Test kits

T

T_L

New member
I'm planing on adding some Lps to my 14g, so I was wondering what's the best company for test kits. I'm currently using an api saltwater test kit (yes I know lots of people say they're in inaccurate but I'm on a budget and it's good enough for now. I may get a more accurate test for Nitrate but eveything else doesn't need high accuracy anyway.) But what should I use for alk, calcium, and phosphate?

Remember I'm on a budget.

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A few questions.
1. Where do you get your water for water changes
2. How often do you do water changes
3. Will your lfs test these parameters for free?
 
Crooked Reef said:
A few questions.
1. Where do you get your water for water changes
2. How often do you do water changes
3. Will your lfs test these parameters for free?
Click to expand...
I buy natures ocean saltwater and I change out 20% every two weeks.

I've never asked them to test the water, however I know they can. It's too far of a drive though to have them test it frequently

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Even on a budget, good test kits are highly cost effective. I like and use Salifert. Not hugely expensive.
 
Salifert are my go-to test kits as well. I've been using them exclusively for over 20 years. I find them to be easy to use, more than accurate enough for our needs, and the results are repeatable.
 
API works just fine for alk and Ca in my experience.

Phosphate is tougher. I bought the salifert kit, and it's impossible to tell anything below 0.25ppm. most folks recommend the ultra low range Hanna checker. If you aren't having algae problems and your lps don't appear to be starving, then it might not be worth worrying about phoshates... just my opinion.
 
nereefpat said:
API works just fine for alk and Ca in my experience.

Phosphate is tougher. I bought the salifert kit, and it's impossible to tell anything below 0.25ppm. most folks recommend the ultra low range Hanna checker. If you aren't having algae problems and your lps don't appear to be starving, then it might not be worth worrying about phoshates... just my opinion.
Click to expand...
So maybe buy api for the alk, cal, and use a more precise one for phosphate

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mcgyvr said:
Go API reef master kit.. Its all you need..
API gets a bad rap.. They are just fine..
Click to expand...

There is a reason they get a bad rap. Nitrates are a much bigger deal in saltwater tanks. API in it's infinite wisdom has decided that reefers only need to see things in 0, 10, 20 (keeping in mind there is virtually no color difference between 10-20), 40, 80 (keeping in mind there is virtually no color difference between 40-80) and 160. Meanwhile a test kit like Red Sea has discernible color difference between 0, 2, 5,10, 20 and 50 on it's nitrate test. Add in that API's cheap plastic caps have many complaints of leaking caustic chemicals all over your hand and floor and other areas when you shake them. They do not seal properly, while the other kits have screw top lids that actually seal. They also give more false positives than any other kit (other than maybe a worthless test strip). Sorry, but after using Red Sea for some time and then trying API, I can say that API is garbage by comparison to Red Sea.
 
+1 to Red Sea. Everything is waterproof. Sounds silly but is a huge help after many tests. Also they break it down more precisely than API, IMHO.


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Antegon said:
+1 to Red Sea. Everything is waterproof. Sounds silly but is a huge help after many tests. Also they break it down more precisely than API, IMHO.


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Click to expand...



Except phosphate. But yourself a Hannah if you really need accuracy often there.


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Ok, though I already own an api test kit so I'll probably transition slowly to something else

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