Best test kits for Alk, Calc, Mag

[Jmunk]

Currently using Red Sea, and while it's okay, I get very inconsistent readings and for certain tests it can be very hard to tell when exactly the color changes.

Anyone recommend test kits that they've used that are consistent, easy to read, and affordable?

[rfgonzo]

Salifert

[renato120]

I hate my alk red sea test kit. The color change its not that good. Watching this thread

[Jmunk]

Salifert
Seen a lot of people using these.

Are they accurate and easy to read?

[Jmunk]

I hate my alk red sea test kit. The color change its not that good. Watching this thread
Agreed! The syringes for me aren't consistent as well. I'll grab 1ml of reagent from one syringe and the reagent level will be at a different point on another syringe!

[rfgonzo]

Seen a lot of people using these.

Are they accurate and easy to read?

About as accurate as a hobby kit can get. ALK & CAL is easy to read, MAG is a litter harder.

[pyithar]

salifert alk test kit is very easy to read. for the ca and mg, i have tropic marin test kit and it's very hard to read.

[firemountain]

I have the Hanna checkers, and I must say that For the price, they are well worth it. Just waiting for Hanna to come out with one for Mg.....for that I use the Red Sea.

[ryeguyy84]

I use Hanna for ALk and it's so easy and consistent. I heard that Hanna wasn't so good for calcium though. I use red sea for the other 2

[vashawn]

I used API and then switched over to Salifert for everything!!

[cm11599ps]

I use salifert for cal and mag with no problems. I still have api for alk but I use a hanna for phosphate.

It's time to get new kits and I'm leaning towards more hanna kits.

[renato120]

I have the Hanna checkers, and I must say that For the price, they are well worth it. Just waiting for Hanna to come out with one for Mg.....for that I use the Red Sea.

They are very pricey! Does it really work? Have you have compared the results to a regular test kit?

[shellsea]

They are very pricey! Does it really work? Have you have compared the results to a regular test kit?

I use the Hanna for Alk and Phos. They are easy to use and get readings consistent w/ other kits. Can't get a decent reading from the Hanna Ca. though. Have to worry about bubbles and other unknown factors that keep giving me very high readings when compared to other kits.

[billdogg]

I use Salifert for all my test kits. I find them to be very easy to use with very repeatable results. The only one that is a bit finicky is the Mg test - it is important to follow the steps exactly to get good results.

[whosurcaddie]

Salifert for everything.

[Zer0.]

I love the hanna alk. checker. I have both red sea pro and salifer for cal and magnesium and nitrate.

Like salifert better for nitrate and calcium. havent tried the salifert mag test yet.

As Op mentioned the end points on the red sea pro are a bit difficult sometimes.
(your supposed to stop at first flash of blue, sometimes i get really fast flashes.)

[Stackemdeep]

Salifert for everything.

^Same. Cost per test is reasonable. KH offers low res to double the mileage on the kit.