Saltwater Test Kits - Aquarium Advice

ajg1460 · 02-08-2005, 09:09 PM

Can someone please recommend a good [acronym:cb3a240ebc="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:cb3a240ebc] test kit. My local [acronym:cb3a240ebc="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:cb3a240ebc] has the following- Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit - A complete kit for testing saltwater & reef aquariums. Tests include: high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. With 4 test tubes, tray & rack. for $25 and Petsmart has the same item for $14. But before I dish out the cast though I'd ask some more experienced hobbiest.

MT79 · 02-08-2005, 09:30 PM

Salifert and Seachem are the only test I'd use on a marine tank. You can get a Seachem "master" kit for about $20-25 online. Includes [acronym:99c52b1917="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:99c52b1917], Ammo, Nitrate, nitrite, [acronym:99c52b1917="Alkalinity"]Alk[/acronym:99c52b1917].

electrikat · 02-08-2005, 09:51 PM

I use the kit you are talking about. Petsmart. It is the same one my [acronym:ae55fcd48a="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:ae55fcd48a] uses to test water when you get them to check it. I've been using that brand for nearly 2 years now and have never had a problem with it. However I use the better brands for my phos, [acronym:ae55fcd48a="Calcium"]ca[/acronym:ae55fcd48a], [acronym:ae55fcd48a="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:ae55fcd48a], etc. After you've got the setup going pretty good and are fully stocked up you will probably only be using the nitrate test regularly. I only check the amm and nitrite about once a month but [acronym:ae55fcd48a="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:ae55fcd48a] and nitrate every week before the water changes.

mjvincent · 02-08-2005, 11:41 PM

I am using the same kit too, and I don't see any problems with it... Just that liquid based tests can expire so check your box to see if it has an expiration date...

malkore · 02-09-2005, 10:26 PM

Honestly, I'd go with SeaChem over the Aquarium Pharm. kit that you're talking about. AP kits are fine for freshwater, but saltwater really does need that extra level of accuracy.

02-08-2005, 09:09 PM	#1
ajg1460 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Spring Branch, Texas Posts: 52 Images: 4	Saltwater Test Kits Can someone please recommend a good [acronym:cb3a240ebc="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:cb3a240ebc] test kit. My local [acronym:cb3a240ebc="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:cb3a240ebc] has the following- Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit - A complete kit for testing saltwater & reef aquariums. Tests include: high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. With 4 test tubes, tray & rack. for $25 and Petsmart has the same item for $14. But before I dish out the cast though I'd ask some more experienced hobbiest.

02-08-2005, 09:30 PM	#2
MT79 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: philadelphia. PA. Posts: 2,653 Images: 23	Salifert and Seachem are the only test I'd use on a marine tank. You can get a Seachem "master" kit for about $20-25 online. Includes [acronym:99c52b1917="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:99c52b1917], Ammo, Nitrate, nitrite, [acronym:99c52b1917="Alkalinity"]Alk[/acronym:99c52b1917]. __________________ Mike

02-08-2005, 09:51 PM	#3
electrikat Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: texas Posts: 1,474	I use the kit you are talking about. Petsmart. It is the same one my [acronym:ae55fcd48a="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:ae55fcd48a] uses to test water when you get them to check it. I've been using that brand for nearly 2 years now and have never had a problem with it. However I use the better brands for my phos, [acronym:ae55fcd48a="Calcium"]ca[/acronym:ae55fcd48a], [acronym:ae55fcd48a="Alkinity"]alk[/acronym:ae55fcd48a], etc. After you've got the setup going pretty good and are fully stocked up you will probably only be using the nitrate test regularly. I only check the amm and nitrite about once a month but [acronym:ae55fcd48a="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:ae55fcd48a] and nitrate every week before the water changes. __________________ Good luck! Kat 90 malawia cichlid 55 planted tropical community http://www.aquarank.com/in.php?id=fishfree

02-08-2005, 11:41 PM	#4
mjvincent Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Waxahachie, TX Posts: 436	I am using the same kit too, and I don't see any problems with it... Just that liquid based tests can expire so check your box to see if it has an expiration date... __________________ Mike Jones 32 gallon hex, 34 lbs [acronym:9256a99a06="Live rock"]lr[/acronym:9256a99a06], Prizm protein skimmer, fluval 104, 1 maxi jet 750, 1 maxi jet 1200 [acronym:9256a99a06="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:9256a99a06], current 40w 50/50 [acronym:9256a99a06="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:9256a99a06], 1 [acronym:9256a99a06="Normal Output Fluorescents"]NO[/acronym:9256a99a06] powerglo 19watt, 1 daylight [acronym:9256a99a06="Normal Output Fluorescents"]NO[/acronym:9256a99a06] 65w (equiv), two damsels, 1 green brittlestar, 1 peppermint shrimp, turbo snails, red legged hermit crabs, kenyan tree coral, leather coral, pumping xenia, mushroom coral, green star polyps, orange button polyps

02-09-2005, 10:26 PM	#5
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	Honestly, I'd go with SeaChem over the Aquarium Pharm. kit that you're talking about. AP kits are fine for freshwater, but saltwater really does need that extra level of accuracy. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

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