Handy Research Links

Wow that's a lot of links to important info! thanks.

 

Where should I go to get an all-around test kit? I guess it's called a "master test kit" ?

 

look at the API ones

they sell a saltwater master test, it has ph, alk, nitrite and ammonia I think.

they also have a reef master test kit that has calcium, nitrate, phosphate, and carbonate hardness

 

The test kit I have now tests for: high range pH, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia. As

I am looking to start a reef. I pretty much need to know what others I need to test for.

I should get tests for: alk, phosphate, carbonate hardness, copper. Any others I'll need?

EDIT: here's what I think I'll get.
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15473

 

Sounds about right. Except that carbonate hardness is the same as Alk, and you might wanna get a magnesium test kit too. I don't know if the API kits are titration kits, but you should get titration-style kits because of the accuracy vs a normal kit. This is especially important for Alk, Magnesium and Calcium.

 

Wow. Extensive that's for sure.
Great Links Ghost, Esp the last one
K+

 

I was just about to ask about magnesium. Ok, didn't know those two were the same. Just making sure I've got it all.
-Calcium
-Alkalinity
-Phosphate
-Ammonia
-pH
-Nitrate
-Nitrite
-Magnesium

What is a titration kit?

 

Yeah, sounds good, just make sure you get the titration type tests for mag, cal and alk, or your results won't be very accurate.

 

Sad to say, but I have never seen an actual complete all-in-one master test kit. Maybe someone here can retire after making one (that’s accurate!)

Anywho, as suggested the API is a start I use to use Hagen master test and was ok with the results. I think the Hagen is a 9 or a 10 test and covered Calcium, PH, Nitrate/rite, ALK, Phosphate etc.

But in my opinion Salifert is the best on the market unless you go with a probe.

In addition to the master Kits I would suggest Salifert’s Magnesium, Iodine, Dissolved Oxygen and Strontium. this is also expensive.

At this point if I were starting over and actually testing the full range of flavors regularly again, I would probably purchase this:

(first would be probes if I could afford them) then…

Bare Necessities:
Salifert Calcium
Salifert Alk
Salifert Mag
Salifert Nitrate
Salifert Phospate
Salifert PH

Should have’s:
Salifert Strontium
Salifert Iodine
Salifert Ammonia
Salifert Dissolved Oxygen

I find if you test ammonia there is no need to nitrate.

I suspect as I sit here at my desk drinking the morning cup o’ joe I am missing something….but someone will have my back. When I started to type out the kits I was anticipating some other brand’s – but at the end I can see how much I clearly do prefer Salifert.

Titration are reagent type test kits and are generally found to be more accurate.

 

way to go with all those links..K+....