which Test kits?

re-fin-away · 10/22/2010, 09:20 AM

I am going to start keeping SPS in my system and want to get good test kits. Which brand do you recommend?

Steve Wright2 · 10/22/2010, 09:46 AM

Im new here

but have used a number of different brands of test kits
and I am currently using Salifert for most of my testing , Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity

Steve

re-fin-away · 10/22/2010, 10:39 AM

those are the 4 I am going to get. I am leaning towards Salifert but wanted to get some real world opinions.

rcoughtrey · 10/22/2010, 01:10 PM

Subscribed as I'm in the market for a new test kit.

SwampyBill · 10/22/2010, 01:36 PM

Salifert & Elos test kits are quite good. LaMotte being the best, but priciest. I test for alk/ca/mag/nitrate/ammonia/PH/salinity/phos in my tank. Being that sps require near perfect water parameters, the 3 above are the most accurate kits, IMHO.

re-fin-away · 10/22/2010, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the info bill, how often do you do your mag/ammonia/phos tests? FYI love your pic of the splendid leopard wrasse. I have had mine for about 6 months. Still one of my favorite fish. Eats everything I throw in the tank.

lordofthereef · 10/22/2010, 03:39 PM

Salifert is probably the highest regarded "affordable" kit. API is probably the highest regarded "budget" kit.

aleonn · 10/22/2010, 04:34 PM

All my Salifert test kits work great--reproducible results, easy to see the color change, and have a great reputation. They're just a bit more expensive, though.

SwampyBill · 10/22/2010, 05:29 PM

I test alk/ca/mag every coupla days & dose accordingly. Ammonia/nitrates, about once a week before & after I do water changes. I used APT test kit early on before I got more into SPS & they were ok. Lately tho, my tank is reading 40-60 nitrates with API, but Elos reads 1; maybe API kit is old/bad now...? Thanks; yea, she's one of my favorites (obviously, if she's my avatar, right?)

re-fin-away · 10/22/2010, 05:38 PM

sounds like a solid schedual to follow.

re-fin-away · 10/23/2010, 08:33 AM

thanks for the help, I went with the salifert test kits.

cloak · 10/23/2010, 10:50 AM

I would have went with some of the "high end" test kits for calcium, magnesium, and KH. (Salifert, Elos, LaMotte) Those cheaper test kits seem to work just fine for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph IMO. Most of the time your LFS will test these for you for free.

AquaReeferMan · 10/23/2010, 11:03 AM

I use elos and salifert(tend to like better) when it comes to ca/alk/mag. I use API when it come to ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH.

SwampyBill · 10/23/2010, 11:28 AM

I used API kits when I first got in the hobby & they're ok to test for fish only systems. Since I've gotten more LPS & SPS & need near perfect water conditions, I've only used Elos, Salifert & LaMotte for a few years now because they're much more accurate.

re-fin-away · 10/23/2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

I would have went with some of the "high end" test kits for calcium, magnesium, and KH. (Salifert, Elos, LaMotte) Those cheaper test kits seem to work just fine for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph IMO. Most of the time your LFS will test these for you for free.

I did go with all salifert. No reason to have multiple test brands, I like to keep it simple and consistant and take no chances. I live too far from the LFS to have them test my water.

10/22/2010, 09:20 AM	#1
re-fin-away Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	which Test kits? I am going to start keeping SPS in my system and want to get good test kits. Which brand do you recommend?

10/22/2010, 09:46 AM	#2
Steve Wright2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shenzhen PRC Posts: 454	Im new here but have used a number of different brands of test kits and I am currently using Salifert for most of my testing , Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity Steve __________________ Turbo snails are you kidding me, even I can catch and remove them from my reef tank

10/22/2010, 01:36 PM	#5
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	Salifert & Elos test kits are quite good. LaMotte being the best, but priciest. I test for alk/ca/mag/nitrate/ammonia/PH/salinity/phos in my tank. Being that sps require near perfect water parameters, the 3 above are the most accurate kits, IMHO. __________________ I love me some wrasse... & laissez les bon temps rouler! Current Tank Info: 120 gal Vizio

10/22/2010, 03:39 PM	#7
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Salifert is probably the highest regarded "affordable" kit. API is probably the highest regarded "budget" kit. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/22/2010, 05:29 PM	#9
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	I test alk/ca/mag every coupla days & dose accordingly. Ammonia/nitrates, about once a week before & after I do water changes. I used APT test kit early on before I got more into SPS & they were ok. Lately tho, my tank is reading 40-60 nitrates with API, but Elos reads 1; maybe API kit is old/bad now...? Thanks; yea, she's one of my favorites (obviously, if she's my avatar, right?) __________________ I love me some wrasse... & laissez les bon temps rouler! Current Tank Info: 120 gal Vizio

10/22/2010, 10:39 AM	#3
re-fin-away Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	those are the 4 I am going to get. I am leaning towards Salifert but wanted to get some real world opinions.

10/22/2010, 01:10 PM	#4
rcoughtrey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Noblesville, IN Posts: 168	Subscribed as I'm in the market for a new test kit.

10/22/2010, 02:35 PM	#6
re-fin-away Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	Thanks for the info bill, how often do you do your mag/ammonia/phos tests? FYI love your pic of the splendid leopard wrasse. I have had mine for about 6 months. Still one of my favorite fish. Eats everything I throw in the tank.

10/22/2010, 04:34 PM	#8
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	All my Salifert test kits work great--reproducible results, easy to see the color change, and have a great reputation. They're just a bit more expensive, though.

10/22/2010, 05:38 PM	#10
re-fin-away Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	sounds like a solid schedual to follow.

10/23/2010, 08:33 AM	#11
re-fin-away Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	thanks for the help, I went with the salifert test kits.

10/23/2010, 10:50 AM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I would have went with some of the "high end" test kits for calcium, magnesium, and KH. (Salifert, Elos, LaMotte) Those cheaper test kits seem to work just fine for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph IMO. Most of the time your LFS will test these for you for free.

10/23/2010, 11:03 AM	#13
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I use elos and salifert(tend to like better) when it comes to ca/alk/mag. I use API when it come to ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH. __________________ 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

10/23/2010, 11:28 AM	#14
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	I used API kits when I first got in the hobby & they're ok to test for fish only systems. Since I've gotten more LPS & SPS & need near perfect water conditions, I've only used Elos, Salifert & LaMotte for a few years now because they're much more accurate. __________________ I love me some wrasse... & laissez les bon temps rouler! Current Tank Info: 120 gal Vizio

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