Test Kits

It's time for me to get some new test kits, I've been using the following over the last ~ 2 yrs, just want to get some feedback on preferred kits out there today based on your experience....

pH/Alk ------> API & ReefMaster (both hard to read)
CA ---------> ReefMaster (IO) & Salifert
Phosphate --> Seachem, API
Mg ---------> RedSea (not consistent)

 

for mg i use seachem. just did it , easy to use . for dkh,ph,nitrate cal and phos , i use api. find them easy too.

 

I use an Elos test kit for mg. It's a little on the expensive side, but good quality.

All of my other kits are API. No major complaints, but I find PH and Phos solution to be very feint, making it hard to read the result. My PH results always looks in between 8.2 and 8.4 so I guess it to be 8.3

I'll be buying new brands of those two when the API runs out. I'm considering switching to Elos for CA as well because I like the Mg kit so much.

 

I use Tropic Marin for mg for alk and ca I use API, for PO4 I use Red Sea. Tropic Marin is very hard to read so after i'm finish with it I will be looking for something new.

 

I am using Seachem for mg, ca, alk and pH. pH is a little difficult but easier than other test I have used. I use API for the rest but am considering trying Seachem because they are more sensitive.

 

I would use anything other then api I have had nothing but bum results with them. I had nitrate kits reading 0 when my nitrates were 80 I had calcium kitss reading 520 when it was under 400. I have eloes now and sailifert which all match my lfs kits. I wasted to much money in the past to turn back now. I will only get the good kits from this point forward.....

 

API and Salifert..

I cringed when I read that RS mag test is inconsistant..I just ordered one because I wanted to save a buck over Salifert. Gees when am I gonna learn.

 

I use API for the basics (ammonia, pH, etc.) and Salifert for the others.

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I've also read a lot of good things about Elos, I might give them a shot next. I know Salifert is good, so I'll probably stick with that for CA. When will one of us invent some reef safe, pocket friently probes that we can all just drop in our sumps to test everything (or at least the main parms) ?