In my quest for the ultimate saltwater test kit, ive found that they can be quite expensive. After doing sum homework on the topic, ive decided that building my own may be a slightly cheaper alternative. I dont want to start from scratch tho, i would like to find a low cost, relatively high quality test kit and start building from there. Ive found some strong starting points, but would love some input from the professionals and more experienced reefers on the RC forums.
The ultimate sw test kit
- Thread starter Gm1392
- Start date
In reef tanks, high quality and low cost doesn't go hand and hand. I always recommended Salifert kits, they've been around forever and are trusted by many. Maybe get the calcium, alk, mag, and maybe phosphate kits. The rest just use the API kits.
I've seen more people use the Elos and Henna kits as well.
I've seen more people use the Elos and Henna kits as well.
What parameter tests are you looking for?
Some that are in many combo kits are not needed (nitrite, for example), and some are much better done other ways (like pH).
Some that are in many combo kits are not needed (nitrite, for example), and some are much better done other ways (like pH).
well i posted my original thread because ive found some master test kits in the range of 70-80$, but ive found some other kits that test many of the same parameters in the range of 15-30$. i was thinking of going with a basic API kit and building from there. my main question is what are the most important parameters i should be testing? i want to start with a kit that tests the most important parameters and i can build from there.
I agree with that list, except I'd add ammonia for a cycling tank and pH by meter. 
