Testing

[jdavid]

The new build should be happening relatively soon.

I want to make sure to get my calcium, alk, and mag levels correct and dosing pumps tuned in, and one thing I'm going to be investing in is all new test kits- or testers.

I would really appreciate some input. Which kits or testers do you use? Price is a concern (as always) so I'm not asking which kits are the absolute best, but what kits or testers are reasonably easy to use and accurate. Do you wish you had bought a checker/tester instead of a test kit? where do you buy your kits? Anyone have a place/site that they buy from repeatedly?

Lastly, what all do you test for, and how often?
I'm mostly concerned with nitrite, nitrate, calcium, alk, mag, and maybe pH and phosphate

 

[jbdreefs]

I will recommend a cheap API test kit for your amonnia, trite and trates during the cycle. Once the cycle is over, then invest in some test kits. I am partial to the seachem calcium kit and the red sea mag kit. I use a hanna checker for alk.

 

[picoreefguy]

i have the most of the seachem kits. phosphate, ph, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium although to be honest i rarely use them mostly because im lazy but partly because the calcium and magnesium kits are fairly involved (not hard just tedious)

 

[heathlindner25]

Red sea pro for:alk,mag,and cal..... these test perform correctly will tell you from 9.1 to 9.2 to 9.3 and so on for low range testing.
salifert for: nitrate,phos.

 

[jdavid]

I have probably 20 random test kits, probably the whole line of API test kits and then some seachem and Red Sea also.

I'm not actually worried about testing through a cycle. I have a decent nitrate kit to test every now and then (or when stuff doesn't look great) after the cycle.

I'm more concerned about calcium alk and mag.

I don't know how anyone could use dosing pumps for 2 part and not test, at least until you know that you are consistently hitting target range.

B- that is what I was sort of what I was worried about, too. Tedious test kits. I am considering purchasing a tester (poss Hannah checker) instead. I might actually ask for this stuff for my birthday in Jan lol

Edit: Heath, if you are using the Red Sea pro, could I stop by sometime and watch you test? Just to get an idea if that is the route I want to take. I need to see the changes that you have made as well

 

[heathlindner25]

JDavid;920357 wrote: I have probably 20 random test kits, probably the whole line of API test kits and then some seachem and Red Sea also.

I'm not actually worried about testing through a cycle. I have a decent nitrate kit to test every now and then (or when stuff doesn't look great) after the cycle.

I'm more concerned about calcium alk and mag.

I don't know how anyone could use dosing pumps for 2 part and not test, at least until you know that you are consistently hitting target range.

B- that is what I was sort of what I was worried about, too. Tedious test kits. I am considering purchasing a tester (poss Hannah checker) instead. I might actually ask for this stuff for my birthday in Jan lol

Edit: Heath, if you are using the Red Sea pro, could I stop by sometime and watch you test? Just to get an idea if that is the route I want to take. I need to see the changes that you have made as well

I'll be here all day sunday..

 

[jdavid]

I'll stop by after work probably around 3.

Do they sell the calcium mag alk kits on a combo pack? That would be pretty convenient

 

[heathlindner25]

JDavid;920360 wrote: I'll stop by after work probably around 3.

Do they sell the calcium mag alk kits on a combo pack? That would be pretty convenient

Sure do. around 50$ probably cheaper online. and then you just have to buy the refill kits which are around $15 each. done correctly they are an awesome set. refill kit 75 test

 

[tbub1221]

I really like the red sea kits.
I just bought the reef foundations kit with cal alk and mag in it and I already had the mag kit so if you need one let me know I'll swap it for a frag or something . a great magnesium kit only used 1/8 or less reagent

 

[jimmystephens]

+1 to red sea for alk/cal/mag. Heath got me hooked on these kits and they work well

 

[jennm]

I, personally, wouldn't recommend wasting money on API. Skip to decent tests and call it a day.

Seachem. Salifert, Red Sea.

Jenn

 

[ringo®]

I was going to switch to red sea from salifert, but with side by side testing (elos, salifert, red sea) it seemed like red sea was off on either alk or cal.....don't remember which one. Of course, this opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it (nothing)

 

[snowmansnow]

I use Red Sea Pro kits all around and they have worked well as far as I know

 

[heathlindner25]

Ringo®;920480 wrote: I was going to switch to red sea from salifert, but with side by side testing (elos, salifert, red sea) it seemed like red sea was off on either alk or cal.....don't remember which one. Of course, this opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it (nothing)

When you use the syringe with the tip, when you stop the stopper at 1 milliliter the air bubble needs to be at 8.5. if the air bubble varies from test to test your results will vary

 

[gregoryleonard]

JBDreefs;920353 wrote: I will recommend a cheap API test kit for your amonnia, trite and trates during the cycle. Once the cycle is over, then invest in some test kits. I am partial to the seachem calcium kit and the red sea mag kit. I use a hanna checker for alk.

+1 on the Ca, Mg and Ak test kits. Those are the ones I use as well.