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minireef30
06/05/2007, 06:24 PM
Just wanted to know what test kits are comparable to salifert kits
and where to find them? With the recent problems with salifert kits I'm looking for an alternative. I've used Sera too but want to try something else.

old salty
06/05/2007, 08:44 PM
I use Elos and Lamotte kits. Not much more expensive and the quality is far beyond anything Salifert produces. As for accuracy, well.... it's really difficult to use a test kit and say, "It's the most accurate." Unless someone does extensive comparative testing (this costs lots of money), we are pretty much at the mercy of the kit maker. Repeatable results with the same mixture is about the best we can hope for.

dhnguyen
06/05/2007, 10:47 PM
Believe it or not I found the API KH test quite accurate comparing against Salifert's. I still use Salifert's for Ca. though.

bigt0706
06/05/2007, 11:18 PM
i second the api kh test kit but wouldnt use any of there other ones

CalvinC4S
06/06/2007, 12:29 AM
I just switched out all my Salifert to Elos.

RokleM
06/06/2007, 06:17 AM
I've been using the Elos for P04 recently (pretty accurate as far as I can tell). The ALK test leaves a little to be desired however due to it's lack of precision. I have not tried any of the other Elos as of yet, but likely will.

george1098
06/06/2007, 07:12 AM
i use a seachem test kit called reefstatus: magnesium, corbonate and borate. it lets you test for total alk, and borate alk. you get your carbonate alk (KH) by subracting the borate alk from the total. the kit is based on a titration, so it should be fairly accurate. i would give it a 7.5 out of 10.

old salty
06/06/2007, 07:34 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10087607#post10087607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RokleM
I've been using the Elos for P04 recently (pretty accurate as far as I can tell). The ALK test leaves a little to be desired however due to it's lack of precision. I have not tried any of the other Elos as of yet, but likely will.

If you need more precision, use 10ml of water. This way, each drop becomes 0.5dKH instead of 1.

Horace
06/06/2007, 11:08 AM
I replaced teh Salifert with Lamotte and am pretty darn happy with it. It seems pretty accurate and repeatable. Refill kits are also avail for only $10.

RokleM
06/06/2007, 11:40 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10087906#post10087906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
If you need more precision, use 10ml of water. This way, each drop becomes 0.5dKH instead of 1.

That's what I started last night :thumbsup: Aside from using a 10x the amount of water, it won't be as fine tuned as the Sailfert (well, back when they were accurate).

Jasonincuritiba
06/06/2007, 11:47 AM
where is everyone getting their Elos test kits from? anywhere online?

RokleM
06/06/2007, 11:50 AM
I'm local to PhishyBusiness (http://phishybusiness.com/store/) (sponsor). He carries them in stock, but currently not on the site (don't know if he isn't currently shipping them or hasn't updated them).

Nuuze
06/06/2007, 01:43 PM
If you can't find them locally or online contact Jesse in the Elos forum.