Chemicals that are a must

[neoxro]

That i can get from SWF.
Test kit recommendations?

 

[lion_crazz]

The best test kit (accuracy) is Salifert, but they do not make a complete kit. As for complete kit, the easiest to use, while still being accurate, is Aquarium Pharmaceutical.
Chemicals that are always good to have on hand:
-pH buffer (SeaChem's 8.2 is generally pretty good)
-some sort of biological bacteria (NitroVec, Stability - in case there is an emergency ammonia spike and you do not have water for a quick water change)
-Iodine (Lugol's or Tropic Marin - so that you can do a quick coral dip if something looks bad or has a bad bug on it)
Cannot think of any more. More people will have suggestions, I am sure.

 

[neoxro]

very appriciated
thankyou

 

[renogaw]

sry, but the little asterisk that should have been there is salifert is the most accurate that they sell. Most people are having major trouble with their alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium test kits. and... those are the three most important test kits to have. hopefully you haven't bought them yet, but most people here are looking towards the hagen and lamont brands, but swf doesnt sell them.
also, please don't ask where to buy them because that's against swf.com's policy

 

[lion_crazz]

I agree, Lamont is the most accurate, but most LFS' do not carry them at all. I was unaware that Hagen made decent kits at all.

 

[renogaw]

our reef club is finding out that some of their kits are very accurate, especially phosphate. we've tested them vs electronic test kits and found dead on results.

 

[lion_crazz]

really? The nutrafin ones??

 

[renogaw]

yea, our president did the test:
I use the Salifert kit. It read less than .03. I used the Hagen and it was about 1/2 way between 0 and .25. I used a club members meter the other day, and it read .13.
its tough because there are almost NO PO4 kits that actually read low levels of phosphates i guess lamontte is pretty good though until you use a meter.

 

[neoxro]

Salt mix
test kit - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate
low level nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, calcium, magnisium
ph buffer
iodine
a biological bacteria
Anything else to add??

 

[renogaw]

copper test kit isn't a bad idea, but not all that needed.
a refractometer is an absolute must though imo, more than the test kits