test kits

[cruzin94066]

I want to buy new test kits. What do people recommend? I am looking at buying test kits for calcium, ph, and alkalinity. I think the ones I am using are nutrafin.

Also is buying a test kit for magnesium a must.
Thanks

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Salifert is a bit pricey, but one of the best test kits you can get. And, no, testing Magnesium is not necessary. Water changes replace this when needed. On rare occassions your Mag will change and cause your Calcium and Alkalinity to be off. But it isn't often.

 

[One Eyed Bunny]

Salifert is definately one of the bets testing supply brands you can get. The only problem is that recently the Euro has gone up, past, the U.S. Dollar. This means that Salifert kits have become significantly more expensive, almost double the price of most other brands.

If you're lookin' for the best, go Salifert, otherwise try Red Sea Fish test kits or Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kits.

What type of tank are you keeping? FOWLR? Reef?

 

[boodwah]

One I don't like

One I don't like

I recently bought the Aquarium Systems FasTest multi test kit and I really doubt it's accuracy. You can do two ammonia tests back to back and get very different results each time. I cannot get nitrates to register at all but with the Salifert kit I get a much different result (yes, I am cycling a tank right now). The pH and Nitrite tests seem to be OK, but 2 out of 4 makes for a good batting average (.500) but in everything else a 50% success rate is pretty abyssmal. Good luck!

 

[cruzin94066]

Thanks for the replies. I would like to order the salifert tests because I could get them cheaper in the internet than the local stores. The salifert tests are cheaper in the internet than some of the other name brand tests that I can buy from my local fish stores.

 

[mg426]

Salifert is acurate and reliable. I got burnt bad a couple of times with test kits. I stay away form red sea.

 

[Andrew]

I like Red Sea myself but you can't go wrong with buying Slifert test kits.

 

[mg426]

Try marine depot

 

[Lakeside518]

I recommend Salifert. Red Sea just isn't that accurate. Salifert is simple and easier to read. I switched from SeaChem

 

[marilynrn711]

Recommend Salifert. Check out prices - customaquatics.com You also get a RC discount.

BTW I disagree that you do not need to check Mg. If I ddnt dose and test mine would be tanked out, and that is w regular water changes,