So I am about ready to purchase all the test kits for my new 90 gallon and I am wondering what companies you guys have found to be the best. I plan on purchasing ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, alk, magnesium, and ph kits. Did I miss any? Right now I am seriously considering the Salifert kits. Any insights you guys can provide would be appreciated.
Test Kits
- Thread starter Gondore
- Start date
JCR's Reef
New member
Salifert Test kits are good kits.
If you plan on setting up a qt tank you might want to by the Copper Kit so you can test for treatment (If you treat fish with copper).
Alot of the Salifert test are out of stock when I looked last week.
Elos is suppose to be another good which is a couple of buck more than Salifert.
If you plan on setting up a qt tank you might want to by the Copper Kit so you can test for treatment (If you treat fish with copper).
Alot of the Salifert test are out of stock when I looked last week.
Elos is suppose to be another good which is a couple of buck more than Salifert.
JCR's Reef
New member
I use API for my fish only tank. They are pretty hard to read if you want to know exactly what your water parameters are but they give you a ballpark figure. I wouldnt use them for a reef tank by any means but for cycling a tank they will give you readable results. I use the cheaper kits for PH,Nitrate,Nitrite,Ammonia. For calcium, magnesium, Alk, I use the more expensive ones to be more precise.
Fireworm
New member
Don't buy a cheap one to use for your tank cycle. Get a hold of me and I have a cheap one you can have. It will get you through your first stages, and if you want to use it on the rest of your tank till its gone, that is up to you. But don't buy one. i will give you the one I have.
What tests do you have?
castor
New member
For a reef tank I really do recommend salifert - the three that you would really only need more than what you have for they cycle are calcium, alk, and mag, well, their high/low range nitrate test is a good one to have too. Their ph test is just like any other though, with a regent you put in a vial of water and hold it up to a color chart so nothing special about theirs. They are a bit pricey but are both accurate and precise. I did different tests with them to see how well they work, testing calcium and alk - measured out some RODI water and dosing in B-ionic two part, raised the calcium and alk in levels, testing with the salifert test kits each time, and they were always spot on, down to their lowest step - I think 5ppm, one drop of test solution.
I had also tested my tank water multiple times in a row to see if I would get the same reading, and I did get the same reading each time. Would dose my tank with how much b-ionic would be to raise the calcium 10ppm, and then tested the water, and it tested exactly 10ppm higher.
They cost more but I know I could trust the results.
I had also tested my tank water multiple times in a row to see if I would get the same reading, and I did get the same reading each time. Would dose my tank with how much b-ionic would be to raise the calcium 10ppm, and then tested the water, and it tested exactly 10ppm higher.
They cost more but I know I could trust the results.
