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07/13/2018, 02:26 AM | #1 |
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New to the hobby and need test kit advice.
Hi everyone,
My name is Bryan and I’m new to the hobby. Wanted to see if anyone can recommend some Hanna digital test kits that would be valuable to a reef keeper tanks. What are the types of test kits that are most important to have on hand when starting a tank for reefing, phosphate, calcium, alkalinity, pH? And does anyone have or know of anyone letting go of some for cheap as I would need littitally the whole set 😂 |
07/13/2018, 04:31 AM | #2 |
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For a coral tank you want
Salinity (recfractometer) temperature nitrate phosphate alkalinity calcium magnesium When starting/cycling you typically want ammonia and nitrite too but thats the only time you will use them.. After cycle is rare to ever measure those.. Red sea makes some nice test kits Salifert too.. My favorite nitrate kit is from Nyos Hanna stuff is good to but can get pricey.. When starting out API master/reef master kits aren't even a bad idea.. They get a bad rap but in general work just fine and are quite easy to use.. And cheap to get those sets..
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07/13/2018, 05:48 AM | #3 |
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I agree on the API test to start. In the beginning you either have ammonia or you don't, the exact level is less important.
I never found a nitrate test I liked, they are pretty hard to read imo but I'll have to give that one a go. Also the red Sea tests for alk/Cal/mag are pretty spot on and simple. Mcgyvr as usual gave you some good advice. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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07/13/2018, 06:08 AM | #4 | |
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Salifert is the worst IMO for that.. Its pink.. a little more pink.. a tad more pink and all are nearly impossible to differentiate..
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07/13/2018, 06:30 AM | #5 |
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as far as Hannah digital test kits, i love my alkalinity and calcium tests. a lot more convenient than doing titration tests.
i don't really consider phosphate tests to be all that critical, unless there's some real specific things you're trying to do with your tank. so i wouldn't worry about that one now. i do highly recommend a salinity refractometer. that is my other "must have" instrument. for cycling, API tests are good enough, but i've had issues with them an accuracy before, so i tend to trust other tests (Red Sea, SeaChem, Salifert, etc..) more
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07/13/2018, 07:29 AM | #6 |
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Hanna for Alk (cause that one I do a lot and want to know the difference between 8 and 9)
Red Sea for Mag (cause that's the only one that I found reasonably accurate) The rest, All API, (cause they are less expensive and work well) A digital thermometer (so I can actually read the thing) A refractometer (so I know salinity) Good luck! The person who "masters" water chemistry is a big winning in this hobby. |
07/13/2018, 07:48 AM | #7 |
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I can’t speak highly enough of Hanna for Alk, NYOS for nitrate, and Red Sea for Mag and Calc. I’ve got the Hanna phosphate checker as well.
The only thing I can’t wait for is the Trident for Apex. It’s going to be a game changer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
07/13/2018, 11:46 AM | #8 |
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For me it's:
CA: Salifert, but Red Sea is fine Mg: Salifert. I HATE the Red Sea Mg test kit, you need to swirl 15 seconds between drops of the reagent and not doing so makes a big difference in the results. Salifert is much easier to me, add the reagent and swirl one time for 30 seconds. Alkalinity: Salifert, Red Sea or Hanna. I would go with the Hanna except that they do not have a good record with their reagents, too many bad batches IMHO. |
07/13/2018, 12:01 PM | #9 |
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Salinity (refractometer) - I have this...
temperature (Digital) - I have this... nitrate - I have this... (Red Sea Brand) phosphate - I have this... (Red Sea Brand) alkalinity - might have to order the Hanna one as I like the digital stuff with less guessing work... calcium - would need to look into this and order some magnesium - need to order some. What would you guys recommend the range for soft/sps coral parameters be at? |
07/13/2018, 01:03 PM | #10 |
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Newbie here Take with grain of salt
I have the Red Sea Marine Master Care kit https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/mc...8aAlKjEALw_wcB
Seems to work okay. Not a big fan of colorimetric tests, but that's what most the reasonable priced ones are I also have the Hana Alkalinity digital test which is much easier to use and doesn't need to count a bunch of drops. I have API Calc test. I'm not sure of the accuracy. My Triton ICP test says 365ppm, whereas my API said 420ppm. More inclined to think Triton is accurate.
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75 gal display running since 5/14/18--29 gal sump Ocellaris Clown Pair, Flasher Wrasse, Bangaii Cardinal, Fire Shrimp pair, Skunk Cleaner, Blue Coral Banded Shrimp, Euphyllia, Monti Cap, Monti Digi. C |
07/13/2018, 01:16 PM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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07/13/2018, 01:19 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
Range: 1 - 160 mg / l (ppm) NO3 But its great if you want to hover between 1 and 3 or 5,etc...
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07/13/2018, 01:20 PM | #13 |
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for what its worth
PO4 better than Hanna checker 736 (ULR) NO4 I use Red Sea Pro ALK Love the Hanna checker Mag and Ca Salifert CA reactor Effluent Salifert low level for dKH
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
07/13/2018, 02:02 PM | #14 |
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Would I need a ph test kit as well or not important?
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07/13/2018, 02:09 PM | #15 |
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Nope.. Most people would recommend not paying attention to PH
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07/13/2018, 02:39 PM | #16 |
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THanks for the advice.
What would you guys say the best parameter for a reef tank for spa and soft corals be in? |
07/13/2018, 03:18 PM | #17 |
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With just soft coral about the only parameter to be concerned about is ammonia and nitrite. And of course salinity.
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
07/13/2018, 03:21 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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07/13/2018, 07:10 PM | #19 | |
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Quote:
That being said my parameters are: Temp 77.7 Salinity 1.0255 Alk 8.5 CA 420 Mag 1360 Nitrate 2-5ppm Phosphate .02-.04 Iodide .03-.06 10-15% water change each and every week starting with RODI water with TDS <10, RED SEA PRO, made mixed and all used within 48 hours, dosing RED SEA NoPox and ROWA here and there for keeping phosphate in check. Hope that helps, good luck and have fun.... |
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07/13/2018, 07:22 PM | #20 |
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That does help. Thank you. I will try and have a tank setup and running within the next week or two and hopefully get the cycling process started. Scared to add any live rocks as they may carry things I do not want
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07/14/2018, 08:14 AM | #21 |
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For starters the best test kit lwill be the one you find easy to use frequently but in my maintenance business I use:
API - pH, Alkalinity, Calcium, Nitrate Elos - Phosphate Nyos - Phosphate, Nitrate Red Sea - Magnesium, low range Nitrate Depending on what's happening I may tst everything frequently but normally: Weekly I usually test for pH and Alkalinity and what I look for are long term trends. Some will say pH is not important and it does change throughout the day but it is the best indicator of CO2 we have and long term downward trends indicate increased eutrophication. Monthly I test for calcium and magnesium. As needed I test for phosphate and nitrate. Whenever I buy a new test kit I will compare it to the old test kit to see if reagents have started going bad. I have found reagents can go bad faster than the "use by" dates and replace my test kits at least yearly. Regarding Alkalinity test kits I've found API to be more consistant from one kit to another. I have a Hanna Alkalinty and compared it with a friends and using both reagent with both test kits gave us four different results that varied by 1 dKH. API comparisons were more cosnistant and using a test sample X2 or X3 larger then dividing by 2 or by 3 gives a more precise reading. But since reaearchers are using meq/l it's rare I feel the need to try to be more prcise than the standard API alkalinity reading.
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07/14/2018, 03:34 PM | #22 |
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I would never recommend a NYOS nitrate kit, EVER!
When I started nitrate dosing I was using the NYOS kit. It always told me I only had 0 to 1ppm nitrates, so I kept adding daily. When the algae started and my monti cap's started loosing flesh I bought a Red Sea kit. Not only was I not at 1 ppm(according to NYOS), I was at 10ppm. I even bought a second NYOS kit thinking the kit may be off, both kits only gave me a 0 to 1ppm. All other recommendations I would agree with.
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80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work" |
07/14/2018, 03:51 PM | #23 | |
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Quote:
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Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels |
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07/14/2018, 04:06 PM | #24 |
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The fact I was getting a ton of nuisance algae, and my monti's were RTNed. They only regained flesh, and the algae subsided, after the Red Sea kit said the number dropped, would lead me to believe the red sea kit.
I totally agree with you though, which one would you trust? 2 of the same kit that returned a super low value when my own eye's could see different, or the one kit that the number I could agree with seeing how my tank was reacting.
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80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work" |
07/15/2018, 01:19 AM | #25 |
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I own the Hanna checkers. They are gathering dust. I am a chemical engineer. I have, over the years, tried most brands (although admittedly not Nyos). I mostly check Alk and have always ended back at Salifert. The others are monthly: Ca (Salifert), Mg (Salifert), PO4 (Red Sea) and NO3 (Red Sea). I will sell you my Hanna checkers for cheap. . . make sure you pick up some DI water and be careful with the tiny powder packets. . . and, for goodness sakes, don't sneeze or put fingerprints on the vials. . . and whatever you do, don't run the test twice or you won't know which result to act upon. . . my $0.02. . .
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