What is a good all round test kit ?

irishindoexpat · 09/20/2012, 12:59 AM

Hi guys so what is a good all round test kit for everything for a reef aquarium. preferably something i could pick up on amazon :-)

thanks

Empty Bottles · 09/20/2012, 01:40 AM

I bought the basic ATI test kit and it was a waste of money. Would read 0 ammonia on RO water but may tank water said i had a little. Read high nitrates too. I took my water to the LFS and they said no ammonia hardly any nitrates. I bought a red sea test kit for phosphate and nitrate and it shows < 10 nitrate while ati still shows 40ppm

Kayo2289 · 09/20/2012, 01:51 AM

Man that's pretty bad, I just bought the API reef master kit and used it 2x this week and broke like 3 of the 4 little test tubes... Think I would go either salifert or motte test kits next time, although they are considerably more expensive.. If not the Hanna color testers.

fishyguy7 · 09/20/2012, 03:20 AM

I like the Red Sea test kits. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/testing/red-sea.html/

usmc121581 · 09/20/2012, 04:24 AM

I have the red sea test kit and when I tested the DT it read 20 ppm changed 90 gallons out of a 255 gallon system and still read 20 ppm

billdogg · 09/20/2012, 05:44 AM

I don't use anything other than Sailifert kits. You have to buy each seperate, but you only have to buy what you actually need. Not at all difficult to use, and very accurate if used correctly.

FlyFishGuy · 09/20/2012, 03:28 PM

For manual test tube style kits, I too find Salifert kits to be the most accurate available. However, I have had good results with the API Reef Master Test Kits and Salt Master Test Kits. The test tubes are a bit flimsy - but even if you buy additional tubes the cost of the kits is very inexpensive and I find them easy to read and relatively accurate (except the phosphate test - which does not provide a low enough range in my opinion).

Unlike others, I do not like the standard Red Sea test kits. They seem less standardized to me (some use 6ml of tank water, some 10ml, some else) and I find them difficult to read by looking down through the tube as opposed to the side of the tube like API. Red Sea does offer a professional series of kits, which are priced similarly to the Salifert. Thus, I haven't tried those yet as Salifert has been very reliable.

Just my opinion. All the "reef specialized" kits available today will be relatively accurate and similar to use. Avoid kits not made specifically for reef/marine environments.

Allmost · 09/20/2012, 03:32 PM

Elos,
Red Sea,
Salifert
Hanna instrument

these are the test kits worth spending money on, the rest of it, dont bother ! they are just not accurate enough ! and istance betwen each step is too much ...

09/20/2012, 12:59 AM	#1
irishindoexpat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Jakarta,Indonesia Posts: 97	What is a good all round test kit ? Hi guys so what is a good all round test kit for everything for a reef aquarium. preferably something i could pick up on amazon :-) thanks

09/20/2012, 01:51 AM	#3
Kayo2289 FMAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami Lakes, Florida Posts: 694	Man that's pretty bad, I just bought the API reef master kit and used it 2x this week and broke like 3 of the 4 little test tubes... Think I would go either salifert or motte test kits next time, although they are considerably more expensive.. If not the Hanna color testers. __________________ GEN. Ch. 1 v. 21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems.... And God saw that it was good." Current Tank Info: 40g Reef in progress

09/20/2012, 04:24 AM	#5
usmc121581 Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abingdon, maryland Posts: 1,671 Blog Entries: 1	I have the red sea test kit and when I tested the DT it read 20 ppm changed 90 gallons out of a 255 gallon system and still read 20 ppm __________________ I prefer not to think before I speak, I like to be just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth. Current Tank Info: I have a 180 gal mostly LPS corals, it contains 1 Val. Tang, 1 yellow striped clown fish, 3 percula clownfish, a blood shrimp, cleaner shrimp and a sand shifting goby, 5 pajama cardinals, 1 green chromis. Also a 75 gal. sump/fug.

09/20/2012, 05:44 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I don't use anything other than Sailifert kits. You have to buy each seperate, but you only have to buy what you actually need. Not at all difficult to use, and very accurate if used correctly. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/20/2012, 01:40 AM	#2
Empty Bottles Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 291	I bought the basic ATI test kit and it was a waste of money. Would read 0 ammonia on RO water but may tank water said i had a little. Read high nitrates too. I took my water to the LFS and they said no ammonia hardly any nitrates. I bought a red sea test kit for phosphate and nitrate and it shows < 10 nitrate while ati still shows 40ppm

09/20/2012, 03:20 AM	#4
fishyguy7 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Fort Collins,CO Posts: 426	I like the Red Sea test kits. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/testing/red-sea.html/

09/20/2012, 03:28 PM	#7
FlyFishGuy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Solon, OH Posts: 70	For manual test tube style kits, I too find Salifert kits to be the most accurate available. However, I have had good results with the API Reef Master Test Kits and Salt Master Test Kits. The test tubes are a bit flimsy - but even if you buy additional tubes the cost of the kits is very inexpensive and I find them easy to read and relatively accurate (except the phosphate test - which does not provide a low enough range in my opinion). Unlike others, I do not like the standard Red Sea test kits. They seem less standardized to me (some use 6ml of tank water, some 10ml, some else) and I find them difficult to read by looking down through the tube as opposed to the side of the tube like API. Red Sea does offer a professional series of kits, which are priced similarly to the Salifert. Thus, I haven't tried those yet as Salifert has been very reliable. Just my opinion. All the "reef specialized" kits available today will be relatively accurate and similar to use. Avoid kits not made specifically for reef/marine environments.

09/20/2012, 03:32 PM	#8
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	Elos, Red Sea, Salifert Hanna instrument these are the test kits worth spending money on, the rest of it, dont bother ! they are just not accurate enough ! and istance betwen each step is too much ...