AQUARIUM PHARMACEUTICALS test kits?

djcool563 · 02/16/2006, 05:20 PM

I was wondering how good the test kits are from them i am thinking about buying a few of them as they are relativly cheap but want to make sure they are not bad. Thanks
DJ

Chad-Man · 02/16/2006, 05:26 PM

I have used my test kits for about 6 years. I don't know how "good" they are against other test kits, but my coral and fish are still alive and growing, half of which I have had the whole time that I have been using the kit.

djcool563 · 02/16/2006, 05:28 PM

I want to know how good they are on calcium,alk,and phosphates specificly. Anyone know how good they are on those?

djcool563 · 02/16/2006, 06:03 PM

anyone?

hookdonreefs · 02/16/2006, 06:21 PM

I use the alk test and everything is good for me. I have never used another one but when my lfs tests my water it matches my readings. I dont know if they use the same one.

djcool563 · 02/16/2006, 06:23 PM

What about the calcium or phosphate anyone?

djcool563 · 02/16/2006, 07:13 PM

bump

raynist · 02/16/2006, 07:38 PM

I have used them for about a year and just switched to Salifert, I like the salifert tests much better. I got them very cheap here:

www.http://www.aquatictech.com/misc.html

Actually this place near you...

--Ray

djcool563 · 02/16/2006, 08:29 PM

Ya i go there all the time i just wanted to try to get them a little bit cheaper because my funds are below a ghetto reefer lol. Thanks

supertech3 · 02/16/2006, 08:53 PM

You have replies on some, mine is on the phophate IMO it works well the calcium I use is a redsea easy to read and cheap

sean48183 · 02/16/2006, 09:23 PM

I have used a few different kind of test kits and I find salifert to be the best but kind of a pain to use. The aquarium pharmacuticals is not bad for the price. There color coding is pretty readable. The worst is red sea. I recommend never buying these.

raynist · 02/17/2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by djcool563
Ya i go there all the time i just wanted to try to get them a little bit cheaper because my funds are below a ghetto reefer lol. Thanks

I think they are cheaper online though. When I recieved the order, the prices on the boxes were much higher than I paid.

--Ray

kevin gu3 · 02/17/2006, 11:17 AM

For alk it doesn't matter, they're all similar. For calc and phosphate I'd go with Salifert. I never tried Red Sea.
If after a while you are not happy with Salifert's phosphate and need something more sensitive go with Hach, but thats like $50 for the test kit.

Billybeau1 · 02/17/2006, 11:22 AM

AP's powder tests are OK. Used them for years. The titrate tests i.e. calcium, alk are not as accurate as Saliferts. Dont just look at price, look at how many tests you get for the price. Take Alk for instance. AP 20 tests for 7.19 - Salifert 100 to 200 tests for 13.99

Shhhhhh - dont tell Habib

kevensquint · 02/17/2006, 11:23 AM

My LFS tested the aquariumpharm. Ca test against seachem or saliferts( I can't remember which) control solution and the aquarium pharm kit was more accurate than the more expensive one. I use this brand for Ca,alk,phos,nitrate, for Mg I use seachem. I have to say, I have grown many corals SPS and softies testing only with these kits and everything looks great. I can't complain, and I don't forsee ever changing brands.

impur · 02/17/2006, 11:29 AM

I use AP calcium, alk, phos test kits regularly and have always been pleased. I have yet to get a bad kit, and it regularly comes out with the same results as salifert.

The reason i use AP is because i have never had a bad reading and they are much more readily available locally.

djcool563 · 02/17/2006, 03:18 PM

Yes aquatic tech does charge alot more in there store then they do online......way more. at their store the kits are prolly around 20 a peice

raynist · 02/17/2006, 03:20 PM

Yep, each test kit had a sticker on it for $18+

djcool563 · 02/17/2006, 03:22 PM

That place is a nice place.....to just look at stuff but they are very expensive on everything.

02/16/2006, 05:20 PM	#1
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	AQUARIUM PHARMACEUTICALS test kits? I was wondering how good the test kits are from them i am thinking about buying a few of them as they are relativly cheap but want to make sure they are not bad. Thanks DJ __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/16/2006, 05:26 PM	#2
Chad-Man Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 180	I have used my test kits for about 6 years. I don't know how "good" they are against other test kits, but my coral and fish are still alive and growing, half of which I have had the whole time that I have been using the kit. __________________ Chad Current Tank Info: 24 Gal Nano ... 125 Gal. Oceanic Reef Tank

02/16/2006, 05:28 PM	#3
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	I want to know how good they are on calcium,alk,and phosphates specificly. Anyone know how good they are on those? __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/16/2006, 06:03 PM	#4
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	anyone? __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/16/2006, 06:23 PM	#6
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	What about the calcium or phosphate anyone? __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/16/2006, 06:21 PM	#5
hookdonreefs Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 97	I use the alk test and everything is good for me. I have never used another one but when my lfs tests my water it matches my readings. I dont know if they use the same one.

02/16/2006, 07:13 PM	#7
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	bump __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/16/2006, 07:38 PM	#8
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	I have used them for about a year and just switched to Salifert, I like the salifert tests much better. I got them very cheap here: www.http://www.aquatictech.com/misc.html Actually this place near you... --Ray

02/16/2006, 08:29 PM	#9
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	Ya i go there all the time i just wanted to try to get them a little bit cheaper because my funds are below a ghetto reefer lol. Thanks __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/16/2006, 08:53 PM	#10
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	You have replies on some, mine is on the phophate IMO it works well the calcium I use is a redsea easy to read and cheap

02/16/2006, 09:23 PM	#11
sean48183 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 1,577	I have used a few different kind of test kits and I find salifert to be the best but kind of a pain to use. The aquarium pharmacuticals is not bad for the price. There color coding is pretty readable. The worst is red sea. I recommend never buying these.

02/17/2006, 11:17 AM	#13
kevin gu3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Whitmore Lk, MI Posts: 732	For alk it doesn't matter, they're all similar. For calc and phosphate I'd go with Salifert. I never tried Red Sea. If after a while you are not happy with Salifert's phosphate and need something more sensitive go with Hach, but thats like $50 for the test kit. __________________ Divert all money to life support. Your wallet will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Current Tank Info: 90g reef, 29g anemone exile tank

02/17/2006, 11:22 AM	#14
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	AP's powder tests are OK. Used them for years. The titrate tests i.e. calcium, alk are not as accurate as Saliferts. Dont just look at price, look at how many tests you get for the price. Take Alk for instance. AP 20 tests for 7.19 - Salifert 100 to 200 tests for 13.99 Shhhhhh - dont tell Habib

02/17/2006, 11:23 AM	#15
kevensquint Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: new york Posts: 2,277	My LFS tested the aquariumpharm. Ca test against seachem or saliferts( I can't remember which) control solution and the aquarium pharm kit was more accurate than the more expensive one. I use this brand for Ca,alk,phos,nitrate, for Mg I use seachem. I have to say, I have grown many corals SPS and softies testing only with these kits and everything looks great. I can't complain, and I don't forsee ever changing brands.

02/17/2006, 11:29 AM	#16
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	I use AP calcium, alk, phos test kits regularly and have always been pleased. I have yet to get a bad kit, and it regularly comes out with the same results as salifert. The reason i use AP is because i have never had a bad reading and they are much more readily available locally. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK

02/17/2006, 03:18 PM	#17
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	Yes aquatic tech does charge alot more in there store then they do online......way more. at their store the kits are prolly around 20 a peice __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs

02/17/2006, 03:20 PM	#18
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	Yep, each test kit had a sticker on it for $18+

02/17/2006, 03:22 PM	#19
djcool563 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE OHIO Posts: 1,233	That place is a nice place.....to just look at stuff but they are very expensive on everything. __________________ " A man truly at peace with himself has the potential to do something, but the ablility not to" "Think not why the sky is blue but instead think that the sky is blue for a reason" Some of my quotes Current Tank Info: 55g with 250w MH 14k bulb with 2 110w VHOs