I just tested Elos test kits

[Billybeau1]

Since the advent of the new Elos brand that is on the market, I decided to test this new brand against a number of other brand test kits I have on hand.

I tested my tank water which is currently at 1.0264, 8.04 pH and 79 deg

For calcium and magnesium, I used the double sample test to try and get a finer end result. The standard calcium test measures in 25 ppm increments but can be dropped to 12.5 per drop by doubling the water sample. The Mag kit measures in 100 ppm increments but can be dropped to 50 by doubling the water sample.

Of course this uses more reagent but I wanted to check the accuracy against other kits.

So here we go

CALCIUM

Elos 400 ppm
LaMotte 400 ppm
API 400 ppm
Salifert 415 ppm
Seachem 340 ppm (we've been down this road before)

ALKALINITY

Elos 10 dkh
LaMotte 7.8 dkh don't know whats up wit that
API 10 dkh
Old Salifert (with indicator) 10.6 dkh
New Salifert (without) 11 dkh
Seachem 9.8 dkh

MAGNESIUM

Elos 1350 ppm
Salifert 1350 ppm
Seachem 1060 ppm

I did purchase a PO4 kit from Elos and it supposedly can distinguish the difference between .01 and .05 ppm but my PO4 is so low right now, I cannot test the accuracy of this kit just yet. I'll have to shut my canister off and let the PO4 rise a little then test. I will test it against Salifert and API.

In summary, I found the Elos kits easy to use and provide reasonably accurate results.

About the only two negatives I could find is :

1) They give results to the whole number unless you use the double the water sample but this requires using twice as much reagent. This probably isn't a problem for most.

2) I'm an old guy and I can't read small print very well. I needed a magnifying glass to read the instructions.

Other than that, I think most of you will be happy with your ELOS kits. I might add, customer service seems to be A+ from what I've seen on our boards.

For your information, Marine Depot now carries Elos test kits.

As always, I state, please don't beat me up on these results. These were my tests on my tank and results may vary.

I usually hang in the Chem forum but thought those of you who hang here might find it interesting.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Thanks, I'm thinking of trying Elos next. How is the ease of use, particularly for Alk compared to LaMotte? I hate how LaMotte is like a combination of titration and color matching. I hate matching colors!

Slightly off-topic, but:

1) Dang, LaMotte reading low on Alk? I've been using that kit since the Salifert fiasco...

2) Curious results for Ca regarding API and Salifert... my API Ca reads about 60ppm higher than my Salifert Ca.

I guess what it comes down to is all test kits suck.

 

[Billybeau1]

Well, hobby grade kits certainly can have some test noise.

The Elos alk kit is similar to the API. You add 5 ml of water and start adding drops. Each drop equals 1 dkh. End point of yellow is pretty clear.

Simple and pretty accurate.

I'm not sure why the LaMotte alk was so far off of the others. Did it three times.

 

[Maximus]

What do think about the API kits? I just ordered the Seachem mg kit and was wondering why you think the value was so low?

 

[Billybeau1]

I find API to provide a general accurate result at a reasonable price. Always have.

The results are very general and you have to watch the shelf life. They tend to expire quicker than others.

Other than that, I use them all the time for general testing.

I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed with your new magnesium kit. I hope not, but, I was.

On a good note, the Alk kit that comes with it is pretty accurate.

On a bad note, the carbonate alkalinity and borate kits that come with it are a waste of time IMO.

 

[Maximus]

Thank you. I had ordered the Elos mg kit but MD was out of them. I do have the Elos calcium test coming tomorrow.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11717715#post11717715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Maximus
Thank you. I had ordered the Elos mg kit but MD was out of them. I do have the Elos calcium test coming tomorrow.

They are out of Mag kits already ?

Come on Jesse........ you should have known sales was going to increase. Get on the phone to Italy and get some more kits to the U.S. Your new customers are waiting.

 

[ReefWreak]

Thanks for doing the comparison.

So Salifert really isn't the monster everyone makes it out to be, or is this just in your case? BTW do you have batch numbers or dates for the Salifert you are using? Also what do you mean by "with indicator" or "without indicator?"

I've since started using Sera for my calcium (LFS suggested it, and I trust him, so i'm giving it a shot) and still using Salifert for my Alk. I tested my water with an old kit and a the new kit I bought a few months ago, and they were only off by .3 dkh or so, so I'm not too worried since I believe my older original was back when salifert was consistent.

 

[Billybeau1]

The old Salifert kits used a separate indicator solution. to give you the initial blue color.

The new Saliferts only have one solution (which is redish-orange and it initially turns blue when you start titrating. Much like the API and Elos. Some also come with a reference solution which I personally care for.
I don't believe in reference solutions. They only work for the particular kit you bought and don't necessarily give accurate results.

I don't doubt there were some bad alk kits produced by Salifert. I just was lucky enough not to get one.

And no, Salifert isn't the monster some make it out to be. I still love the calcium, magnesium, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and phosphate kits.

 

[ReefWreak]

Weird. My newer kit has the same blue liquid in it, just a different new style of bottle. That's the only difference between the older and newer kit that I got.

I too still use them for Mag, alk, and phosphate. I've got Hagen for Nitrate and a backup calcium kit. I don't remember the last time that I did a nitrate test.

the only reason I even tried out the Sera calcium kit is to make sure that the Salifert Alk kit was kind of in line, since I've got a calcium reactor, and it generally keeps the CA at 420 when the Alk is 8.8dkh or so. I know there is a way to calculate the correct levels, but I'll leave that one for the Chemistry Forums.

Thanks again for your comparison

 

[boozeman]

 

[jbarone]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11717483#post11717483 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
I'm not sure why the LaMotte alk was so far off of the others. Did it three times.

Billy,
When you have a chance try a longer duration of time while swirling in the last 3-5 drops. Like 30-60 seconds between drops. I found the the color change will revert back from the purple to the bluish-green color. When the color stays the purple it's done. This has worked well for me and has provide results similar to the Salifert and API kits I also use.

JB

 

[Maximus]

Just received a few test kits. Here are my results:

Calcium:

Elos-350 ppm
API-360 ppm

Alk:

Lamotte-11.5 dkh
API-13 dkh

Not too shabby. Looks like calcium was very close. Seems like I need to increase calcium in my tank. I also received my Seachem mg kit. Man, what is Seachem smokin? There must have been 100 little vials and steps. What a pita. I think I tested around 850 ppm. Looks a little low to me. I suppose it's time to hunt down the Elos mg kit. Alk seems to be off one one of the test kits. Which one should I believe?

 

[Avi]

Re: I just tested Elos test kits

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11717301#post11717301 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
MAGNESIUM

Elos 1350 ppm
Salifert 1350 ppm
Seachem 1060 ppm

How did you arrive at 1350ppm with an Elos test kit, Billy?...My Elos Magnesium Test Kit only does it in increments of 100s.

 

[Billybeau1]

Re: Re: I just tested Elos test kits

Re: Re: I just tested Elos test kits

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11727114#post11727114 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Avi
How did you arrive at 1350ppm with an Elos test kit, Billy?...My Elos Magnesium Test Kit only does it in increments of 100s.

You simply double the water sample. It takes twice as many drops of the last reagent but it then gives you increments of 50 ppm.

You can do the same thing with the calcium and the alkalinity.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11727065#post11727065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Maximus
Just received a few test kits. Here are my results:

Calcium:

Elos-350 ppm
API-360 ppm

Alk:

Lamotte-11.5 dkh
API-13 dkh

Not too shabby. Looks like calcium was very close. Seems like I need to increase calcium in my tank. I also received my Seachem mg kit. Man, what is Seachem smokin? There must have been 100 little vials and steps. What a pita. I think I tested around 850 ppm. Looks a little low to me. I suppose it's time to hunt down the Elos mg kit. Alk seems to be off one one of the test kits. Which one should I believe?

I would believe the API at this point. But you could try what jbarone suggested a couple of posts up. I'm going to try it and see if it makes any difference.

Thanks jb. Will give it a shot.

 

[HBtank]

Gotta be patient and use a good light with the LaMotte. The colors could be tricking people... it is not as obvious as most kits. I always use a 6500k temperature bulb or sunlight to do the test and give tiem between the last drops. I remember when I first did it I had problems with that, as well as not realizing you need to evacuate the bubble from the tip of the syringe, exactly opposite than salifert...lol

I like API second best, just because it is so darn easy.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11728521#post11728521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HBtank
I like API second best, just because it is so darn easy.

Ain't it the truth.

 

[jpndave]

Is Salifert still a safe way to go for most tests? It was hinted at above (if I am reading this correctly) that there have been some problems.

BTW, thanks for doing this. It answers a lot of questions with my CA levels being low since I have the dreaded Seachem test kit.

 

[Billybeau1]

I still like Salifert for calcium. I haven't had any problems with that kit.

I kept thinking something else was wrong with my Seachem calcium results, but time after time, it kept reading about 70 ppm low.