Test Kits

[dwilloby]

Happy New Year!

I'm getting back in after a few years out of the hobby, and I'm re-evaluating everything.

What test kits does everyone recommend?

 

[jjwillia]

The general consensus will be Salifert or Redsea. If your tank is new and starting the cycle you can use API to save a little money

 

[homer1475]

Hanna for PO4 and Alk, Salifert for calcium, magnesium, and NO3.

 

[Emma1234]

I haven't had much luck with the Hanna Checkers. Maybe the phosphate one is OK. But Calcium NO and Alkalinity no. I was sent off on wild goose chases trying to fix problems that did not exist. I eventually settled on Salifert and Red Sea. I used both to confirm the readings.

My suggestion is, if you get readings that seem off, don't go crazy. Try and find a way to confirm your readings before acting.

 

[homer1475]

I have heard and read issues with the hanna calcium checkers, but my ALK checker reads almost identical to my salifert kit(I'll check it once in a while).

 

[Emma1234]

Good to know. I check the ALK readings on my Hanna checker again and see how it does overtime. I haven't used it in a while bc I didn't think it was working well. I'll provide an update after I've checked it for awhile and compared the Hanna ALK to the Salifert ALK readings. Maybe I'm wrong about the Hanna ALK. I'm still trying to get comfortable with all this stuff.

 

[Dmorty217]

hanna for po4 and alk, salifert for calcium, magnesium, and no3.

+1

 

[dwilloby]

Thank you all for the advice! Salifert is what I've always used.

Everything that I have is about 3 years old. I'm assuming this stuff goes bad after a certain time period?

 

[bearpeidog]

This!

This!

Couldn't agree more!

Hanna for PO4 and Alk, Salifert for calcium, magnesium, and NO3.

 

[nereefpat]

Kits should have an expiration date stamped on them.

I may be in the minority, but I like API for alk and Ca. It's quick, cheap, and plenty accurate and repeatable for me.

 

[Easy E]

API seems to work pretty well, if you don't need precise readings, but they don't have a magnesium test. For that I use Salifert.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

 

[Vincero]

The geissman series is excellent.

 

[cincyjim]

Hanna for PO4 and Alk, Salifert for calcium, magnesium, and NO3.

Exactly what I use as well.