What's your favorite alkalinity test kit?
- Thread starter Malenurse
- Start date
Just read an interesting post about LaMotte:
"I just tested a lamotte kit against a salifert and seachem and an API.
The Salifert, Seachem and API were close and the LaMotte was off.
Here's my take on LaMottte. They have two levels of test kits. Hobby grade (priced like the rest) and a better grade (Much more cost, but accurate.
Unless you are willing to pay double the price for a kit, then I wouldn't necessarily view LaMotte as accurate.
Me and Boomer discussed this for over an hour not too long ago. He got his LaMotte book out and low and behold. You get what you pay for. "
Is the kit you mention their "high-end" version?
"I just tested a lamotte kit against a salifert and seachem and an API.
The Salifert, Seachem and API were close and the LaMotte was off.
Here's my take on LaMottte. They have two levels of test kits. Hobby grade (priced like the rest) and a better grade (Much more cost, but accurate.
Unless you are willing to pay double the price for a kit, then I wouldn't necessarily view LaMotte as accurate.
Me and Boomer discussed this for over an hour not too long ago. He got his LaMotte book out and low and behold. You get what you pay for. "
Is the kit you mention their "high-end" version?
PSam
Active member
kH - I have Elos, LaMotte and API - all test exactly the same, except LaMotte gives a touch better resolution.
Not sure if it's 'high end'. It's the one that costs about $20 from PA.
I use the Elos or API to do fast checks, since it's easy and quick. I use LaMotte when I sit down once a month and test everything.
Not sure if it's 'high end'. It's the one that costs about $20 from PA.
I use the Elos or API to do fast checks, since it's easy and quick. I use LaMotte when I sit down once a month and test everything.
Hormigaquatica
Active member
Other (Elos)
Canarygirl
New member
Other (LaMotte)
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
Currently using LaMotte, I will try Elos next. Salifert had a bad batch of kits and paying $22 for a kit just to throw it away kind of sucks. API isn't precise enough.. it can only measure in units of 1 dkh... there's a lot of space between 8 and 9, 9 and 10 etc. I have never tried seachem. LaMotte is the best so far, but the color change isnt as precise as I would like... there are a few drops of "gray area" and I'm not sure which value I'm supposed to use.
Normal alk range is 7 - 11. I dont think a difference between 9 & 9.5 is enough to worry about. After you use it a bit you can kind of tell .5 points ayway. It goes from blue->green-> yellow each with a drop. If it turns green, then yellow with the next drop, its .0 If it is green/yellow, then the next drop turns it all the way yellow, its +.5. The kit is $5.49 @ DR F&S.
Canarygirl
New member
Lobster, you'll find that Elos has the same amount of precision as the API. Accurate but not nearly as precise as Lamotte.
dailydriven911
Member
I vote for Elos~
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
I just thought of something... for more precision you could double the water sample, and double the number of drops required to get a certain value. So each drop is .5 dkh, not 1.
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
Salifert for years, but after receiving a bad kit, and no customer service I swithced to LaMotte. Very happy with it.
HBtank
Premium Member
Other: Ive used them all and like LaMotte. It is superoir in every aspect to any kit I have used.
A close second is API, due to how easy it is. I find it to be very accurate and precise, and I use it for my quick checks.
But when i need real resolution I use the LaMotte.
A close second is API, due to how easy it is. I find it to be very accurate and precise, and I use it for my quick checks.
But when i need real resolution I use the LaMotte.
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