Test Kit Suggestions....

Almost ready to get the water flowing in my reef tank and need to pick up some test kits. I am hoping to find all-in one kits...one for the basics and one for the other levels that need to be monitored.

All suggestions and advice are greatly appreciated.

 

I like the Red Sea kits for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate easy to use and read
I like Salifert for Calc, Alk , Magnesium and Phosphate

Im certain that the Salifert kits would be great all round based on the 4 I use
and I know the Red Sea kits where good on Calc and Mag ( but Alk pro was suspect to say the least)

Steve

 

I don't recommend the Red Sea kit for Mg...just got one yesterday and it's a pain!!!

I LOVE my "API Saltwater master Test Kit" has everything you need except Mg (which I am finding that you need more than I thought!)

 

What do you use to test Mg?

 

You will want the basics(ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrate)(fro this I use API) & also a reef test kit(magnesium, phosphates, calcium, alkalinity). I don't have a reef yet so I will get these others when I do.

 

for a start, you can get the API reef kit and the API saltwater kit. This will have everything you need other than Mg.

For Mg I recommend Salifert (Red Sea is a pain).


You will find several of the API tests are hard to read (shades of yellow) while the salifert tests have pretty dramatic color changes. But they cost more.


So to save money, go with API kits and as they run out over the next year, replace them with Salifert tests.

You'll also want a refractometer for SG and you will most likely not like the liquid pH tests and want a probe for that. I use a probe pen that I got off eBay for pH. Much easier.

 

+1 on the API,good one to use when cycling a tank,cheap and easy to use.Down the road,Salifert is better for Mg,Ca and Alk.