Test kits driving me crazy!

[reefsahoy]

I was using the Red Sea test kit and it kept reading my ca way low, like 300 ppm, even as I'm adding ca to the aquarium. I asked my friend to use his salifert kit and it measured 440. So obviously one, if not both of the test kits were way off. Because of this I bought the Hanna alk, and ca test kits. I measured the ca and it measured 374 with a max of 6% error resolution or +- 21 making the range 353 to 395 ppm. So the ca test kits we are both using are very questionable!

I tested the alk and measured 7.3 dkh Hanna @5% accuracy vs 7.0 Red Sea test kit. So the Red Sea alk test kit is very accurate at least at the 7dkh range.

 

[Blueline12]

Use Salifert or Elos. Much better kits and worth the money.

 

[rps3]

Second on Salifert. Tried the Red Sea kit and hated it.

 

[reefsahoy]

Won't need them, Hanna checker will be better than any of those!

 

[Blueline12]

Won't need them, Hanna checker will be better than any of those!

The Hanna calcium is very tricky to get accurate readings. I have one. I would still go with Salifert for Calcium and Hanna for Alk and Po4.

 

[trinimaddness]

stop testing..let you corals tell you what needs changing

 

[rps3]

Hanna checkers are good but not necessary. Calcium and Alkalinity I'll go with Salifert any day. Had the Hanna checker for alk and sold it. Quicker to do it with Salifert. Po4 you don't test too often. Plus, those reagents for the alk are like $10 each time and only last like 50 test or something.

People are more worried about levels rather then what their corals are doing.

 

[AquamanE]

stop testing..let you corals tell you what needs changing

:uzi:

 

[AquamanE]

Hanna checkers are good but not necessary. Calcium and Alkalinity I'll go with Salifert any day. Had the Hanna checker for alk and sold it. Quicker to do it with Salifert. Po4 you don't test too often. Plus, those reagents for the alk are like $10 each time and only last like 50 test or something.

People are more worried about levels rather then what their corals are doing.

RPS3- agree they are not necessary, especially for Ca. Ca changes very little once your system is balanced and dosing is equal.

But for ALK ( THE most important thing we test for) its good as a back up. I test 4-8x per month using API for ALK and randomly use Hanna to verify. So far API and Hanna have agreed, but on such an important element to test, ill continue doing same. Your right less with Hanna more with cheaper options.

On pho4- i totally disagree with you. While yes, it is less tested, when you DO test you need very accurate info. Only Hanna can give you that.

 

[DRThompson]

RPS3- agree they are not necessary, especially for Ca. Ca changes very little once your system is balanced and dosing is equal.

But for ALK ( THE most important thing we test for) its good as a back up. I test 4-8x per month using API for ALK and randomly use Hanna to verify. So far API and Hanna have agreed, but on such an important element to test, ill continue doing same. Your right less with Hanna more with cheaper options.

On pho4- i totally disagree with you. While yes, it is less tested, when you DO test you need very accurate info. Only Hanna can give you that.

+1
My testing in order of importance:
ALK (weekly) accuracy is very important to me
Ca - every 2-3 weeks, accuracy not as important
Mg - monthly

Phosphates - (IMO nothing beats hanna) I test once in a while, algae marker
nitrates - test the tank once to twice a month

minor elements: Sr, I, K - test infrequent (maybe every couple months)

check the expiration dates! Throw away the expired test kits.