what reef test kit should i buy

[killafornia]

suggestion?

 

[Badger89]

I just got 3x hanna checker phoshotus and Alk and Salinity ones and love them

 

[zheka757]

i can tell you what i like to use.
nitrate, mag, calcium = red sea
alk, phosphate = hanna checker,
everyone has their own preference of what they like, brs tv did comparison on all the popular test kits i highly recommend to watch it as it will give you a better opinion on test kits.

 

[Timfish]

I'd advise you get with local hobbyests and see what test kits you prefer to use. Personally I like:

API - alk & pH and calcium
Nyos high range nitrate
Red Sea - low rang nitrate and magnesium
Elos PO4
basic glass hydrometer for salinity.

 

[Sk8r]

One brand. Salifert: numerical result, tests very fast once you learn the moves. A few lab tricks apply, like watching for the 'flash' of color as you approach the result. A few other things speed your result, IF you set your parameters as I have them in my sig line. If you test your alk weekly (the simplest and fastest of all the tests) and don't worry until it drops---THEN you check your magnesium, bring that to 1200, THEN adjust your alk, tHEN your calcium, waiting 24 hours between doses and rechecking (doses take time to work) you will have very little trouble. You will not see alk fall until magnesium does but mg is the nit-pickiest test to run, so just test alk. When it drops you know mg has dropped under 1200. So you fix that, fix the alk, fix the cal in that order. Works like a charm without a doser. Still works if you do have one: you just don't have a drop too often.

 

[Dan.]

All Salifert except my Hanna alk checker. I use the Hanna daily and love it.