Best Testing Kit

wickeddroptop · 10/11/2006, 10:02 AM

I know that the strips are good to give you a rough idea, but not that accurate. Which liquid testing kits are the best for the money spent on them? Brand wise.

HumanIMDB · 10/11/2006, 10:15 AM

Salifert is the most recommended brand on RC, I haven't used that brand myself, yet, but I am looking at getting the complete kit ($290CAD) soon.

I'm currently using a Hagen Master Test Kit, not sure how it compares to the other brands but it gives me a rough idea.

theatrus · 10/11/2006, 11:31 AM

Salifert is the most precise (gives you more granularity in your readings) and actually last a long time (lots of reagents).

Aquarium Pharm is what I use for quicker tests.

(By precision I mean just that. Salifert will differentiate 410 and 420ppm calcium, whereas Aq. Pharm will do 400 to 420 with nothing in between. Same with nitrate, where the Salifert has a nifty "high resolution" mode which can tell you values such as 0.2, 0.5, 2.5, 5 and 10 ppm Nitrate, where as the Aq Pharm you'll have an impossible time trying to figure out if its 5.0, 0.0, or 10.0).

old salty · 10/11/2006, 02:07 PM

I haven't had the opportunity to try the Lamotte test kits or the Merck ones, as they are just out of my price range whenever I run out on others.

I use Salifert and Elos for the basic stuff. Elos are a bit nicer, and Salifert has a higher resolution.

HumanIMDB · 10/11/2006, 02:14 PM

I see that the guy who's reef is currently the Reef of the Month uses a Spectrophotometer!!! I guess when you get that into it, you need something like that.

old salty · 10/11/2006, 06:32 PM

Damn,

That's laboratory stuff there!! What next? Gas Chromatography?

kelly630 · 10/11/2006, 06:51 PM

or High Performance Liquid Chromatography?

Geez...just use salifert.

craftytony · 10/11/2006, 07:30 PM

Salifert!

drummereef · 10/11/2006, 08:05 PM

SALIFERT!!! for alk/calcium. A good pH meter for pH.

10/11/2006, 10:02 AM	#1
wickeddroptop Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 53	Best Testing Kit I know that the strips are good to give you a rough idea, but not that accurate. Which liquid testing kits are the best for the money spent on them? Brand wise.

10/11/2006, 10:15 AM	#2
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	Salifert is the most recommended brand on RC, I haven't used that brand myself, yet, but I am looking at getting the complete kit ($290CAD) soon. I'm currently using a Hagen Master Test Kit, not sure how it compares to the other brands but it gives me a rough idea. __________________ Chris Rivers Will do computer support for frags. :) Click on the Red House to see our AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build thread. Current Tank Info: 10 Gal (Aqualight 96W Quad 50/50, AquaClear Power Filter 70 with Chaeto lit by 6500K Bulb, AquaClear Power Head 20, 50w Tronic Heater), 92 Gal All-Glass Corner (Cycling)

10/11/2006, 11:31 AM	#3
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Salifert is the most precise (gives you more granularity in your readings) and actually last a long time (lots of reagents). Aquarium Pharm is what I use for quicker tests. (By precision I mean just that. Salifert will differentiate 410 and 420ppm calcium, whereas Aq. Pharm will do 400 to 420 with nothing in between. Same with nitrate, where the Salifert has a nifty "high resolution" mode which can tell you values such as 0.2, 0.5, 2.5, 5 and 10 ppm Nitrate, where as the Aq Pharm you'll have an impossible time trying to figure out if its 5.0, 0.0, or 10.0). __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/11/2006, 02:07 PM	#4
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I haven't had the opportunity to try the Lamotte test kits or the Merck ones, as they are just out of my price range whenever I run out on others. I use Salifert and Elos for the basic stuff. Elos are a bit nicer, and Salifert has a higher resolution. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

10/11/2006, 02:14 PM	#5
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	I see that the guy who's reef is currently the Reef of the Month uses a Spectrophotometer!!! I guess when you get that into it, you need something like that. __________________ Chris Rivers Will do computer support for frags. :) Click on the Red House to see our AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build thread. Current Tank Info: 10 Gal (Aqualight 96W Quad 50/50, AquaClear Power Filter 70 with Chaeto lit by 6500K Bulb, AquaClear Power Head 20, 50w Tronic Heater), 92 Gal All-Glass Corner (Cycling)

10/11/2006, 06:32 PM	#6
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Damn, That's laboratory stuff there!! What next? Gas Chromatography? __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

10/11/2006, 06:51 PM	#7
kelly630 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PA Posts: 103	or High Performance Liquid Chromatography? Geez...just use salifert. __________________ Salt Creep. Sounds funny. Current Tank Info: 180gal Reef with Bermuda Skimmer and 37gal sump/fuge, 3 x 400w MHs + 2 x 96w VHOs, 125w UV Sterilizer, etc.

10/11/2006, 07:30 PM	#8
craftytony OT Godfather Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: DeKalb Posts: 6,166	Salifert! __________________ I can honestly say all the bad things that ever happened to me were directly attributed to drugs & alcohol. I mean I would never urinate at the Alamo at 9 o'clock in the morning dressed in a woman's evening dress sober. -Ozzy Osbourne Current Tank Info: Selling my 210 setup

10/11/2006, 08:05 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	SALIFERT!!! for alk/calcium. A good pH meter for pH. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system