Best individual test kits "sticky"???

[grcforce327]

Has there been posts stating the best test kit for each of the tests performed on a reef tank. That might be a great "sticky thread" for kits that prove to be very accurate. I see that some kits just aren't consistantly accurate.

 

[jerpa]

We don't know which is "best" in regards to consistency or accuracy. These attributes likely vary with different batches of reagents further complicating things. I prefer the test with the highest precision assuming the choices are all from reputable companies.

 

[bertoni]

I agree. I don't think we'll reach any consensus on which kits are acceptable. All the brands seem to go through problems from time to time.

 

[sleepydoc]

Some brands seem to be good for some tests, not so good for others, so you can't even stick with a single brand. On top of everything else, accuracy also can depend on technique.

 

[Ron Reefman]

We tested lots of test kits at a local club meeting and found the results to be wildly all over the map. Although the overall average of tests did hit the commercial test lab results pretty much. And unlike many here on RC will tell you, we found API to be just as good as Salifert, Elos and RedSea. The biggest variations were probably do to different techniques. I use API and Salifert and find the results do differ some, but they are repeatable and consistant. My API calcium result is always 20ppm lower than my Salifert result. Which one is right? I don't know and really don't care. The difference of a 400 reading and a 420 reading isn't very significant to me or my system. I just use the average.

 

[Mekanic]

FWIW I use

Hanna - Po4, and Alk on order.

Salifert - Alk till the Hanna comes

Red Sea Pro - Ca and Mg, replaced my Salifert and API kits for these, and I love them, the tritator is the best thing ever!

API - PH, Ammonia, No2, No3 , rarely test for anything other than PH and No3, and now evern rarely for those as my tank is quite stable in both those aspects. I am wanting a digital PH meter so I can stop futzing with drops and get my result instantly.

 

[Spirofucci]

FWIW I use

Hanna - Po4, and Alk on order.

Salifert - Alk till the Hanna comes

Red Sea Pro - Ca and Mg, replaced my Salifert and API kits for these, and I love them, the tritator is the best thing ever!

API - PH, Ammonia, No2, No3 , rarely test for anything other than PH and No3, and now evern rarely for those as my tank is quite stable in both those aspects. I am wanting a digital PH meter so I can stop futzing with drops and get my result instantly.

Ha! ^This is exactly what I've settled on after some trial and error on many test kits. I do use the Hanna pH tester and am waiting on the Hanna PO4 checker.

 

[jason2459]

I agree with Ron. I'm looking for a range and not worried about absolute pin point accuracy. If I was I wouldn't look at any hobby grade test kits as none of them are that accurate. I did some comparisons between several different brands for several different tests and found them all to be good enough for me. So, I go with what ever is cheaper and easier to use. I do believe that consistency is greatly reflected on how each person is able to reproduce the tests each time along with variations in the reagents.

I like API for calc, alk, and no3. Hanna egg for PO4. Hanna hand held probe and my controller w/ probes for pH and temp. Salifert for mag. Vital sine refractometer and pintpoint salinity probe for salinity.

With that said, the only thing I regularly test for is salinity (during water changes) and pH (controlling ATO w/ lime and vinegar dosing). The rest I just use my eyes anymore. If I see something going out of whack I break out the rest of the test equipment.