Test kit

[saltwaternoobie]

Slowly building and gathering equipment , currently looking at test kits and looking for suggestions . I will be starting out as fowlr then adding some corals once things get going . Looking for some opinions for a test kit .I currently have a freshwater tank and I test basic ammonia , nitrate and nitrite . So three test kits I have in cardboard boxes . I am realizing once my saltwater tank gets up and running I will have numerous boxes . Long story short I am looking for a kit that contains what I need to test for .

Wondering what everyone is using and if they have a master kit . I'd also be happy with say a master kit for say fish only and another kit for say a reef tank . Goal is not to have 20 cardboard kits waiting to get destroyed making an eyesore as well

 

[asting]

the popular "reef" kit tests for calcium, Phosphate, and KH.
What are your plans long term? A lot of folks can get by with frequent water changes. If you intend to dose then you'll need to measure, but you can still have a successful tank without it.

 

[Xxero]

I like the Red Sea kits. They have hard, plastic containers; the cards are laminated; and you can buy refills for individual tests instead of having to purchase the whole kit again.

This one is good for just starting out:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-marine-care-test-kit.html

And later after adding corals:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-reef-foundation-pro-multi-test-kit-ca-alk-mg.html

HTH! :bigeyes:

 

[BruceWayne]

For alk I love the Hanna can't make it easier and you get a number to work with instead of color change like most kits. Salifert is also a good alk kit but prefer Hanna. Calcium api is what I like and magnesium I you'd thr nyos easy to use watch YouTube video.

 

[Jeff4777]

For alk I love the Hanna can't make it easier and you get a number to work with instead of color change like most kits. Salifert is also a good alk kit but prefer Hanna. Calcium api is what I like and magnesium I you'd thr nyos easy to use watch YouTube video.

+1 on Hanna for dKH. The red sea test kits are all great but the alkalinity color change is pretty hard to read imo.

 

[ColoReefer970]

I second the red Sea kits...it's all together in one solid package with easily repeatable results...more precise titration than dropper bottles etc

 

[gone fishin]

IMO for a FOWLR tank you will need an ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test for the cycle. IMO/E API are fine for these with the understanding that the API ammonia test is difficult to read at the very low end and will often show 0.25ppm of ammonia.

If you decide you want more in depth testing such as alk,calc, Mg I use salifert test. I find them easy to use and repeatable. For phosphates I like to use the hanna checker. Good luck just my 2 cents.