Let's talk test kits

[DJasak]

Hey guys!
I'm interested in seeing what kits you guys use when testing your water. What brands do u trust? How easy are the results to read? What do you test for? And as a bonus, what does your water test schedule look like? What do u test for daily, weekly, monthly?

I think this is something that a lot of new hobbyists could really benefit from so let's get a nice pool of answers! Thanks! :beer:

 

[billdogg]

I use Salifert for everything. They are easy to use and very repeatable. When I test, unless I suspect a serious issue, I check Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. I test about monthly, before water change day.

 

[dustinc89]

I use the red sea pro kits, they are quite cheap if you buy the reef Foundation kit which includes calcium mag and alk, and the Algae control kit which include phosphate and nitrate, which is everything you need IMO
I test Alk weekly and mag and calcium every other week, I also run a dosing pump so everything stays pretty stable.
I starting dosing vinegar so I am testing Nitrate and phosphate often

 

[johnike]

Salifert Mag, Hanna Alk and Ca.
Probably switching to Salifert on Alk and Ca soon.
Usually monthly here as well, but monitoring an Alk drop that I'm raising slowly and testing daily/every other day right now.
Ph on Apex, but never bother looking.

 

[Sonyardo]

I also use Salifert for everything. I test weekly for Alk, CA, Mg and Nitrate. I have a controller that keeps constant tabs on pH, Sg, and temp.

The kits are the easiest to use that I've run across so far. There are a couple of areas where it's tough to decipher color changes at low end ranges. I think you will find that with most test kits.

I've tried a couple of different competitors from time to time on the test kits and have always went right back to Salifert. I've come to appreciate the lack of all the extra vigorous shaking and waiting.

 

[Walla2GSP]

I am using API for the big four and find them close enough for my purposes, and I'm using Salifert for magnesium. I'm considering the Red Sea foundation kit next time I order, but I'm worried I would screw up the titrations. Right now, I'm testing daily as I wait for everything to settle out, but typically I test nitrates and phosphates daily, and ca, alk, mg, and ammonia weekly.

 

[hkgar]

Nitrate, Red Sea Pro, test weekly (for low level testing (< 10), for high level testing (> 10) I would use Salifert).
PO4, Hanna Checker, test weekly
Alk, Salifert, test daily
Ca and Mag, Salifert, test weekly

 

[RobZilla04]

API,RedSea, Salifert here.

API reef master kit, RedSea Alk Cal & Mag, Salifert phosphate confirmation test at the moment.