I am turning my 90G FOWLR tank into a reef and want to get good testing equipment to ensure proper water parameters. Right now I am using API test kits which I know aren't the best so I would like to step it up, I am looking at the Salifert kits but have also heard about the Hanna kits. Are the Salifert kits good or should I just go for the Hanna checkers?
Best test kits?
- Thread starter jetlink82
- Start date
Here are my notes on the best test kits:
- Hanna Checker for PO4 (most accurate by far)
- Hanna Checker for Alk (easy to use, very accurate)
- Salifert for NO3 (easiest to read, accurate)
- Salifert for Mg (easy to see color change, accurate)
- API and Red Sea for Ca (easy to see color change, ease of use, accurate)
- Hanna Checker for PO4 (most accurate by far)
- Hanna Checker for Alk (easy to use, very accurate)
- Salifert for NO3 (easiest to read, accurate)
- Salifert for Mg (easy to see color change, accurate)
- API and Red Sea for Ca (easy to see color change, ease of use, accurate)
Respectfully disagree on API for Calcium... I've seen those read 600 when actual CA was 275 (using a calibrated Seachem kit).
I prefer Seachem, and Salifert and Red Sea Pro get honourable mentions.
And a refractometer for specific gravity, and a plain glass thermometer for temperature. If you use a digital thermometer or probe on a controller, have a plain thermometer as a backup.
Jenn
I prefer Seachem, and Salifert and Red Sea Pro get honourable mentions.
And a refractometer for specific gravity, and a plain glass thermometer for temperature. If you use a digital thermometer or probe on a controller, have a plain thermometer as a backup.
Jenn
No disagreement from me Jenn... Five minutes of your experience out weighs hours of Internet research! Also... good idea about the glass thermometer. I'll need to do that as backup to the probe.
The biggest issue with API for Calcium, that I've seen, is inconsistency. I don't know if the kits just spoil fast, or if it's a quality control thing, or what, but I've seen a couple be somewhat close, and others so far apart it's ridiculous. Consistency is the name of the game here.
The thing I've always liked about Seachem tests is that they come with a reference solution with a known value - so you can test a sample of that to make sure your method is right, and/or the reagents accurate. If there's any accuracy issue, you can contact Seachem and they'll replace reagents - I've only really seen that happen a time or two over the years.
The only "consistent" thing I've ever seen with API is that their ammonia kit will register .25 ammonia for no apparent reason (reagent expires or something...)
Jenn
The thing I've always liked about Seachem tests is that they come with a reference solution with a known value - so you can test a sample of that to make sure your method is right, and/or the reagents accurate. If there's any accuracy issue, you can contact Seachem and they'll replace reagents - I've only really seen that happen a time or two over the years.
The only "consistent" thing I've ever seen with API is that their ammonia kit will register .25 ammonia for no apparent reason (reagent expires or something...)
Jenn
