Test Kits

has anyone used the hanna checkers?
or know if theyre any good?
dont know alot about them, but was thinking about checking them out

 

For a reef, there is no single test kit that includes everything. For a fish-only, you can buy an API ro Red Sea master kit, which includes nitrate, nitrites, ammonia, pH, and (if Red Sea) a ballpark alkalinity reading.

For a reef, you need to add alkalinity, magnesium and calcium, preferably NOT Red Sea (old-style; the new style are much better, but you might not be able to find them) or API. Salifert is the best I've used, but I've heard Elos is good too.

 

With lower end kits like API the color differences are hard to read. Salifert is very easy to decipher as it usually makes a total color change according to the drop count, no guesswork.

 

Thanks to all for your answers, I really appreciate it. Now, being fairly new to the hobby, I don't really know what you guys are talking about when you say "Sailifert & API" are these name brands?

Sounds like there's not a test kit that does it all, is this correct?

 

API, Aquarium Pharmecuticals, makes kits with several individual kits bundled together. Salifert sells individual kits so you buy only what you need since they are much more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

 

Nope. If there were, it would be very, very expensive.