Recomended Testing Kits... What do you use?

Alright, so I have a few different testing kits and so far none of them agree on my pH. My cheap one is just a test strip for an array of easy tests (not my primary testing method, just use it to get a quick count on nitrite, nitrate, and pH). I also have an API test kit for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. I also have another kit by Marine Aquariums that checks for pH and Alkalinity (although the alk test is a little weird).

My dilemma is that every test gives me a different reading for my pH. I don't pay much attention to the test strips as I have no confidence in their quality, however depending on which test I use my pH can be between 7.9 and 8.2. I would like to have something that is a little more reliable/accurate than a .3 approximation

Also what other tests should I have and what brands do you recommend. I will be running a FOWLR tank (maybe I will get adventurous down the road and run a reef tank).

 

The one I use is relatively inexpensive. It's Tetratest. It measures ph, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, gh(freshwater), kh and co2. It seems pretty accurate to me as I've never used anything else..I have brought water to my lfs and it tested the same.

Thanks to Geek for helping me understand what the kh was and how to figure that out!

 

I've used Salifert, Hegan, Elos test kits. I now use a PH monitor for my PH.
I would highly recommend Salifert and Elos for anything you need.

 

Tetratest and Red Sea Test kits

Red Sea sells a one box PH, Alk, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite and something else (forget off the top of my head) kit that I've been drooling over, but have been waiting for my Tetratest kits to run out. I use Red Sea calcium and Magnesium test kits right now.
Red Sea also has a Calcium Reactor test box set that looks pretty nice. I like the idea of having a single (mind you somewhat long) box that holds all the common kits I use in a nice orderly fashion instead of getting them out one by one. The red sea boxes also have holes in them to hold the test tubes in front of your reagents and color comparison strips, which also have simplified instructions on the back. Major + in terms of design thoughtfulness of the box and instructions, even for complicated tests like Magnesium!!!

The one thing that annoys me about both Red Sea and Tetratest are the plastic tubes. Red Sea uses round tubes though, and has cutouts in the boxes to hold them. I'm replacing the tubes with glass ones, so the Red Sea kit design is a better match for what I'm trying to do.

Reason: If you do a lot of testing of Ammonia or Nitrate, you'll notice the test skews a little over time. The main reason is residue left in the plastic tubes that doesn't come out. If you do the same test in a glass tube, the residue will come off instead of leeching into the plastic. I made the mistake early on of leaving the solution in the tube for a couple of hours. DON'T DO IT! I can't use that tube for anything but PH anymore, as it starts turning florescent yellow the second I put the first reagent of the Ammonia Kit in it!

If you're serious about measuring PH, you may want to spring for a meter, but honestly, unless you have a reactor, (In which case, you probably should have a controller, not just a meter) PH shouldn't really be anything you need to worry about controlling directly. It's a good indicator that something is wrong, but don't try to control it, as you'll almost certainly be defeated. Keep ALK, Calcium and Magnesium balanced, (Emphasis on BALANCED... DO NOT think of those three as being separate!!!) and the water churning well, and PH will stay in the right range unless you have some major detritus or other problems.

I'm interested in a PH meter because I have a freshwater plant tank with a CO2 injector, and that VERY DIRECTLY affects PH (CO2 + Water = Carbonic Acid) and so knowing the PH of the water helps me adjust the injector. Just an example of when knowing the PH precisely, and constantly is a good idea.

 

+2 on Salifert, good and easy to use. ;D

 

i use red sea so much easyer to understand, i have 2 sera test kits and as soon as they are finnished ill be gettin red sea test kits to replace those too,
the only thing i like about sera test kits is the big glass test tube.

-jamie

 

hagen works okay for me . matches readings what the LFS gets when they test it for me .

 

I have a Red Sea kit that I need to throw in the trash. I hate color coded sheets to compair the water to. I would much rather use a chart by how many ml you use for the correct ppm.

 

;D I have a red sea set and i am alway guessing if i picked the right color

 

+2 on that!