whats the best test kit ???

[BAD FISH]

what's the most accurate test kit I have a reef master from API and it just doesn't do the job. I can barely tell the difference between the colors on the charts and I've tested twice and got different results. I want something better your opinions are greatly appreciated

 

[cmantis]

Both elos and salifert make good tests.

 

[ReefFreak1]

Get Hanna checker for whatever you can. Very easy and good and accurate.

 

[NYreefNoob]

really like the red sea kits, very easy to use and more accurate on use

 

[BAD FISH]

thanks guys! I like red sea products but I've never seen a "master kit" everything is separate and expensive

 

[ecvernon]

I use Red Sea for alk, calc, mag. Hannah checker for phosphates
And API for nitrates, nitrites , and ammonia since I always keep those at zero anyway

 

[Adamc1303]

Red Sea is great. They have a CA, MG and ALK kit. It's pretty good deal to when you buy the kit. I have a hanna checker for P04 but I never use it. I can tell if phosphates are high by looking at the rock and glass. As far as nitrates, nitrites, PH and ammonia, besides PH once your tank cylces you don't really ever need to test so just get a cheap API master kit and make sure to have a controller with PH probe for the future.

 

[piranhapat]

Hanna for ALK,Phos,... Salifert for Cal, Ph, Mag ..... Red Sea never again....

 

[Geraud]

Salifert for KH, Ca
Elos for Mg
Hannah for PO4

Ammonia and co... visual inspection is enough, but during the cycling, API or anything cheapo is fine.

 

[Waleedwale1]

Hanna for ALK,Phos,... Salifert for Cal, Ph, Mag ..... Red Sea never again....

I am thinking about getting a Red Sea kit, what's wrong with them?

 

[piranhapat]

Matching the color to Phoshates chart was so off. Never got at least a close reading as I get from Hanna phosphate test. Over price too. Salifert to me is a better choice than Red Sea. I like to use Hanna for Phoshates and alkalinty. Salifert to test calcium. Just my 2 cents....

 

[NYreefNoob]

what color chart does the redsea have ? i have the complete reef test kit and there is no color chart. it goes by how much fluid is used not by color, other then then color it turns to so you know that it turned and check fluid used

 

[TommyP]

The red sea phosphate has the color chart wheel. I agree with piranhapat, it's hard to get a good match everytime I test mine, it falls in between. I am going to get a hanna checker for the phosphates. I believe it's more reliable and accurate.

the alk,cal and mag goes by how much fluid is used.

 

[Geraud]

Agreed with the above, in general I tend to favor the tests that provide a "count the drops" or "measure how much you have used" with a clear color change (basically, a titration).
And for that the Salifert and Elos tests are awesome.

When it comes to how deep the color is, sometimes it is just impossible to use on low values. That is why I went to use the electronic Hannah for phosphates, since the Salifert is using the same product, but it is almost impossible to read a difference "by eye" unless your phosphates are over the roof.

In the low values, the Hannah checker is just really good because as far as I understand, it is just an optical measure how the change in color, at levels that our eyes can hardly see. Just make sure you wipe the surface of the glass containers very carefully before each measure.

 

[piranhapat]

Nyreefnoob, do you use Red Sea test for phosphate. The one I got was the one tommyP said. Unless they changed they phosphate kits let me know. I'll buy it and try it. I bought it a while back. You had to attach spin wheel and match color. Red Sea uses same stuff just fancy plastic container.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WaLSrcOYkT4&desktop_uri=/watch?v=WaLSrcOYkT4

 

[NYreefNoob]

sorry, just realized you were reffering to the phosphate kit, i dont check for phosphates myself