P loves salifert

So far, for me, Salifert wins the best test kit game.


I started using API. Not having any point of comparison, I liked them. Easyish to do, cheap, reliable, etc. I replaced API kits with API kits.

Then I got a Red Sea Mg kit (no API one). Again, no point of comparison for Mg testing, but compared to my API, I thought this was the most difficult test I have ever done in my life. Reliable, if you trust yourself to keep track during all the dripping, counting, swirling... Whatever I thought.


Then I got a salifert test kit for Mg once the Red Sea was used up. WOW, this is sooo much easier and sooo much faster than the Red Sea kit. This test rules. That was a few months ago.


Here the other day I needed a new Alk test. I decided to try Salifert instead of API (or Red Sea) based on my experience with other parameter kits from same brand.

When I first opened the Alk kit, I thought this looks a lot more complicated than the API one. Then I actually did it. I tried first with the free 7.3dKH solution to make sure I knew how to do it and then I did it "for real". It came out to 12.7 (my API has been reading 13). So it's very accurate, both of them. But this Alk test from Salifert turned out to be a lot easier to do. And when I finished, I was confident. Whereas with API I always had in the back of my head "did I miscount, or did I shake my arm off completely?"



I also realized - and this may be obvious to some, but I completely missed it - that all the various tests from each brand are going to be similar. Like, all API tests involve the same sort of vials, bottles, shaking your arm off, counting drops, etc. The Saliftert ones have you do barely anything and then use a 1ml syringe. You don't have to count it you just look at the reading.

So now I can reasonably assume the Red Sea ones are going to be a PITA just like the Mg test.

Also, so far, salifert color changes have been dramatic. API has always been hard for me to read. Is it this yellow or that yellow? With salifert, it's blue, then it's pink. Not shades of a color.

So in the end, salifert is worth the extra money to me. I'm looking forward to eventually replacing all my API kits with Salifert.

Just my 2 cents for anyone looking into which kits to get...

 

For the Red Sea ones, the only kits that are titration (dropping in with a syringe) and shaking are Pro Alk and MG, the rest are drip-n-shake kits.

 

Good review. I have Salifert and do like the obvious color change, but I seriously lack the patience to test. LOL But that's my own problem. Glad you've found a brand you really like!

 

That Mg one from Red Sea... ugh. It's got what, 3 bottles. You have to do so many drops of bottle a, then one drop from bottle b, swirl 15 seconds, repeat total 5 times (I don't remember exactly), then you get to the titration application. Super annoying and easy to lose track if you get distracted at all (yay kids).

The salifert one has you put in some drops, a scoop, then use the syringe. Doesn't sound all that different in type, but in practice, it's drastically different and the room for user error is incredibly reduced with Salifert, imo.

 

I started using RedSea when I got into the hobby and my results were always very inconsitent and I swore off RS forever. Then I changed to the API Master kit and have used them since. I was disappointed when I realized API doesn't make a Mg. kit but there was no way I'd buy RS again so I bought a Salifert and I have to say that it's the easiet to determine the color change point. I love 'em! I've bought SF kits for calcium, pH and Alk but I only use them if the cheaper API tests for those three give me 'unbelievable' results. A couple of months ago I was short on money and in need of a Mg. kit again so I broke down and wasted 12 + shipping on a RS. Used it once or twice and ordered another SF kit.

 

Thanks KC. I have another thread around here somewhere that shows the past year of my parameters... My system is very stable nowadays so I only test once a month or so. And I'll test again a week or so after I dose Mg to make sure my Ca is where I want it. I end up testing the big 5 (alk/ca/mg/SG/pH) probably on average every 4 weeks or so.


I test the rest every few months just out of practice or if something looks off.


The first year I tested much more often. The first 6 months I tested weekly (or near weekly).

 

I test weekly on my 29g, been doing it for about 2yrs now? I use API and it is difficult at times to identify between "shades of a color" (lol). So I might switch to SF. Idk yet. I do need to buy more test kits for when I start a reef, anyways..

 

+1 on the salifert testing kits! I gotta say the same as everyone else...the obvious color change makes it almost foolproof. A couple of times, I have had some pretty high Alk readings, so I would take water to LFS and bingo....they would get the same readings. Very accurate and easy to read. I know when you first get started in this hobby everything is so expensive and so you see cheaper test kits and say to yourself that this is a small way to save some money. But, in the long run, they are well worth the money!