My testing of Sera test kits

[Billybeau1]

I recently purchased 5 test kits from Sera to test them for accuracy and ease of use. Sera is made in Germany and I also have a batch of their sea salt mixing and will post the results in my General Salt Mix thread.

GENERAL COMMENTS
The test vials are a nice quality marked with 5 ml increments. The reagent bottles come sealed and the top of the cap has a punch which you use to poke the hole open the first time of use. The spoons for the powders are rather small but this probably doesn't mean much. Instructions are easy to read and pretty straight forward. Good color end points on all kits tested.

CALCIUM

The calcium kit tested reasonably accurate and measures calcium in 20 ppm increments (similar to API). I was satisfied for the price.

ALKALINITY
The kH test has 1 reagent like most other low end kits and measure in 1 dkh increments. Accuracy was close to my other kits.

MAGNESIUM
The Mg test was reasonably accurate with my Elos and Salifert however it required 2 separate tests to arrive at the final number. This test reports results in 60 ppm increments. My concern is since all of the reagent bottles are the same size, you use much more of reagent 3 than the others, You will certainly run out of #3 before any other reagent is even close to being exhausted.

PHOSPHATE
The PO4 kit only provides results down to .1 mg/l. I was unable to get a color in the test sample because my tank generally runs between .03 and .05 This test may be good for ponds but I do not recommend it for reef tanks.

NITRATE
The NO3 test was pretty slick. It is much like API's however they provide you with 4 ranges (by diluting the sample). This is good for those with high level nitrates ans well as low level nitrates. This kit tested reasonably close to my other kits.

Since the reagent bottles are small, extra care should be taken when dropping reagents and ensuring the bottles are completely inverted to help ensure uniformity in drops.

All in all, I rate Sera about in API's league but not quite as good as Salifert and Elos. The price of these kits reflects that.

 

[HowardW]

Thank you for that detailed report

 

[Boomer]

Great Billy and I'm surprised / phone conversation

And that is how to write-up a good simple test kit review :thumbsup:

 

[Billybeau1]

Thanks Boomer. A few folks were asking about them a while back and it spiked my curiosity.

After all, you know I'm a testing fool.

 

[phishlet]

A test kit review would be great. You ready for the next step Billy? I've enjoyed your salt mix review very much.

What's the word on the street these days for the best test kits? When you all say API are you referring to Aquarium Pharm. kits? I've used Salifert for years.

 

[Billybeau1]

For hobby grade test kits, I still consider Salifert the best (despite the recent problems and availability) Elos second and API third.

And yes, API is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

The deal is this.

If you want to spend mega bucks on testing your water, Hach and the more expensive LaMotte kits are the best. But LaMotte also makes a hobby grade kit (which most buy) and I have not been very satisfied with those. Don't get the two confused.

Salifert (when right) gives precise results where as Elos and API give general results. Some do not care about this.

Example= Some just want to know if it is 8dkh, 9dkh, or 10 dkh. Others want to know is it 9.2 or 9.6 or 9.8 dkh.

Example 2= Some calcium test kits measure in 20 ppm increments, others 25 ppm increments. Salifert, if you are careful can get you within 5 ppm.

Maybe I should just list what increments each manufacturer measures so the aquarist can make a choice as to how close they want to monitor.

This would be easy enough considering I have 6 different brand test kits on my bench at the time.

 

[lancer99]

What did you do your tests on? Hopefully, not Sera's salt.

What did you compare these test kits to (in some cases, you mentioned API, curious about the rest)?

How do they compare to LaMotte's test kits?

-R

 

[Billybeau1]

Ah Falls Church. I consider Virginia one of the most beautiful states I have ever lived in. Or should I say commonwealth.

I lived in Woodbridge for about 3 years and my kids are still there today. Beautiful country.

Anyways, back to the question at hand.

I tested Seras kits on my tank water.

I compared them to the 5 other brand kits I have on hand.

Salifert
Elos
API
LaMotte
Seachem

The problem I have found with LaMottes is they sell two levels of test kits. Hobby grade and Scientific grade. Of course the Scientific grade does the job, no doubt. Much like Hach.

But their hobby grade is much like all other hobby grade kits except alkalinity. That test is off for some reason by my testing compared to others.

When 5 of 6 test kits measure alkalinity close to the same and lamotte is the only one different, you have to wonder.

LaMottes hobby grade calcium kit performed as advertised though.

 

[yrema]

:thumbsup: thanks for the detailed report, billy!

Hmmm, I've used sera's Kh testkit and it's good. I don't like their Ph testkit though. Have you tried it yet?

 

[Billybeau1]

I don't really care for any titration type of pH kit, although API's is not too bad for color end point.

I prefer a monitor for pH.

 

[phishlet]

Seachem?

Seachem?

What's the scoop with Seachem test kits? I've used those off and on over the years too.

 

[rbursek]

Seachem Ca kit, tends to read low from what I have read here, and what the people that make RC salt told me when I talked to them about my bad RC salt, I was using a SC Ca kit and I was getting readings about 350, they where getting 390 on my samples and said as a rule SC Ca kits read low.

 

[Billybeau1]

Ahh Seachem test kits...........

I use a number of Seachem products. But their test kits leave little to be desired.

The calcium kit reads Ca++ about 70 ppm lower then other kits.

The alk is ok but the borate part of the kit is poor.

The magnesium test is so cumbersome to perform and after all of your work, it isn't accurate anyways.

I do not recommend them. As Roger Ebert would say...... :thumbdown :thumbdown

 

[rbursek]

I like the simplicity of the API Ca kit, I have not tried the Elos, a Sera I have reads differently then my API, and hate that powder spoon thing on the Sera, I never know how much is a spoon full. Thanks again Billy for all your endeavorers here on kits and salt!!!!

 

[Billybeau1]

Bob, the Sera I tested matched my API. The spoon (powder) is just for color and does not influence the actual test result. So it doesn't really matter if it is a bit too much or not enough.

And, your welcome.

 

[DmitriyY]

I do not recommend Seachem magnesium test it isn't accurate.
Worst test I ever used. Witch one you can recommended for accurate magnesium reading.

 

[badfish]

Cool thread. Thanks.

 

[Billybeau1]

Dm, for hobby grade kits I like Saliferts but they are difficult to get at the moment. Elos also makes a good mag kit.

Matt, your welcome.