Test Kits and Reliability

[NC2WA]

From all the research I've done on this site and people I've talked to, it appears that Salifert appears to be the most realiable test kit. With that said, what is the next reliable test kit on the market?? IO, Seachem, Red Sea, etc..??

Kirk

 

[james734]

I'd say Elos or Seachem.

 

[fly guy]

heres my take on testing FWIW.....may save you some money if you buy into it

Any cheap tests for ammonia and nitrite are fine. The fact that they exist is enough of a result. These arent really even necessary IMO. Just let your tank cycle competely before you add anything....and if you are missing any LARGE fish you need to get them out........these should never be an issue

Any cheap tests inclucing the dip strips will work fine for nitrates. As your tank matures and your husbandry habits improve, this number will go go down or go away altogether on its own. Ballpark number is fine in the meantime.

Buy salifert calcium and dkh.........these are the important ones IMO. You can add magnesium to that if you start to keep lots of sps and/or clams

You can buy a salifert phosphate test kit, but it really doesnt read low enough, and the colorimeters that can are very expensive. If you can detect it with salifert, youve got a TON and most likely algae issues. you are better off buying a TDS meter to be able to ensure that your RO/DI is working properly and you are starting with pure water. Along with that skim well and dont overfeed and all will be well. Add cooking your rocks, and lifting it off the sandbed to this will also help your cause in the phosphate game.

Save your money on PH test kits. Buy a ph monitor and you wont ever need to test...you just keep it calibrated and you will always know what your ph is by simply looking. Otherwise i would suggest a salifert kit for ph, but this is another one that you will learn that isnt so necessary after a while. Keep your alkalinity in check and make sure you have good surface agitation and are providing the tank with fresh air so it can off gas the co2 and your ph will be in line.

All other trace elements will just get taken care of in your regular water changes and dont need tested for

jmo

 

[DonW]

Any cheap tests for ammonia and nitrite are fine. The fact that they exist is enough of a result. These arent really even necessary IMO. Just let your tank cycle competely before you add anything....and if you are missing any LARGE fish you need to get them out........these should never be an issue

Any cheap tests inclucing the dip strips will work fine for nitrates. As your tank matures and your husbandry habits improve, this number will go go down or go away altogether on its own. Ballpark number is fine in the meantime.

This I disagree with. I could never count how many time someone has posted a problem that was nonexistant due to lousy test kits. Salifert test kits are not that expensive and understanding that the hobby is not a cheap one to begin with makes the cost a mute point. There are plenty of ways to save money but test kits are not one of them.

But to answer the origonal question, I have only used salifert kits so dont know about the others. I may have to break down and try elios if salifert doesnt start keeping up with the sales demand soon.

Don

 

[NC2WA]

Well, I decided to spend the money and get several Salifert kits. (Nitrate, dKH, and Calcium). The Elos kits are very pricey, even more pricer than Salifert.

 

[MarineTeng]

i have read some threads that the salifert dKH test kits with certain dates have been getting odd readings, that was a couple months ago i think when i read it and didn't follow up completely so i'd look into that a bit more maybe

 

[burning2nd]

Seachem FTW