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Test kits - what are you using?

post #1 of 43
2/12/12 at 1:25pm
Thread Starter 

So... What are you using to test your water? What do you recommend? Are some test kits better than others? Are some easier to read than others? What are you testing for on a regular basis?

 

 

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post #2 of 43
2/12/12 at 1:28pm
Thread Starter 

I have personally used API test kits for years, and rarely ever test my water, but I'm personally looking for something better for ca, alk, pH and magnesium.

 

I like API for the basic test kits.. ammonia, nitrite and pH, but not for nitrate, phosphate, calcium and alkalinity.

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post #3 of 43
2/12/12 at 6:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

I have personally used API test kits for years, and rarely ever test my water, but I'm personally looking for something better for ca, alk, pH and magnesium.

 

I like API for the basic test kits.. ammonia, nitrite and pH, but not for nitrate, phosphate, calcium and alkalinity.


I would and do use API for Calcium and Alkalinity as you only need to be in the ballpark
For pH I use a meter/controller I have not found a test kit that I like, I use a controller to dose so it makes sense, the API test kit is no good
I use Salifert for Magnesium but I am going to try some others to find one that may be better
If all you are doing is cycling the tank then API is fine for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. SPS and some other corals loose there color if water has miner amounts of Nitrate and Phosphate so if you are going to keep those corals you will need a good test kit like Salifert or Red Sea Reef Pro or you will do what many do and change the chemistry when you see your corals start to brown and not use a kit at all.

I use all the tools out there. Sometimes I just need to know about how the water is and I don't want to spend all day finding the answers so a cheap kit like API can be good and allow you to use it more. Other times you need more precise of a number and if you are going to test it you have to pay up for it. There is no best when it comes to brand you have to rate each kit on its own. Read and learn what the kits range is and what may give a false reading when it becomes to old an may need to be thrown out.
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post #4 of 43
2/12/12 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you for the info! Anyone else using anything different? 

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post #5 of 43
2/12/12 at 7:17pm

I use sea chem, when I feel like testing. They seem pretty accurate.

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post #6 of 43
2/12/12 at 7:27pm

I use API far the basic 3 (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates)....and Salifert for calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, phosphate, and ph

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post #7 of 43
2/12/12 at 9:08pm

What, waite......... we are to test the water? I thought that was just an expression!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lol.

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post #8 of 43
2/12/12 at 9:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

I have personally used API test kits for years, and rarely ever test my water, but I'm personally looking for something better for ca, alk, pH and magnesium.

 

I like API for the basic test kits.. ammonia, nitrite and pH, but not for nitrate, phosphate, calcium and alkalinity.


I swore off API kits, they are not trustworthy. I also don't care for Redsea kits.

 

The easiest to read kit I ever had was Instant Ocean brand. Instead of a card with the color, it had chets that stood right next to the water test tube...very accurate.

I like the Seachem best. The tests are the easiest to do with very little tank water.

 

I don't do tests regularly anymore, I only test when things "don't look right"  I never dose anything unless I test first to see if I even need to. When I test, I do log the results for a quick ref.

 

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post #9 of 43
2/12/12 at 10:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiefers View Post

What, waite......... we are to test the water? I thought that was just an expression!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lol.

Not you silly just jump in devil1.gif
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post #10 of 43
2/13/12 at 8:00am

I'm cheap, I use API for ammonia, nitrate, calcium and alk (test once a month). I use a meter for PH test often. I've test API up against instant ocean, Salifert they were same result (I did this comparison years ago). 

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post #11 of 43
2/13/12 at 8:21am

I use API, but I'm aware that they don't last long before the reagents start going hinky on you.  I don't test the big three more than once a month or so anymore, unless something looks out of whack.  Usually I just test for Ca, Alk, and pH.  I use Red Sea for magnesium as well.

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post #12 of 43
2/13/12 at 8:42am

my API kits have been sitting for awhile now! LOL

Ones not even open...

i only test if i know something is upset or off.

 

Ive heard elos tests can be good but a bit complicated.

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post #13 of 43
2/13/12 at 9:10am

I test 2-3x per month because I'm paranoid.

 

pH: both API and Salifert, don't like either one; I dislike color cards.

Nitrate: API, if I get undetectable readings on an API test, I know I'm good.

Alk, Cal and Mag: Salifert

P04: Salifert, but rarely used, I've never seen detectable phosphates from my tests or from LFS tests.

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post #14 of 43
2/13/12 at 10:43am

Salifert and API are known to have inaccurate readings on Nitrate test kits, it has even been proven against some expensive fancy mechanical testers at aquariums.

 

Nitrate/Nitrite: SeaChem

Phosphate: Salifert

Calcium: Salifert (although as Geo mentioned, API gets you close enough. Most of the time I use API because it's quicker)

Alk: API and Salifert same reason as the Ca

Ammonia: SeaChem or API (frankly, I couldn't tell you the last time I used one

pH: probes with controller. API is fairly accurate, but the color card print can vary from one kit to the next, and that's annoying

Mag: Salifert

 

I test my alk daily. My corals suck it up. Ca gets tested about once a week. I barely test for anything else anymore unless I see a problem in my corals.

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post #15 of 43
2/13/12 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 

My new SPS frags are sucking up alkalinity as well. Ever since I increased magnesium, coralline is starting to take off. 

 

I never used red sea or Elos. Instant ocean is new to me. So is seachem. 

 

Is seachem pretty accurate and easy to use? 

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post #16 of 43
2/13/12 at 11:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef View Post

I test my alk daily. My corals suck it up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

My new SPS frags are sucking up alkalinity as well.



So...I'm NOT crazy when I say my tank demands more alkalinty supplement by 50% or so than any other?

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post #17 of 43
2/13/12 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

My new SPS frags are sucking up alkalinity as well. Ever since I increased magnesium, coralline is starting to take off. 

 

I never used red sea or Elos. Instant ocean is new to me. So is seachem. 

 

Is seachem pretty accurate and easy to use? 



I dose mag pretty regularly ever since I fought off the bryopsis with it. Sounds horrible, but I don't even test it much anymore, just dump it in. How lazy we can get in this hobby when things are going right! I have noticed an increase in my coralline as well with the increased mag.

I've never used Elos, but I've heard that they're difficult to follow instructions. Never used Instant Ocean, as I'm not a fan of their line in general.

SeaChem has been my most accurate for nitrates and nitrites. The alk, ca, pH and ammonia are about the same as API. Very easy to use.

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post #18 of 43
2/13/12 at 11:42am
I use API, but that's been mentioned. I'm also thinking about using something called Quickdip... Looks effective,b but yet to try it
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post #19 of 43
2/13/12 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

My new SPS frags are sucking up alkalinity as well. Ever since I increased magnesium, coralline is starting to take off. 

 

I never used red sea or Elos. Instant ocean is new to me. So is seachem. 

 

Is seachem pretty accurate and easy to use? 



So what are you dosing with and how is your PH & calcium levels?

 

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post #20 of 43
2/13/12 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

My new SPS frags are sucking up alkalinity as well. Ever since I increased magnesium, coralline is starting to take off. 

 

I never used red sea or Elos. Instant ocean is new to me. So is seachem. 

 

Is seachem pretty accurate and easy to use? 


They will give you the information you just have to look it up. example Phosphate Low Range HANNA HI 713 Checker

A reading accuracy or tolerance is how wrong the test is example ±0.04 ppm ±4% at 25 degrees Celsius
A test kits range is the very lowest through the very highest number that the kit can read example 0.00 to 2.50 ppm
A kits resolution is the smallest numerical increment that can be read example 0.01 ppm

So in this example if you read 0.06 ppm at 25 degrees Celsius the acsual number is between 0.02 and 0.10 ppm
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