Let's talk test kits

DJasak · 10/22/2016, 07:45 AM

Hey guys!
I'm interested in seeing what kits you guys use when testing your water. What brands do u trust? How easy are the results to read? What do you test for? And as a bonus, what does your water test schedule look like? What do u test for daily, weekly, monthly?

I think this is something that a lot of new hobbyists could really benefit from so let's get a nice pool of answers! Thanks!

billdogg · 10/22/2016, 08:02 AM

I use Salifert for everything. They are easy to use and very repeatable. When I test, unless I suspect a serious issue, I check Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. I test about monthly, before water change day.

dustinc89 · 10/22/2016, 08:27 AM

I use the red sea pro kits, they are quite cheap if you buy the reef Foundation kit which includes calcium mag and alk, and the Algae control kit which include phosphate and nitrate, which is everything you need IMO
I test Alk weekly and mag and calcium every other week, I also run a dosing pump so everything stays pretty stable.
I starting dosing vinegar so I am testing Nitrate and phosphate often

johnike · 10/22/2016, 08:33 AM

Salifert Mag, Hanna Alk and Ca.
Probably switching to Salifert on Alk and Ca soon.
Usually monthly here as well, but monitoring an Alk drop that I'm raising slowly and testing daily/every other day right now.
Ph on Apex, but never bother looking.

Sonyardo · 10/22/2016, 08:40 AM

I also use Salifert for everything. I test weekly for Alk, CA, Mg and Nitrate. I have a controller that keeps constant tabs on pH, Sg, and temp.

The kits are the easiest to use that I've run across so far. There are a couple of areas where it's tough to decipher color changes at low end ranges. I think you will find that with most test kits.

I've tried a couple of different competitors from time to time on the test kits and have always went right back to Salifert. I've come to appreciate the lack of all the extra vigorous shaking and waiting.

Walla2GSP · 10/22/2016, 09:59 AM

I am using API for the big four and find them close enough for my purposes, and I'm using Salifert for magnesium. I'm considering the Red Sea foundation kit next time I order, but I'm worried I would screw up the titrations. Right now, I'm testing daily as I wait for everything to settle out, but typically I test nitrates and phosphates daily, and ca, alk, mg, and ammonia weekly.

hkgar · 10/22/2016, 12:04 PM

Nitrate, Red Sea Pro, test weekly (for low level testing (< 10), for high level testing (> 10) I would use Salifert).
PO4, Hanna Checker, test weekly
Alk, Salifert, test daily
Ca and Mag, Salifert, test weekly

RobZilla04 · 10/22/2016, 12:46 PM

API,RedSea, Salifert here.

API reef master kit, RedSea Alk Cal & Mag, Salifert phosphate confirmation test at the moment.

10/22/2016, 07:45 AM	#1
DJasak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 197	Let's talk test kits Hey guys! I'm interested in seeing what kits you guys use when testing your water. What brands do u trust? How easy are the results to read? What do you test for? And as a bonus, what does your water test schedule look like? What do u test for daily, weekly, monthly? I think this is something that a lot of new hobbyists could really benefit from so let's get a nice pool of answers! Thanks!

10/22/2016, 08:02 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I use Salifert for everything. They are easy to use and very repeatable. When I test, unless I suspect a serious issue, I check Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. I test about monthly, before water change day. __________________ 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

10/22/2016, 12:04 PM	#7
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Nitrate, Red Sea Pro, test weekly (for low level testing (< 10), for high level testing (> 10) I would use Salifert). PO4, Hanna Checker, test weekly Alk, Salifert, test daily Ca and Mag, Salifert, test weekly __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

10/22/2016, 12:46 PM	#8
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	API,RedSea, Salifert here. API reef master kit, RedSea Alk Cal & Mag, Salifert phosphate confirmation test at the moment. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

10/22/2016, 08:27 AM	#3
dustinc89 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 36	I use the red sea pro kits, they are quite cheap if you buy the reef Foundation kit which includes calcium mag and alk, and the Algae control kit which include phosphate and nitrate, which is everything you need IMO I test Alk weekly and mag and calcium every other week, I also run a dosing pump so everything stays pretty stable. I starting dosing vinegar so I am testing Nitrate and phosphate often

10/22/2016, 08:33 AM	#4
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Salifert Mag, Hanna Alk and Ca. Probably switching to Salifert on Alk and Ca soon. Usually monthly here as well, but monitoring an Alk drop that I'm raising slowly and testing daily/every other day right now. Ph on Apex, but never bother looking.

10/22/2016, 08:40 AM	#5
Sonyardo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: OC California Posts: 522	I also use Salifert for everything. I test weekly for Alk, CA, Mg and Nitrate. I have a controller that keeps constant tabs on pH, Sg, and temp. The kits are the easiest to use that I've run across so far. There are a couple of areas where it's tough to decipher color changes at low end ranges. I think you will find that with most test kits. I've tried a couple of different competitors from time to time on the test kits and have always went right back to Salifert. I've come to appreciate the lack of all the extra vigorous shaking and waiting.

10/22/2016, 09:59 AM	#6
Walla2GSP Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Out here Posts: 201	I am using API for the big four and find them close enough for my purposes, and I'm using Salifert for magnesium. I'm considering the Red Sea foundation kit next time I order, but I'm worried I would screw up the titrations. Right now, I'm testing daily as I wait for everything to settle out, but typically I test nitrates and phosphates daily, and ca, alk, mg, and ammonia weekly.