what reef test kit should i buy

killafornia · 03/07/2021, 10:01 PM

suggestion?

Badger89 · 03/08/2021, 06:25 AM

I just got 3x hanna checker phoshotus and Alk and Salinity ones and love them

zheka757 · 03/08/2021, 08:08 PM

i can tell you what i like to use.
nitrate, mag, calcium = red sea
alk, phosphate = hanna checker,
everyone has their own preference of what they like, brs tv did comparison on all the popular test kits i highly recommend to watch it as it will give you a better opinion on test kits.

Timfish · 03/09/2021, 08:06 AM

I'd advise you get with local hobbyests and see what test kits you prefer to use. Personally I like:

API - alk & pH and calcium
Nyos high range nitrate
Red Sea - low rang nitrate and magnesium
Elos PO4
basic glass hydrometer for salinity.

Sk8r · 03/12/2021, 07:18 PM

One brand. Salifert: numerical result, tests very fast once you learn the moves. A few lab tricks apply, like watching for the 'flash' of color as you approach the result. A few other things speed your result, IF you set your parameters as I have them in my sig line. If you test your alk weekly (the simplest and fastest of all the tests) and don't worry until it drops---THEN you check your magnesium, bring that to 1200, THEN adjust your alk, tHEN your calcium, waiting 24 hours between doses and rechecking (doses take time to work) you will have very little trouble. You will not see alk fall until magnesium does but mg is the nit-pickiest test to run, so just test alk. When it drops you know mg has dropped under 1200. So you fix that, fix the alk, fix the cal in that order. Works like a charm without a doser. Still works if you do have one: you just don't have a drop too often.

Dan. · 03/17/2021, 10:56 AM

All Salifert except my Hanna alk checker. I use the Hanna daily and love it.

03/07/2021, 10:01 PM	#1
killafornia Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tucson az Posts: 372	what reef test kit should i buy suggestion? __________________ I want go fishing!!¡¡ Current Tank Info: 48x24x24

03/08/2021, 06:25 AM	#2
Badger89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Barnsley Posts: 11	I just got 3x hanna checker phoshotus and Alk and Salinity ones and love them __________________ badger Tank Info: Reefer 350 1.026, 25.5c, Alk 138, Po4 0, No3 6.80, Ca 510, Ph 8.2, NH3 0, No2 0, Mg 1280 Current Tank Info: reefer 350

03/09/2021, 08:06 AM	#4
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I'd advise you get with local hobbyests and see what test kits you prefer to use. Personally I like: API - alk & pH and calcium Nyos high range nitrate Red Sea - low rang nitrate and magnesium Elos PO4 basic glass hydrometer for salinity. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

03/12/2021, 07:18 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	One brand. Salifert: numerical result, tests very fast once you learn the moves. A few lab tricks apply, like watching for the 'flash' of color as you approach the result. A few other things speed your result, IF you set your parameters as I have them in my sig line. If you test your alk weekly (the simplest and fastest of all the tests) and don't worry until it drops---THEN you check your magnesium, bring that to 1200, THEN adjust your alk, tHEN your calcium, waiting 24 hours between doses and rechecking (doses take time to work) you will have very little trouble. You will not see alk fall until magnesium does but mg is the nit-pickiest test to run, so just test alk. When it drops you know mg has dropped under 1200. So you fix that, fix the alk, fix the cal in that order. Works like a charm without a doser. Still works if you do have one: you just don't have a drop too often. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/08/2021, 08:08 PM	#3
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	i can tell you what i like to use. nitrate, mag, calcium = red sea alk, phosphate = hanna checker, everyone has their own preference of what they like, brs tv did comparison on all the popular test kits i highly recommend to watch it as it will give you a better opinion on test kits.

03/17/2021, 10:56 AM	#6
Dan. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 53	All Salifert except my Hanna alk checker. I use the Hanna daily and love it.