Test Kit

allamericancat · 11/22/2012, 09:04 PM

Does anyone have any advice on Test kits? I currently have an API master kit. It does not include Phosphate or Alk. Someone told me API is junk, True?? I would like to purchase a Full kit but do not know what brand is best. I see this as an investment and would like to get the best.

chrisfont23 · 11/22/2012, 09:10 PM

API is the only kit I have ever owned. I have a bunch of tanks and 2 koi ponds and never have I had a problem with a tank/pond due to API.

allamericancat · 11/22/2012, 09:41 PM

Thank You. I just bought the complete API Kit.

sleepydoc · 11/23/2012, 07:33 AM

Only API kit I have is for Phosphate - I got it and then realized that the low range completely lacks the appropriate sensitivity for a saltwater tank, so I threw it out.

I have the Red Sea Ca/Mg/Alk test kit - very happy with it. Easy to use, consistent. Seems accurate, but I really have no way of knowing.

downbeach · 11/23/2012, 08:50 AM

In the early days, i.e. FW and early SW with a FOWLR tank I was using API without any problems. When I decided to go into a reef type tank I quickly found that they simply didn't have the lower resolution and accuracy needed for that purpose.
I've tried a number of brands, including: LaMotte, Hach, Salifer, Elos, and the new Red Sea. All these kits were great, but some were on the costly side. I finally did a cost/accuracy comparison between the Salifert kits I had at the time and the new Red Sea Coral Foundation Pro all in one kit(Ca, Mg and Alk) along with NO3 and PO4 using the Red Sea Algae Control kit. I found that these kits were very close in accuracy, but the Red Sea kit was much more cost effective. One note here, I couldn't get a consistent reading on PO4 with either kit, and now use a Hanna Checker for PO4.
So, I now use the new Red Sea kit for Ca, Mg, Alk and NO3, and a Hanna Checker for PO4. I would also strongly recommend that you use a good refractometer for your salinity, and keep it calibrated using a calibration solution(not RO water).

sleepydoc · 11/23/2012, 09:31 AM

+1 on the refractometer. Bulk reef supply has them on sale for $20 for Black Friday!

coralsnaked · 11/23/2012, 02:05 PM

Downbeach said it all good advice...ditch the API for reef tanks

fishchef · 11/23/2012, 08:37 PM

Yes, I started using API for CA, dKH, and Phosphate. Had been using all Salifert. After 5 years on current system I now use IO for CA, Hanna for PO4, and API only for dKH. I do like Tetra for NO3, but you can only get them on line. Salifert is very good for Mg. We don't test for much else. Tests that read consistently high or just give you a zero are of not much use.

jmowbray · 11/23/2012, 09:24 PM

I'm order Red Sea for the Ca, Alk. and Mg also No3, and PO4. In addition I'm getting Salifert for NH4 as BRS doesn't have any from Red Sea I'm not even sure Red Sea make a NH4 kit.

igadget56 · 11/23/2012, 09:40 PM

Red Sea has a really nice ALK kit.

11/22/2012, 09:04 PM	#1
allamericancat Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Barnstead N.H. Posts: 18	Test Kit Does anyone have any advice on Test kits? I currently have an API master kit. It does not include Phosphate or Alk. Someone told me API is junk, True?? I would like to purchase a Full kit but do not know what brand is best. I see this as an investment and would like to get the best.

11/22/2012, 09:41 PM	#3
allamericancat Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Barnstead N.H. Posts: 18	Thank You. I just bought the complete API Kit. Last edited by allamericancat; 11/22/2012 at 10:06 PM.

11/23/2012, 07:33 AM	#4
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Only API kit I have is for Phosphate - I got it and then realized that the low range completely lacks the appropriate sensitivity for a saltwater tank, so I threw it out. I have the Red Sea Ca/Mg/Alk test kit - very happy with it. Easy to use, consistent. Seems accurate, but I really have no way of knowing. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

11/23/2012, 09:31 AM	#6
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	+1 on the refractometer. Bulk reef supply has them on sale for $20 for Black Friday! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

11/22/2012, 09:10 PM	#2
chrisfont23 Reef Monster Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,343	API is the only kit I have ever owned. I have a bunch of tanks and 2 koi ponds and never have I had a problem with a tank/pond due to API.

11/23/2012, 08:50 AM	#5
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	In the early days, i.e. FW and early SW with a FOWLR tank I was using API without any problems. When I decided to go into a reef type tank I quickly found that they simply didn't have the lower resolution and accuracy needed for that purpose. I've tried a number of brands, including: LaMotte, Hach, Salifer, Elos, and the new Red Sea. All these kits were great, but some were on the costly side. I finally did a cost/accuracy comparison between the Salifert kits I had at the time and the new Red Sea Coral Foundation Pro all in one kit(Ca, Mg and Alk) along with NO3 and PO4 using the Red Sea Algae Control kit. I found that these kits were very close in accuracy, but the Red Sea kit was much more cost effective. One note here, I couldn't get a consistent reading on PO4 with either kit, and now use a Hanna Checker for PO4. So, I now use the new Red Sea kit for Ca, Mg, Alk and NO3, and a Hanna Checker for PO4. I would also strongly recommend that you use a good refractometer for your salinity, and keep it calibrated using a calibration solution(not RO water).

11/23/2012, 02:05 PM	#7
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Downbeach said it all good advice...ditch the API for reef tanks

11/23/2012, 08:37 PM	#8
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Yes, I started using API for CA, dKH, and Phosphate. Had been using all Salifert. After 5 years on current system I now use IO for CA, Hanna for PO4, and API only for dKH. I do like Tetra for NO3, but you can only get them on line. Salifert is very good for Mg. We don't test for much else. Tests that read consistently high or just give you a zero are of not much use.

11/23/2012, 09:24 PM	#9
jmowbray Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 540	I'm order Red Sea for the Ca, Alk. and Mg also No3, and PO4. In addition I'm getting Salifert for NH4 as BRS doesn't have any from Red Sea I'm not even sure Red Sea make a NH4 kit.

11/23/2012, 09:40 PM	#10
igadget56 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 820	Red Sea has a really nice ALK kit.