elos or salifert

[jospears]

I just tested my water with these test kits. They are not out of date.
Here are my results.

Alkalinity

elos 10
sallifert 11.05

Calcium

elos 550
salifert 425

Magnesium

elos 1550
salifert 1230

This is using my new makeup water io reef crystals with a specific gravity of 1.025.
Which test kit is right?

[kgk]

Originally Posted by jospears

I just tested my water with these test kits. They are not out of date.
Here are my results.

Alkalinity

elos 10
sallifert 11.05

Calcium

elos 550
salifert 425

Magnesium

elos 1550
salifert 1230

This is using my new makeup water io reef crystals with a specific gravity of 1.025.
Which test kit is right?

I have asked this before, specifically about the alk tests.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1902310

Summary: You can't really figure out which is right. If the tank is happy, use one test & watch the trend instead of the absolute value. Hobbyist test kits are not accurate & every brand of test is different.

[maikoa02]

I have used elos w/ no problems. There have been many problems in the past w/ salifert. For alk I also check w/ Lamotte and elos has been right on or very close.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by maikoa02

I have used elos w/ no problems. There have been many problems in the past w/ salifert. For alk I also check w/ Lamotte and elos has been right on or very close.

Likewise. I now use Elos all the way. (No association with Elos)

[jimrawr]

Maybe it would be wise for someone to check the alk against a Hanna meter???

[RVANANO]

I prefer Elos for Mag and Ca. But I have trouble with the color change of the Elos kit for Alk so I prefer Salifert for that one. Just my $.02

[The Velvet Sea]

I've used salifert and elos for alk, ca and mg. I prefer salifert for them all. I don't like the elos test procedures for ca and mg.

[RokleM]

Originally Posted by jospears

I just tested my water with these test kits. They are not out of date.
Here are my results.

Alkalinity

elos 10
sallifert 11.05

Calcium

elos 550
salifert 425

Magnesium

elos 1550
salifert 1230

This is using my new makeup water io reef crystals with a specific gravity of 1.025.
Which test kit is right?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1714505

Assuming your salinity is correct, here is what it should be at "35 ppt or SG 1.0264 @ 25 C":
Calcium 490
Alkalinity 13
Magnesium 1440

[jakearoe]

Switched to Elos for Alk, I'm pretty convinced Salifert tests Alk high in my tanks. Just my opinion.

[kgk]

Originally Posted by RVANANO

I prefer Elos for Mag and Ca. But I have trouble with the color change of the Elos kit for Alk so I prefer Salifert for that one. Just my $.02

I do the same thing.

[sabodish]

a little of track, but i have been using red sea test kits for alk and for the life of me i cant adequately determine the color changes. anyone have any tips??

[The Velvet Sea]

Originally Posted by jakearoe

Switched to Elos for Alk, I'm pretty convinced Salifert tests Alk high in my tanks. Just my opinion.

Salifert Alk kits almost always read higher than other brands. Supposedly this is because salifert designs their alk kit to be used on saltwater and other kits do not. I don't know what truth is behind this, but it is frequently stated. That said, my salifert kits have done well when tested against the reference solution that they come with. There have been quality issues with their alk kits in the past which haven't affected me, but support from Salifert seems to have been good in those instances. I'm excited to try the new hanna alk checker that I just ordered so I can compare it to the salifert, elos and API alk tests that I have.

[jospears]

I will mix up a new batch and see what kind of numbers I get.

[jospears]

new batch

Mag

elos 1400
sal 1260

Cal

elos 500
sal 430

Alk

elos 8.5
sal 10.1

[sabodish]

wow...there is quite a difference!

[The Velvet Sea]

Yeah there is a difference, but all of those parameters are fairly acceptable. Are those results repeatable?

I'm not surprised at all about salifert being higher on alk, that is widely reported and you are right where it is for me (about 1.5 dKH higher than Elos). My salifert alk kit tested on the money with the reference solution, so I choose to rely on it.

The difference in Ca isn't extreme and can easily be noise or test kit accuracy differences. Mg is a significant difference. Personally, I really do not like the Elos Mg kit. You have to do two different titrations and I don't have the steadiest hand so getting consistent size drops from the bottles is a challenge for me, also the whole color change must be stable for 30 seconds thing. People have enough trouble with color indicating titration test kits without requirements like this. Anyhow, that is all just my opinion on the Elos and really in no way tells us which kit is actually correct.

I'd pick whichever test kit I like to use and can get repeatable results from. Then just pick a target and attempt to keep the target stable. Usually stability is more important than the actual value (within reason).