What type of test kit do you use?

[mistaflicksta]

for those of you that don't have the cool automated testing equipment, what brand of test kits do you use?

The reason I ask is that I have 2 api reef master test kits and an old api saltwater master test kit and my nitrate tests on all three are all slightly diffrent, I also have the tropic marine Ca/ Mg test kit and the difference between the api and tropic marine Ca test are 110ppm.

there has to be a good set of kits that wont steer you wrong.

my massive useless lab

tropic marine Ca/ Mg test kit that doubles as a heroin kit LOL! my api test shows 480ppm and the tropic marin shows 390ppm ***!

These are the three nitrate tests, they are all diffrent #1= 10ppm, #2=15ppmish, #3= 20ppm another ***!

all other tests conducted, measured the same for each test kit.

have any of you run into the same problem? or am I the only one that does multiple test kits to compare?
This is where

 

[benjabba]

I have always used the API kits for the basic tests and the Salifert kits for MG, CA, and KH. I have tried Elos kits in the past and they were ok but they were not as exact. I for one am switching to the Hanna kits on my next dry goods order. I have never used them but have seen them in action and they look to be pretty nice.

 

[jmait769]

I've always used Salifert. I have found them easy to use. I did just get an Elos Magnesium kit from Steffen recently and, though the instructions are difficult to understand at first, have also found it easy to use. I have used other test kits and feel like I'm chasing my tail when comparing them to each other. I just notice Salifert is not a RC supporter. May give Hanna a try next time too since they are sponsors.

Jay

 

[mistaflicksta]

The hanna checkers are sweet, I cant wait till they come up with others like Ca, Mg, and nitrate. I will probaly be buying some hannas in the near future.

My question is whay the api calcium come out to 480ppm which I have been going off for a year now, but the tropic marine shows 390ppm. I have coraline algae growing on rocks, equipment, and glass but not @ a crazy rate. I will probably get another Ca test kit before I do any adjustments.

 

[benjabba]

What kind of salt are you using? Are you adding a CA supplement to your tank? If you are not using a salt Mix with a high CA reading and you are not supplimenting I would suspect the Tropic Marine test is closer to being accurate. Also, what is your Mg testing at? If it is below 1300 or so there is most likely no way for your Ca to be 480.

 

[mistaflicksta]

What kind of salt are you using? Are you adding a CA supplement to your tank? If you are not using a salt Mix with a high CA reading and you are not supplimenting I would suspect the Tropic Marine test is closer to being accurate..

I use instant ocean salt and I dose Kent marine liquid calcium 5ml every other day and korallen-zuch as needed.

Also, what is your Mg testing at? If it is below 1300 or so there is most likely no way for your Ca to be 480.

Thats what I was thinking I had not been testing for magnesium in quite a while, I finally got this test kit and my Mg is @ 1200ppm which is on the low side.

 

[jtinoco]

I think API tests go bad with time. I don't remember exactly how to read it but there is a lot number on each bottle. If you call them up they'll show you how to read it.


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[puffin04]

Sailfert are the best!!! But they had an issue with there alk kits not to long ago. I think the Elos are a little more professional. I would not touch the Hanna Alk test because it is garbage. There will never be a probe that will test for alk. Also when you are going your test make sure to put the lid on right after!!! Also as the test kits gets low they react with the air more as well. I would just stick with a brand and stay with it! The key is not exact but how stable your Cal, Alk, and Mag is. Thanks

Steffen Sparks

 

[puffin04]

If you are keeping up with your water changes and do not have to many hard corals you can pretty much replenish MAG with that. Also instant ocean is awesome salt for fish only systems. It lacks in the cal and mag department and also has very high alk. I still like Red Sea Coral Pro and is what i recommend to everyone i talk to.

Steffen Sparks

 

[mistaflicksta]

well I' up the Calcium to 10ml a day and have tested daily at the same time, my API test is still @ 480ppm and the tropic marin is now up to 410pm. Ive been dosing and testing Mg 12hrs from the time I dose Ca and Im almost @ the 1300 mark so I have come to the conclusion that the api Ca test is worthless. I will continue to test with both kits till The tropic marin equals the 450 i am striving for.

 

[mistaflicksta]

Check out what I found

http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/wp-c..._Saltwater_Tank_Test_Kit_Recommended_list.pdf

 

[puffin04]

I took a look at the the list and it looks pretty basic to me. I am surprised they dont use more of the higher end test kits. Personally i believe SPS means Stablity Promote Success! So weather your cal is at 410 or 480 as long as you can maintain it at a stable level you should be good to go. Thanks

Steffen Sparks

 

[mistaflicksta]

Today I got a TDS meter and decided to give a try
tds meter @ 0ppm

tds meter reading tap water out of kitchen sink reading 346ppm

tds meter reading drinking water from water mill dispenser @ 006ppm

I dont have any ro/di water right now, my truck broke down on the way home today and the water jug is in the truck. For every high there is a low.

 

[deehz]

Believe it or not, I don't test for nothing. Yeap, you gal and guys heard correct, nothing. I don't own one test kit. I keep up with my water changes bi-weekly=5gallons, every other day I dose 5ml of 2 part Kent a/b ionic to maintain Ca/Alk, and dose about 2ml of Korallen Mg everyday. That is it.

Now I did have some Ca and Mg test kits and found the Red Sea version very easy to use, pretty accurate, and read. They are also good to the wallet. My system with the exception of once where my Mg was way low, unreadable low (the corals showed big time), my Mg read for 1 year straight 1280-1300 and Ca always read 450-475 on the high side. I had better luck with the litmus paper test kit for Alk, NO2/3, NH3, and ph then the Red Sea kits (garbage and very hard to read) and Salifert (I took water samples of my system to MSWW on consecutive occasions to test and got very different readings every time).

The one coral that would "tell me" that there is something wrong with the system, would be my green flower pot--goniopora. The green flower pots has a high mortality rate in aquariums and is the least hardy of the goni's. Actually all goni's don't do well in captivity (yes I know, this one in truth is my wife's coral she bought it with her own $ ) So, this beautiful guy tells me when it is very happy and when it is P!ISSED! When it is mad, I do a quick water change, check him out, if that doesn't work, do another water change till it is happy again. I only had to to this a couple of times because of BTA's wondering the system and getting sucked up by a power head or skimmer pump. Not very pretty sight to wake up to tank that is nuked with NH3 by a dead BTA.The golden rule to this hobby, when in doubt, do a water change! :lol2:

 

[Gomer]

I too rarely test, but I do have test kits on hand in case things go funky.
Right now my Mag/Ca are Elos kits, but I've also used Seachem ReefStatus kits. Both types are titration tests and I like them both. For alk, I use API.

Like Hans, I do 2 part. There is one thing you do need to test for, and that is salinity. You can always top off exactly, and always WC with 1.027, but if you dose 2part, your salinity will creep up over time.

 

[deehz]

Like Hans, I do 2 part. There is one thing you do need to test for, and that is salinity. You can always top off exactly, and always WC with 1.027, but if you dose 2part, your salinity will creep up over time.

Woops! I guess I do own one test kit, for salinity. I do test this quite often, about once daily. Then I add rodi water to maintain my salinity at 1.026 as needed. Thanks Gomer! Forgot about this one.

 

[puffin04]

LOL i am a testohlic and usually test several times a week at the most. I am as of now dripping Kalkwasser and adding two part. I do have a Calcium reactor that i need to get up and running soon. I usually dont test for nitrates and phosphates anymore but every now and then i do. I think the three major things that people need for SPS dominate tanks are Cal, Alk, and Mag. I personally think Alk is the most important of them all since i have never heard any issues with over dosing with cal and mag. But if you up your alk to much, you are in for a nice burnt tip Acro surprise. lol

Steffen Sparks

 

[jmait769]

LOL i am a testohlic and usually test several times a week at the most. I am as of now dripping Kalkwasser and adding two part. I do have a Calcium reactor that i need to get up and running soon. I usually dont test for nitrates and phosphates anymore but every now and then i do. I think the three major things that people need for SPS dominate tanks are Cal, Alk, and Mag. I personally think Alk is the most important of them all since i have never heard any issues with over dosing with cal and mag. But if you up your alk to much, you are in for a nice burnt tip Acro surprise. lol

Steffen Sparks

+1

Jay

 

[mistaflicksta]

Well I just switched to the new red sea pro test kits and I am very impressed, they are very easy to used and you dont to guess wether the test changed color or not. it is a definite color change for example: pink to blue and not pink tint to clear

this is the kit I got: Reef Foundation pro
http://www.redseafish.com/index.aspx?id=4225
http://www.youtube.com/user/RedSeaFish2010#p/u/5/MofaqM-I6uM
http://www.youtube.com/user/RedSeaFish2010#p/u/6/bb4NnYOFneA
http://www.youtube.com/user/RedSeaFish2010#p/u/7/VT9tEHp828w

the test kit is comes with these three and it comes at a very reasonable price,

my next purchase will be the algae control test kit

http://www.youtube.com/user/RedSeaFish2010#p/u/1/WaLSrcOYkT4

http://www.youtube.com/user/RedSeaFish2010#p/u/2/Mf7jXkNBmX8

 

[rnkvogel]

Which Test Kit is right with the Calcium?
Tested Tropic Marin Ca/MG test kit against 2 Salifert Calcium test kits in 2 different Saltwater tanks.
The Salifert calcium test kits measured 460ppm vs 362ppm Tropic marin in a 120 gallon tank at my neighbors.
In my 90 gallon tank the Salifert was above 480ppm vs 388ppm with Tropic Marin.
We also tested 2 different Salifert Calcium kits.
Both results were close to 100ppm off. Salifert was always High.
In addition my for the 120 gallon tank a test sample was sent out to a Lab.
The LAB test also showing Salifert Calcium test kits measured almost 90ppm higher.
Both tanks are using 2 part dosing with BRS calcium alk however my salt mixes used are different.
Which test kit should I trust?