Great Alk Test Kit

[Rickyrooz1]

What is a great alkalinity test kit? I hate Salifert! Both test kits I have used suck. The reagents are off. The first kit read too low and the second was still reading low but not as much. I purchased an API Alkalinity test kit but it doesn't give me precise measurements. Only reads in increments of 1.0 not 0.1.

 

[mobujen]

I like the LaMotte Alk test Kit. Much better quality then the others you mentioned. One feature I really like is the "past end point color". It starts off as green, changes to purple when you reach your Alk level and then changes to orange if you go to far.

It reads in PPM though, so you'll need a conversion chart to get dkh or meq/l.

I've also heard the ELOS test kits are nice. The rep gives a discount to RC members.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Thanks. i'll have to check out the LaMotte kit. I like the orange color change feature.

 

[bertoni]

Lately, I've been reading a lot of complaints about a lot of test kits. I'm not sure what to recommend at this point.

 

[mobujen]

bertoni-

Especially the calcium test kits! I have three kits now and they all read something different. Very frustrating....

 

[Billybeau1]

Re: Great Alk Test Kit

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11085984#post11085984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rickyrooz1
What is a great alkalinity test kit? I hate Salifert! Both test kits I have used suck. The reagents are off. The first kit read too low and the second was still reading low but not as much. I purchased an API Alkalinity test kit but it doesn't give me precise measurements. Only reads in increments of 1.0 not 0.1.

I would be curious to know what the actual measurement was of both Saliferts and the API.

I doubt fish and corals are concerned 1 dkh either way so what were the actual readings ?

 

[jthnhale]

I'll second the lamotte kit. I've been using one for the past year, I switched from salifert as well. the ppm reading is the only catch, after a while you will remember what level you want to be at.

I use this handy calculator to figure out the levels,
http://www.saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/AlkConv.php

 

[Billybeau1]

Here is mine.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/99245Alk_Chart.jpg

 

[Rickyrooz1]

My Salifert read 5.4 dKH and the API read 11 dKH. My new Slaifert test kit reads 12.5 dKH when the API reads 11 dKH.

 

[Wrench]

meq/L to dKH is simple, just multiply by a factor of 2.8

 

[old salty]

I find the Elos kit to be a bit easier to use than the Lamotte. It requires fewer steps and the color change is much more abrupt. They are pretty equal in quality with Lamotte having a nice plastic box for storage. I abandoned Salifert long ago.

 

[Ephraim]

but what scale do the Elos, Lamotte and Salifert kits measure. ie, how many drops per dKh. I currently use API and would like a bit more certainty.

 

[mobujen]

Because I'm lucky enough to live near the ELOS USA office, I went by there and picked up an ALK and CA kit to give them a try first hand.

The Alk kit measures in dkh. Each drop added to the test sample equals 1.0 dkh. I tested my water sample and came up with 8 dkh. I also have a Lamotte Alk kit which I like. It measures in PPM. Again, the Elos kit gave me a reading of 8 dkh= 142.9ppm. I tested with the lamotte kit at the same time and got 148ppm. Thats pretty darn close. They're both nice testing kits. I would give the Elos kit the prize for accurancy and ease of use. The Lamotte kit gets the prize for precision. Oh, the Elos kit is half the price.

Mike

 

[VaderWS6]

I've heard a lot of great things about the Elos kits. Thats the kit I'll be buying next. Lets get a big group buy together on Elos kits guys! :thumbsup:

 

[kevin2000]

I don't know whether its "great" but Seachem's alk test kit is reasonably accurate, easy to use, and readily available.

 

[MarkGP]

One word....Elos!

 

[Sparty00]

Where can you get Elos Test Kits?

 

[REEFY1]

http://www.reefsolution.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=135_280&products_id=1592

 

[Billybeau1]

I'll put API's kit up against Elos every day and twice on Sundays. And for half the price.