Best Test Kit for the Cycle

[RayAllen3422]

What's the best test kit for the cycle? I know APIs aren't great but are they good for the cycle?

 

[reefbroao]

I have began to absolutely hate the API test's I have. You have to test EXACTLY right or the results will be incorrect. Nitrate came out with 50 and ammonia at 2.5 so I brought it to my lfs who tested at 2 Nitrate and 0 ammonia. I don't even use them anymore because of how inaccurate they are, beyond that, the color cards are so closely colored that its almost impossible to match the correct color to a number result. Nitrate especially has 3 shades of orange that I personally cannot decipher and I have 20/20 vision.

to this day still says I have ammonia when I know I do not.

 

[thegrun]

For down and dirty "has my cycle completed" testing I think the API tests are fine, although I keep a Salifert Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate test kit on hand even though I very rarely use them with the exception of nitrates after the tank has cycled.

 

[Ron Reefman]

There is nothing wrong with API test kits. They don't claim to show results in as small an increments as other kits, but that doesn't mean they are less accurate? Smaller readings like alk of 7.3 or 8.5 are not necessarily more accurate than API at 7 or 8 or 9. Smaller numbers are just that, smaller numbers!

I have 4 tanks and have been in the hobby for more than 10 years. I still test Ca and alk with API kits. I do, however, have Salifert Ca and alk kits as well. I test with API because they quick and easy. If I get a 'way out' reading I retest. If I get the same reading I test again using the Salifert kit. And 99 times out of a 100 if the API kit gives me a wild number I wasn't expecting, the Salifert kit just confirms it and they are always pretty darn close to the same.

 

[scooter31707]

API for the cycle, but recommend Salifert or Red Sea for anything else.

 

[Clownfish Chris]

I use API for Phosphate, Nitrate, and Ammonia. Red Sea for Mag, Cal, and Alk. The first three do not need to be nearly as accurate but I do monitor them. My API Ammonia shows .25 even when other tests confirm 0.

 

[reefbroao]

I guess I might have a bad kit or something because the results they give me are not even close anymore, they use to be accurate and now its reads unreasonable results.

 

[RayAllen3422]

I used API before and it was just difficult to tell what color it was. Is salifert the next step up? Any easier to use?