jbharlan91 Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Okay, so what are the opinions on water test kits? I'm a bit overwhelmed with the sheer amount of types, brands etc.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Don get api, my test kit reads different than other tests and different from stores who use the same api test as me. Not sure why. My api test says 0 nitrates etc, got to river city and use the same api test and there are nitrates, phosphates, etc. Idk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Salifert or Elos are the best hobbiest ones. I feel API is fine for the basic stuff; pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. I also like their Ca kit. As long as they are not expired and you do the test correctly (hold the reagent bottle vertically over the test tube) I think they are fine. Also, how old is the tank and what are you planning on testing for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa1tx Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Mark did an episode on it some time back.. Mr_Saltwater_Tank_Test_Kit_Recommended_list.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 The tank is new to me, but the previous owner had it running for a long time. I figured I need to test the basic stuff, pH, ammonia, nitrates etc..probably ca for coral I work in a lab so know how to water test, I'm just used to lab supplies and not the brands available to hobbyists! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindflux Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Bulk Reef Supply really likes the new Red Sea test kits. They say they're accurate and some come with a little titration tool rather than just shaking a vial like a fool. http://www.youtube.com/user/BulkReefSupplyCom#p/u/2/K0CwXs08pZ4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo, lab worker! It would be super awesome if you could run the same tests for comparison sakes against the kits. i know you can't and the technical problems that would have to be overcome are beyond me but it would still be cool. The Elos and Salifert are more expensive but also, generally speaking, more accurate. For me, I generally want decent accuracy. I don't really care if my Ca is 420 or 423, just that it's ok. Same for Mag. It's my opinion that if a tank is over 6 weeks old, it's pointless to measure ammonia and nitrites. And frankly, if I have P04 it will show up in the form of algae before a test kit will see it. pH is really better measured with a meter too. Of course, I don't keep SPS so I don't really care if my tank is a bit dirty. Edit: I just looked at the link to the PDF by Mark. Lot's of good recommendations in there. Definitely look into getting a refractometer. SG, alk, Ca, Mag, IMO, are the only things to look for. It's nice to have pH and nitrates for when something goes wrong but isn't absolutely needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 Actually, I could do some test comparisons. The funny thing is though, a lot of the tests that we do in the lab use kits too. They're just WAY more expensive than if you bought one from an aquarium store. A lot of the minerals though, in the lab we just do id tests that check for the presence of the chemical, and not the quantity. But I could compare pH and titrate calcium and magnesium pretty easily. I do have a refractometer, so I can check salinity. I just have no clue when it comes to brands and quality of test kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 As I understand it, part of the technical problem stems from the kits being optimized for the base solution. A pH comparison might be cool though. Some of the complaint about the pH kits is inaccuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 Yeah, pH papers or test strips and things like that, especially when it's color based and qualitative, are not nearly as accurate. But I've also seen some pretty inaccurate pH meters, even when they're standardized and calibrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medi Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Pretty much the same recommendations by me. Elos, or Salifert, and a meter for PH. I use Elos just because they are available locally. Also, never API. I've found way to many inaccuracies in their kits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I know one of our former sponsors whose shop is on Burnet Road by the Domain has Salifert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medi Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Really?? That's awesome. I guess I'll have to go by there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua-Dome Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 We are a CURRENT sponsor and we have Hagen, some salifert, SeaChem, and what we consider the best kits right now- RedSea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wa1tx Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Did not know the dome had the red sea kits. Will be there tommorrow to get a couple kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 Cool, thanks! We are a CURRENT sponsor and we have Hagen, some salifert, SeaChem, and what we consider the best kits right now- RedSea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I use all red sea pro kits and LOVE them! If you are in aqua dome's club, the price is excellent too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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