Test Kits

[sailfintang]

What are the best test kits for the following:

Magnesium

Calcium/Alk

Potassium

Phosphate/Silicate

I ask because I am tired of having to get different ones at the LFS due to change in stock or being out of one. I would like to get ones thatare trusted through the community and also easy to read and use. thanks

 

[kelvin88]

I Highly recommend Salifert Test Kits

 

[snorvich]

I use Elos for Magnesium, Alk, Calcium. I use a photometer for low level phosphate and do not test for silicate.

 

[Michael]

I THOUGHT SALIFERT WAS POOR FOR MAGNESIUM, I THEN REALISED IT WAS HOW I USED IT AND SO I SUGGEST IT IS A FINE KIT AS OTHER INDICATE, I DID TRY RED SEA AS WELL BUT OH GOSH I THINK ITS HARD TO USE, PATIENCE IS THE KEY, NO DOUBT ITS ME AGAIN BUT AFTER USING RED SEA IM STICKING WITH SALIFERT, I HAVENT TRIED ANY OTHERS YET NOT MUCH CHOICE ON MAG KITS WHERE I AM

 

[useskaforevil]

I LIKE TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE ITS SO EASY TO READ!

 

[Michael]

CAPITAL LETTERS

CAPITAL LETTERS

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12341590#post12341590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by useskaforevil
I LIKE TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE ITS SO EASY TO READ!

well to be honest i dont normally, i was however just sending a customer who has not paid me for work i had done for him a snotty fax and wanted it to look like i was mad, during this time i was also reading threads on my favorite web site and forgot about the capital letters, any how after typing i noticed the error but couldnt be bothered to alter it, :rollface:

 

[sailfintang]

well i keep these in mind on my next trip to the LFs.

 

[hyperfocal]

Elos for Magnesium, Alk, Calcium
Salifert for Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite <-- will replace with Elos when done... probably January 2025 at the rate I use them.

 

[PSU REEFER]

Elos for Cal, Kh, and Ph and Red Sea for Mag.

 

[qfrisco]

A few folks from my local reef club (DFWMAS, including Marc, aka Melev on this forum) did an informal test of several test kits. Their results are summarized here: http://www.dfwmas.org/pdf_files/Test Kit Analysis.pdf

Basically, spending more money on the higher-end test kits may not really be worth it. The cheaper API test kits appear to be just as good as the more expensive ones.

I use API for all my testing, although I'm thinking of trying the Elos test kit for Calcium as I sometimes have a hard time reading the end-point on the API Calcium test.

 

[hyperfocal]

That's what I really like about the Elos kits -- the endpoint transitions are very obvious. I also find their reagent bottles and droppers to be far better than Saliferts. YMMV

 

[useskaforevil]

Re: CAPITAL LETTERS

Re: CAPITAL LETTERS

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12341735#post12341735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeydj
... forgot about the capital letters, any how after typing i noticed the error but couldnt be bothered to alter it, :rollface:

haha yea i know they should make an uncapitilize key