Recommend a thrifty test kit?

This would be a good cheep set of test kits to get you started 

API Reef Master Test Kit $30

API Ammonia Test Kit $7

API Nitrite Test Kit $7

The entire life of your tank hangs on what those test reveal and you want cheap? Get a Master Reef test kit by API. Master kits are cheaper than single tests. Other than that …don’t go thrifty on the important stuff.

If I was going to set up a non-photosynthetic NANO, I would not go with a "thrifty" kit, I would go with the best I could buy. Non-photosynthetics need to be fed, and this can be a real issue in a nano due to water quality quickly going downhill.

I would do this:

SeaChem Nitrite/Nitrate combo test kit

pH probe (although I have found the API to be fairly accurate)

Salifert:

ammonia

alkalinity

calcium

And a good thermometer and refractometer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flower 

 

The entire life of your tank hangs on what those test reveal and you want cheap? Get a Master Reef test kit by API. Master kits are cheaper than single tests. Other than that …don’t go thrifty on the important stuff.

Hey a friend sent a PM to me ..Thought I was a little harsh. I never intended my post to be taken that way. Sometimes we don’t know how a post might seem to another person and on the first post..I’m so sorry.

I don't want to delete it in case it was already seen. I certainly did not mean to be hard or flame you in any way. THRIFTY can have several meanings, from really cool to cheap as cheap can be, that's why I added a “?”  after the word cheap.

I just wanted you to understand how important your test kit is. As to an answer, it is always cheaper to buy a master kit than to try and buy them separately. A Master reef kit is best for tests to make sure your corals are in the safe zone.

WELCOME to the site...I promise we are friendly folks...

API's will get the job done, somewhat. I have found their nitrate test to be very unreliable and that's going to be an important test to have with a non-photosynthetic tank where feedings need to be done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by one lunger 

Any recs on a good refractometer? I see you mentioned it earlier. I am still using an old style Marineland salinometer with the floating "arm."

Get one with a hard case. I like the ones that need to be calibrate with a small screw driver, I just feel that you wont accidentally change its calibration. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoJ 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by one lunger 

Any recs on a good refractometer? I see you mentioned it earlier. I am still using an old style Marineland salinometer with the floating "arm."

Get one with a hard case. I like the ones that need to be calibrate with a small screw driver, I just feel that you wont accidentally change its calibration. 

+1