Test Kit question

[Leslie]

I spent 30 minutes looking for an archive on this two-part question:

I've been seeing on this forum that a lot of people use the Sailfert test kits.

Why do those who use them think they're better, and where can I get them online?

I've been using Tetra Laborett and Hagen (easy to find, use and relatively inexpensive) and it's always bothered me that the results from the two tests, when compared from the same water samples, are always different, from "a little" to "alot".

Thanks
Leslie

 

[fishnbarefoot]

Different brands test differently, especially Calcium for example, also Iodine, magnesium and a few others. That's because each one tests for different types of Calcium or whatever. As far as Calcium - I dose ReeFormer, Liquid Argonite, Liquid Calcite, And Hardnes/Alk Plus. All NatuReef products. I use 3 different brands of Calcium test kits including Salifert which is a known reliable brand. I Like the NatuReef stuff for the more exact parameters. They mostly sell them here in Florida. Salifert is an industry standard and can be purchased on most on-line suppliers. I get my Salifert kits from Flying Fish Express. I think it's WWW.FFEXPRESS.COM but I could be wrong. The only draw back is Salifert doesn't sell refills, you have to buy a new test kit each time. ( money hungry basterds!) LOL! Jim

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

The problem with some tests is that they are not calibrated over the range you're interested in if you have a reef.

For example, the Hagen Phospahte test only goes down to 0.1ppm. That is far too much phospahate for a reef i.e. the whole test range for that test falls into the "too much" region.

It's much more useful to have tests that show optimal / okay / marginal / bad rather than "less than bad".

Wnat ever brand you choose, you want one that covers the test ranges you really want to measure. The Salifert tests in general do.