Test Kits

[scotmc]

Are their other kits, I should be considering other than Salifert. I am using Instant Ocean kits now. ANy though on them?

 

[oct2274]

api is pretty good, i had to buy them because i had a bad salifert alk kit. The seachem ones aren't too bad either, but for the price of the API kits you can't go wrong.

 

[bertoni]

Hach and LaMotte also make good test kits, in my experience. I use mostly Salifert, but the Hach phosphate test kit is a bit easier in terms of color comparison.

 

[kevin2000]

Depends on what your trying to test for and what your willing to pay.

In my opinon Seachem is superior to Salifert for the basics ... reasonably accurate, cost less, comes with a reference test sample to verify your reagents are working properly, and their ammonia test kit allows you to distinquish between free ammonia and total ammonia which is important when QTing fish. Also .. Seachem has great customer service and if you have a problem your going to get hands on help and if necessary a free new test kit without any hassle.

MMM .. sounds like a commerical .. or maybe just a satisfied customer.

 

[bertoni]

I'm not sure why distinguishing between free ammonia and total ammonia is important, but either can be computed directly from the other given the pH of the tank.

 

[kevin2000]

The ability to distinquish between "free" ammonia and "total" ammonia is important in a QT since many are forced to use ammonia conversion products to maintain water quality. Most test kits measure total ammonia which is "free/toxic" ammonia and "ammonium/less toxic". The ammonia conversion products simply convert toxic ammonia into less toxic ammonium.

 

[bertoni]

That's true, but it's pretty much irrelevant in practice, since the acceptable pH range is fairly small. In any case, a simple chart will do the conversion for any test kit.

 

[kevin2000]

I disagree .. its a big issue when your qTing.

 

[bertoni]

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, but any test kit can provide the data.

 

[kevin2000]

As stated ... few test kits can ascertain free ammonia separate from total ammonia. Its common for people to Qt fish and use ammonia conversion products and unless you have a test kit that can ascertain the difference your ammonia test kit is basically worthless.

 

[bertoni]

That's not at all true. This article covers ammonia:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/rhf/index.php#15

For example:

Remember that these values are ppm NH3-N, and at pH 8.2, the marine range becomes 1.3 to 50 ppm total NH4-N because only 7% of the total ammonia in seawater is present as free ammonia.

So at pH 8.2, free ammonia is 7% of total ammonia. For any pH, the ratio is fixed.

 

[kevin2000]

Thanks but I already know the Chemistry 101 relationship between ammonia/ammonium and PH.

People who QT fish without a mature bio filter .. or people who are forced to QT mutliple fish that exceed the capacity of their bio filters are often forced to use ammonia conversion products .. and those products render most ammonia test kits worthless. Ammonia is the No. 1 killer in QT's and having a test kit that works at that time is critical.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, so what does that have to do with the SeaChem test kit? I haven't seen any suggestion that it is any better with ammonia conversion products than any other salicylate or Nessler test kit.

 

[kevin2000]

I apparently am not making myself clear and I apologize ... most ammonia test kits only measure total ammonia (which is the combination of free ammonia and less toxic ammonium). The "benefit" of Seachem's ammonia test kit is that it allows you to test "free ammonia" independently from total ammonia (which it also allow you to test for). As such .. Seachem's ammonia test kits is superior to most if your QTing fish.

 

[bertoni]

Okay, so it's not Nessler and it's not salicylate. That's interesting. Personally, I don't think it matters much, but it might be able to tell you what the binders are doing.

 

[bertoni]

Oops, meant to add that any salicylate test should be fine when using the binders, I believe. The Nessler kits effectively undo the effects of the ammonia binders.

 

[kevin2000]

Spending too much time on the chemistry forum?

 

[bertoni]

That would be one issue.

 

[kevin2000]

Me too!