Test kits?

Nano Chris · 06/27/2006, 11:17 AM

What type of test kit do you recommend? I was looking at:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=AP3313

Trying not to spend too, too much on test kits, but want to make sure i am getting something worth the money.

Would this work for a reef aquarium, im just starting the hobby, is there any other test kits i will need?

nathan_unsane · 06/27/2006, 11:39 AM

that one you have a link to i the one i use, and to be honest i couldn't tell you if any others were any better becuase i havn't ran out of solution from that kit...

your test comes with like 400 tests or somthing... don't quote me but...

the thing i don't like about this test kit is... it doesn't test calcium, alk, mag, (must have with coral reef)....

you may have to buy anouther kit seperatly...

keckles · 06/27/2006, 12:39 PM

That is a good, inexpensive kit for the basic four. The individual kits can be purchased for alkalinity, calcium, etc. as well.

geckofrog · 06/27/2006, 01:06 PM

If you are really starting a reef tank then you must already know its not cheap sadly

Generally when it comes to reefs there are two test kits that are the players, Seachem and Salifert.

Seachem is accurate and reasonably priced.
Salifert is very accurate and more expensive.

I personally have used both on my Reef tank and prefer seachem (only because its cheaper)

However I use salifert for calcium.

The test kit you linked is great for a beginner, however eventually you will upgrade to either seachem or salifert. Why not just upgrade now and save the money?

AquaReeferMan · 06/27/2006, 01:10 PM

I would go with the Salifert also.

don954 · 06/27/2006, 09:39 PM

I have that kit by aquarium pharm, its ok for a fish only tank, all the tests are wide range, but once our nitrates and rites and ammonia are down below the lower 30% of its scales, it will read the same. I went nuts trying to get my tank to finish going through the last 1ppm of ammonia till i bought a 0-1 low range test kit, same for nitrates, the scale for 0-20ppm is inaccurate. I had to buy a Aquarium Systems low range kit. I also wound up getting a salifert PH kit as i figured out the PH on the "master kit" was off too.... As i said, its ok for a fish only tank, but for reefers, i would get a different brand, Aquarium Systems and Salifert are much better kits than Aquarium pharms' kits. Aquarium Systems also makes a reef keepers multipack, which if i had to do it over again, i would start off with it instead...

izzie · 06/27/2006, 11:31 PM

IMO the test kit you have a link to sucks. Its a liquid kit so it doenst last long. Mine was working fine for the first month then didnt work at all. No matter how poluted or how straight from my RO system it tests 20ppm of nitrate, 5 of ammonia and 40 of nitrite. Salfrit is the only one ill ever use. I do use seachem for alk and PH tho. Really easy to use this for ph. The salfrit ones are powder and there really easy to read and use. And much faster then some kits. Ill never use any other kits again other then these. I know alot of ppl that have also had the same trouble as me with the A.P. tests.
Izzie

tankxenia · 06/28/2006, 01:10 PM

I would go with Salifert.

06/27/2006, 11:17 AM	#1
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Test kits? What type of test kit do you recommend? I was looking at: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=AP3313 Trying not to spend too, too much on test kits, but want to make sure i am getting something worth the money. Would this work for a reef aquarium, im just starting the hobby, is there any other test kits i will need?

06/27/2006, 12:39 PM	#3
keckles Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 2,213	That is a good, inexpensive kit for the basic four. The individual kits can be purchased for alkalinity, calcium, etc. as well. __________________ -Jared

06/27/2006, 01:06 PM	#4
geckofrog Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 505	If you are really starting a reef tank then you must already know its not cheap sadly Generally when it comes to reefs there are two test kits that are the players, Seachem and Salifert. Seachem is accurate and reasonably priced. Salifert is very accurate and more expensive. I personally have used both on my Reef tank and prefer seachem (only because its cheaper) However I use salifert for calcium. The test kit you linked is great for a beginner, however eventually you will upgrade to either seachem or salifert. Why not just upgrade now and save the money? __________________ Ryan Current Tank Info: 75G,

06/27/2006, 01:10 PM	#5
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I would go with the Salifert also. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

06/27/2006, 11:39 AM	#2
nathan_unsane Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: central florida Posts: 461	that one you have a link to i the one i use, and to be honest i couldn't tell you if any others were any better becuase i havn't ran out of solution from that kit... your test comes with like 400 tests or somthing... don't quote me but... the thing i don't like about this test kit is... it doesn't test calcium, alk, mag, (must have with coral reef).... you may have to buy anouther kit seperatly...

06/27/2006, 09:39 PM	#6
don954 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 258	I have that kit by aquarium pharm, its ok for a fish only tank, all the tests are wide range, but once our nitrates and rites and ammonia are down below the lower 30% of its scales, it will read the same. I went nuts trying to get my tank to finish going through the last 1ppm of ammonia till i bought a 0-1 low range test kit, same for nitrates, the scale for 0-20ppm is inaccurate. I had to buy a Aquarium Systems low range kit. I also wound up getting a salifert PH kit as i figured out the PH on the "master kit" was off too.... As i said, its ok for a fish only tank, but for reefers, i would get a different brand, Aquarium Systems and Salifert are much better kits than Aquarium pharms' kits. Aquarium Systems also makes a reef keepers multipack, which if i had to do it over again, i would start off with it instead...

06/27/2006, 11:31 PM	#7
izzie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Regina Sk Canada Posts: 209	IMO the test kit you have a link to sucks. Its a liquid kit so it doenst last long. Mine was working fine for the first month then didnt work at all. No matter how poluted or how straight from my RO system it tests 20ppm of nitrate, 5 of ammonia and 40 of nitrite. Salfrit is the only one ill ever use. I do use seachem for alk and PH tho. Really easy to use this for ph. The salfrit ones are powder and there really easy to read and use. And much faster then some kits. Ill never use any other kits again other then these. I know alot of ppl that have also had the same trouble as me with the A.P. tests. Izzie

06/28/2006, 01:10 PM	#8
tankxenia Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 102	I would go with Salifert.