Salifert the one and only???
- Thread starter Larah
- Start date
tkeracer619
New member
:lol: Salifert?
No customer support = DEAD
TBH I wish people would get off the salifert bandwagon so people don't continue purchasing whats left on the shelves. Most major test kits are accurate for hobby level use, the only one I can think of that had a large batch of bad test kits was Salifert themselves. Very few people recieved replacements and now the Salifert sponsor board here on RC is gone.... which was the only place to get customer support..... when the one and only contact for them was available.
Buyer beware
IMO Salifert stopped production a long time ago, has been selling off its remaining stock, and is done. They haven't offered anyone any reason to believe otherwise.
No customer support = DEAD
TBH I wish people would get off the salifert bandwagon so people don't continue purchasing whats left on the shelves. Most major test kits are accurate for hobby level use, the only one I can think of that had a large batch of bad test kits was Salifert themselves. Very few people recieved replacements and now the Salifert sponsor board here on RC is gone.... which was the only place to get customer support..... when the one and only contact for them was available.
Buyer beware
IMO Salifert stopped production a long time ago, has been selling off its remaining stock, and is done. They haven't offered anyone any reason to believe otherwise.
Last edited:
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Interesting, I would like to see a second independent confirmation of the results by somebody who can perform the test with equal or better precision with random batches from each.
nismo driver
New member
i use tropi marin ca + mg test kit and have 100 percent confidence in it, it can be difficult to identify end point from blueto neutral and the result of the CA test can effect the mg test color, seems the lower the CA reading the harder to perform the mg test.
i do like my salifert alk test and have not had any incorrect reading but perhaps i got my kit before the issues began, i have about one test left and lamontte kit on the way, the best part of the salifert was the precision of thedkh reading to really dial in a dosing routine. IMO 1dkh incriments are too large and practically useless if you consider that the slightest mistakeand your readings are way way off thenn you have to retest so the so called "quick and easy" test just took twice as long an costtwice as much as the allegedly more complicated test..
i do not want to rush for results to determine what my tank needs nor do i want to be a cheap lazy person when it comes to caring for and protecting the thousands of dollars of investment in my tank.
i could never understand this approach that come have towards testing, tehy spend hundreds on coral colonies and fish but god forbid a test kit costs 30 bucks and take them more tehn five minutes to perform.
i do like my salifert alk test and have not had any incorrect reading but perhaps i got my kit before the issues began, i have about one test left and lamontte kit on the way, the best part of the salifert was the precision of thedkh reading to really dial in a dosing routine. IMO 1dkh incriments are too large and practically useless if you consider that the slightest mistakeand your readings are way way off thenn you have to retest so the so called "quick and easy" test just took twice as long an costtwice as much as the allegedly more complicated test..
i do not want to rush for results to determine what my tank needs nor do i want to be a cheap lazy person when it comes to caring for and protecting the thousands of dollars of investment in my tank.
i could never understand this approach that come have towards testing, tehy spend hundreds on coral colonies and fish but god forbid a test kit costs 30 bucks and take them more tehn five minutes to perform.
shred5
Premium Member
I agree, I have had nothing but inconsistent readings lately from batch to batch and some are way different. I always used Salifert for Calcium, Alk and magnesium.
One time I sent them a message saying that one batch was reading way higher than my last. They replied it was because their new test kit now reads total calcium or something like that and I was like what did it read before?
To bad because Salifert tests kits were easy to use and well priced.
Dave
One time I sent them a message saying that one batch was reading way higher than my last. They replied it was because their new test kit now reads total calcium or something like that and I was like what did it read before?
To bad because Salifert tests kits were easy to use and well priced.
Dave
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
Me too! I like the fact that he goes into details about the kits and their credentials. I would like to see something a little more comprehensive though. At least he performed lab analysis testing alongside the test kits.
I would guess that this would have to be done by one of us hobbiests (that would get expensive quick). I could be way off base...but I doubt any site that is receiving sponsorship money from these manufacturers would be interested in getting in the middle.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I was a big salifert fan (believer?) until I read many of the recent threads. Many of the "big" companies could care less about the fish hobby and produce very poorly designed kits for the hobby. Many "aquarium" products companies sell junk because, well, it sells.
A kit for the reef hobby needs to be a few things.
1) easy and quick enough to use.
2) have well defined and easy to see results with color changes or color cards that have enough resolution to be useful.
3) have no steps that require precise measurements that are hard for end users to perform.
4) be hobby priced
I am sure I missed some things....
In any case the Salifert was a great concept. Habib has (had?) a small company that appears to be dedicated to producing great test kits aimed at a niche market. The problems appear to be in the finer points.
1) The instructions were horrible and at first read like a poor translation (they were). Even after revision many of the kits had very ambiguous steps or directives. I (and am sure many others) offered to re-write the instructions for Habib (for free in my case). I never got a response (but offered several times during active discussions). I honestly have no problem with my offer being ignored. I do have a problem with the fact that something as simple as a photocopied instruction sheet could not be re-worded so that a laymen could perform the tests without question.
2) There has always been a distribution lag or gap with salifert. It is hard for a small vendor to meet growing demand.
3) The cost was not inline with what most LFS are willing to give shelf space to. Their big money makers are the name brand junk that they sell. Salifert is not a household name and the higher price/lower margin is a hard sell to both stores and customers.
Anway, I am not sure what all of my rambling matters. I would just like to see an easy to use reliable test kit line.
A kit for the reef hobby needs to be a few things.
1) easy and quick enough to use.
2) have well defined and easy to see results with color changes or color cards that have enough resolution to be useful.
3) have no steps that require precise measurements that are hard for end users to perform.
4) be hobby priced
I am sure I missed some things....
In any case the Salifert was a great concept. Habib has (had?) a small company that appears to be dedicated to producing great test kits aimed at a niche market. The problems appear to be in the finer points.
1) The instructions were horrible and at first read like a poor translation (they were). Even after revision many of the kits had very ambiguous steps or directives. I (and am sure many others) offered to re-write the instructions for Habib (for free in my case). I never got a response (but offered several times during active discussions). I honestly have no problem with my offer being ignored. I do have a problem with the fact that something as simple as a photocopied instruction sheet could not be re-worded so that a laymen could perform the tests without question.
2) There has always been a distribution lag or gap with salifert. It is hard for a small vendor to meet growing demand.
3) The cost was not inline with what most LFS are willing to give shelf space to. Their big money makers are the name brand junk that they sell. Salifert is not a household name and the higher price/lower margin is a hard sell to both stores and customers.
Anway, I am not sure what all of my rambling matters. I would just like to see an easy to use reliable test kit line.
geoxman
Premium Member
I like API, Tetra and Salifert. I quit using Salifret after the BIG mess and lack of CS. I am rather impressed with the API it is not as specific as the Salifert test kits, but it gives a range, which is fine by me.
I need to find a replacement Mg test kit--any one have any suggestions? I agree that Salifert is done-JMHO
I need to find a replacement Mg test kit--any one have any suggestions? I agree that Salifert is done-JMHO
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I have never been impressed with the tetra stuff.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
That is why I would like to see another test that can be confirmed to be independent.
