Test Kits

[Br0k3nMachin3]

Which test kits does everyone use? I am trying to get an idea which ones are better than others.
Also, can I get some opinions of the ones you use?

 

[merkywater]

I personally use both Salifert and Elos

 

[alpineroush]

I use a mixture of hanna and red sea and love these

 

[Br0k3nMachin3]

From what I've seen so far, is it better to use more than one different type of test kit?

 

[kissman]

in poll I put Red Sea but I use Hanna ULR 736 for PO4 and the Hanna 755 for Alk

 

[Habib]

I voted, but I will not tell what I voted.

 

[merkywater]

From what I've seen so far, is it better to use more than one different type of test kit?

Absolutely....for the simple fact you can check the results against one another.

 

[jerpa]

I voted, but I will not tell what I voted.

Hmm... I wonder.

I prefer salifert for Alk, Cal, Mag, and nitrate. I use a Hanna 736 for phosphates.

 

[Bretts05jeep]

Red Sea for cal, alk, mag, and nitrate. Hanna for phosphate.

 

[Mpfaff77]

Red Sea pro Alk,mag,cal test kit is great. Call "reef pro" I think. Will check later. But comes with a titrator. It is great, no more drip,shake,drip,shake,drip,shake.....

 

[rldcpa]

I have used Salifert in the past but recently purchased Red Sea and it seems that Red Sea is a better quality kit and attempts to give a more specific result.

I am unsure if one is actually more accurate than the other. The red sea has a injector system that makes it less likely to spill and adding a drop at a time while shaking works extremely well for MG ALK and Calcium.

 

[woganaga]

Currently I use Red Sea for alk and ca. Salifert for mag because I always mess up the Red Sea procedure. Lamotte for nitrates and a Hanna checker for phosphates. I use the Red Sea titrator tool for salifert tests as well.

 

[Rbs07fxstc]

RedSea for alk, cal, mag & API for other things I rarely test. Apex probe for ph.

 

[celamb89]

I have trouble with colors... hannah has been a god send for me (Ca, ALK)

 

[BearCatFish]

I was using Salifert but decided to try the Red Sea kits because you can buy new reagents. I love the ability to do the titration tests with one hand & it's easier on my wrists (I have wrist issues.)

 

[Allmost]

Elos for KH and CA++
Hanna for Po4
salifert for K+ [potassium]

 

[FattyK21]

I use API but if i had the money to spend id def like to get a higher end kit

 

[Br0k3nMachin3]

Is API the "lower end" of the test kit chain? If so, which one(s) are considered the "high end" products?

 

[shaggss]

I tried the Red Sea pro kits but never had any luck with them. Caps breaking and nipple clogging. Too much time wasted.....

Salifert for nitrate, Mg and Ca
Hanna for po4 and alk

 

[jbfloor]

I recently bought the Hanna Alk tester to push me over the free shipping limit at BRS (essentially got it for a mere $15). Much more accurate than the API kit. Though, you can use the API Alk kit with 10ml of water instead of 5 and do .5 dKH per drop.

Now I use:

American Marine probe for PH
Hanna for Alk & PO4
Salifert for Mg, I, PO4
API for Ca, Cu, NH3, NO2, NO3