps and everything always matches up

 

I strongly disagree with you here. Your pH is not governed by alk, and can vary easily swing even though your alk is good, espcially if you are dosing special supplements such as vitamin C.

But, to go along with the OP I prefer the API tests for things like trite/trate/calcium. But prefer seachems tests for alk/pH.

 

How much out was it?

I use a liquid PH test kit and get 8.3 ( colours seen may vary from person to person- do we all see exactly the same shade of green as each other?)

I have an Aquastar PH meter and probe and get 8.26 . 8.27, 8.28, 8.27, 8.26 all within 20 seconds (they tend to move about a little )

A more important question is what is your PH and does it stay stable at that PH if tested at the same time each day


Steve

 

"A more important question is what is your PH and does it stay stable at that PH if tested at the same time each day"

Thats a good question, as your pH is going to be different at night than in the afternoon.

 

i don't know what was up with the results i compared to the lfs. I got my ph back up to normal. I took it to get tested and it was a 7.3 so needless to say I freaked out and used a buffer and I'm at 8.4. Turns out another lfs where I got my RO water doesn't fully filter and uses cheap salt so I am no longer using them. My new lfs is helping me get my Ca and Mg levels up. Any reccomandations on what kits I could use to test those levels?

 

I like the Tropic marin Calcium/magnesium combined test kit
its a little complicated when you 1st get it but after a couple of goes, it gets easier to use

Steve

 

do you think the API reef master kit is good? I need to pick upa test kit today. Im trying to get all my lvls straight to get all my coraline growing that and I found a coral last night and don't want to kill him.

 

I have used API Reef and Saltwater test kits and they are decent. I now use mostly Salifert kits, but still have/use API kits. I stay away from Redsea, dip strips and any other kits that most retailers dont have.



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