Test kits

fishy888 · 10/13/2021, 02:44 AM

Which test kits are the most accurate these days? I will get an electronic ph probe but for now all the other tests need to be of the chemical type. Thank you.

Timfish · 10/13/2021, 07:11 AM

Good question! I haven't seen anyone compare the different test kits to standards in a long time. The comparisons I've seen don't really show much difference when done side by side. FWIW I use the following:

API - ALk, pH, calcium

Nyos - PO4, Nitrate

Elos - PO4

Red Sea - low range nitrate, magnesium

fishy888 · 10/13/2021, 11:05 AM

Thank you. I will be filling the tank by the middle of next week so I want to get my test kits in hand pretty soon.

DoUEvenReefBro · 10/13/2021, 02:57 PM

I like the hanna checkers cause they make it so easy. I have the alk, phosphate, calc, nitrate (low and high range).

I also like the salifert tests. When testing hanna and salifert simultaneously for comparison they aren't took far off.

billdogg · 10/15/2021, 07:12 AM

I've used Salifert exclusively for over 30 years. Reasonably priced, easy to use, repeatable results.

And FWIW - I wouldn't waste a dime on a pH checker - it's a number that just does not mean all that much in a marine tank. Concentrate on Salinity, temp, Nitrate, Phosphate, and if you keep stony corals, Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium.

Dan. · 10/15/2021, 08:49 AM

Salifert for everything except alk, love my Hanna alk checker.

fishy888 · 10/15/2021, 10:23 PM

Thank you all for the recommendations. The only reason I am considering a ph meter is for when I start Kalkaska dosing. It'll be a while before I get to that point. I suppose I could just check alk, cal, and mag. If I keep those numbers where they should be then ph should be where it needs to be. Please let me know if that logic is flawed
Thank you again.

five.five-six · 10/16/2021, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishy888

Thank you all for the recommendations. The only reason I am considering a ph meter is for when I start Kalkaska dosing. It'll be a while before I get to that point. I suppose I could just check alk, cal, and mag. If I keep those numbers where they should be then ph should be where it needs to be. Please let me know if that logic is flawed
Thank you again.

When you start kalkwasser, you’ll want a controller like apex which will have a pH probe.

I use salifert for everything for decades

Recently I’ve switched to Nyos for nitrate and Hanna for po4, it’s only been a few years but I think I’ll stick with these.

Epicfly · 10/17/2021, 09:49 AM

I use Salifert for Magnesium, Alk and Phosphates although the phosphate test is hard for me to read. I use API for Nitrates Calcium and PH. I also have a Milwaukee PH600 but even calibrated, it sometimes seems to be a few points off from the API and others it matches exactly, I just take an average of the two.

10/13/2021, 02:44 AM	#1
fishy888 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 156	Test kits Which test kits are the most accurate these days? I will get an electronic ph probe but for now all the other tests need to be of the chemical type. Thank you.

10/13/2021, 07:11 AM	#2
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	Good question! I haven't seen anyone compare the different test kits to standards in a long time. The comparisons I've seen don't really show much difference when done side by side. FWIW I use the following: API - ALk, pH, calcium Nyos - PO4, Nitrate Elos - PO4 Red Sea - low range nitrate, magnesium __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

10/15/2021, 07:12 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I've used Salifert exclusively for over 30 years. Reasonably priced, easy to use, repeatable results. And FWIW - I wouldn't waste a dime on a pH checker - it's a number that just does not mean all that much in a marine tank. Concentrate on Salinity, temp, Nitrate, Phosphate, and if you keep stony corals, Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/13/2021, 11:05 AM	#3
fishy888 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 156	Thank you. I will be filling the tank by the middle of next week so I want to get my test kits in hand pretty soon.

10/13/2021, 02:57 PM	#4
DoUEvenReefBro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 26	I like the hanna checkers cause they make it so easy. I have the alk, phosphate, calc, nitrate (low and high range). I also like the salifert tests. When testing hanna and salifert simultaneously for comparison they aren't took far off.

10/15/2021, 08:49 AM	#6
Dan. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 53	Salifert for everything except alk, love my Hanna alk checker.

10/15/2021, 10:23 PM	#7
fishy888 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 156	Thank you all for the recommendations. The only reason I am considering a ph meter is for when I start Kalkaska dosing. It'll be a while before I get to that point. I suppose I could just check alk, cal, and mag. If I keep those numbers where they should be then ph should be where it needs to be. Please let me know if that logic is flawed Thank you again.

10/17/2021, 09:49 AM	#9
Epicfly Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	I use Salifert for Magnesium, Alk and Phosphates although the phosphate test is hard for me to read. I use API for Nitrates Calcium and PH. I also have a Milwaukee PH600 but even calibrated, it sometimes seems to be a few points off from the API and others it matches exactly, I just take an average of the two.