SW testkits..

[greenmaji]

I know lamotte and hach have the high end covered as far as testing water is consered.. Im wondering what good testkits are being used that well dont cost a forutune.. thanks..

 

[Devilishturtles]

I use the AP saltwater master test kit and it does fine for me. Only thing else I had to buy was a calcium and phosphate kit in addition to the AP kit.

 

[BillyZ]

I started with... red sea, i think (it came in the "Starter package" that my tank and everything else came with) and wasn't happy with them at all. I asked this same question shortly after I got started and went with Salifert based on accuracy/value comparisons. I've been using them since and have been very happy with their accuracy and ease of use.

 

[Fluff]

I use the Aquarium Pharmecueticals brand for the general tests. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphates and ph. But use salifert for my calcium and iodine tests. I've been happy with these kits.

 

[runway1]

Hagen seems pretty consistant to me. I cross check it with *gasp * a test strip and, yes, pretty skecthy but...they both match.

At least I got THAT going for me

 

[greenmaji]

I havnt bought alot of stuff yet. that includes the little things like testkits and salt and such.. Ive been bussy thinking about how I want to do the setup.. its getting close to crunch time.. I have a full set of freshwater kits to test the water Im mixing with.. but thats about it.. so any oppinon is a good one right about now..
btw thats funny runway1

 

[tecwzrd]

I’ve been using the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master Test Kit also. Usually runs about $30 in the lfs but you can get it for $16.99 + shipping online.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx?T1=F55GX+1044+0228
For the money I feel it’s the best deal to test the basic parameters. These liquid tests have been pretty accurate imo and I have used them for 8+ years.

The Master Test Kit doesn’t test for CA, GH, or PO4, so you will have to buy those separately if you need those tests also and they usually run about $7 per test. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals also sells these test but I know a lot of people prefer Seachem or Salifert tests for reef systems.

 

[greenmaji]

I have a PO4 testkit I got for FW testing.. is it the same thing?

btw.. I dont want to sidetrack the thread with this question.. it was just a though.. thanks

 

[flame82]

i use aquarium pharmaceuticals, redsea, and sailfert. i like ap for the quick check just a few drops in shake, and for really acurrate test that take longer i use sailfert. just watch out for the nitrate ap test mine has three shades of yellow that can be hard to tell the difference so i use red sea for nitrate.

i have the ap test for phos and it will work for fresh or salt or at least that what the directions say. so i would you are safe with it.

 

[tecwzrd]

just watch out for the nitrate ap test mine has three shades of yellow that can be hard to tell the difference so i use red sea for nitrate.

I have heard that from a lot of people and wonder if they are color blind or if it’s just easier for me? I agree the 2nd and 3rd colors are very close but for me it’s pretty easy to tell when it’s 0 and anything other than yellow is higher than 20 ppm and needs a pwc.

I just have a fowlr but if I kept any thing that was really sensitive to higher NO3 then I would change to the sailfert test. As it is I do 10% changes weekly so NO3 is almost always <5

 

[MT79]

I prefer Seachem or Salifert tests. Seachem's a little easier on the wallet.

PO4 testkit I got for FW testing.. is it the same thing?

FWIW Seachem PO4 test can be used on both...it may depend on the manufacturer though.

 

[greenmaji]

Its an AP PO4 kit..

 

[Phyl]

I like Salifert. Great test kits. I use those almost exclusively though I do have some old AP test kits for things like ammo that I rarely test.

 

[MT79]

Its an AP PO4 kit..

I'm not familiar w/ AP test, maybe someone else can help. I would think the instructions would tell you if you have them. HTH

 

[flame82]

well thats the thing about the nitrate and its color i have a few things that are more sensitive to it and make is hard like you said its either zero or 20 which i like to see a little bit more detail. i just got tired of trying to guess because depending on how the light hits it just look like mmaybee this one well no maybee this one well crap time for a new test with different colors and not shades augh i have test that have different shades of color that why i choose red sea and sailfret they are perfect clear to me no shadyness and guessing.
" mt79" heres a link to their site
http://aquariumpharm.com/aqtest.html

 

[greenmaji]

seems there PO4 testkit only comes in SW and FW applications.. TY.. my bad for asking I should have just run down the info myself..
Ok.. back to test kit brands.. thanks fokes..

 

[greenmaji]

I started with... red sea, i think (it came in the "Starter package" that my tank and everything else came with) and wasn't happy with them at all. I asked this same question shortly after I got started and went with Salifert based on accuracy/value comparisons. I've been using them since and have been very happy with their accuracy and ease of use.

There is a incredibly large number of tests that Salifert produces..
Wich ones are you useing?

 

[BillyZ]

I started with... red sea, i think (it came in the "Starter package" that my tank and everything else came with) and wasn't happy with them at all. I asked this same question shortly after I got started and went with Salifert based on accuracy/value comparisons. I've been using them since and have been very happy with their accuracy and ease of use.

There is a incredibly large number of tests that Salifert produces..
Wich ones are you useing?

Just your basic 6... ammonie, nitrite, nitrate, CA, Alk, pH

 

[greenmaji]

Phosphate?

Ive wondered if anywone was testing for strontium and or iodine as well..

and whats the oppinon on seachems testikits? if anyone has experance with them..