Test kits

jhaun0211 · Apr 11, 2017

What kind of test kits should I get for my tank. Trying to do a reef tank. It's cycling currently.

Joshua Hurst · Apr 11, 2017

all redsea man. they have the best quality

BlueDevil · Apr 11, 2017

As big a fan as I am of Red Sea products, I wouldn't say they're the best across the board. Here are the products I use for the parameters I do check:

Ammonia/Nitrite - API Master Test kit. You will likely only need these tests during the cycling process and for some rare cases once the tank has been established.
Nitrate - Salifert
pH - monitored by Apex
Alkalinity - Hanna Checker. I started with Red Sea here but the inconsistencies with their titrant and the titration end color led to my switch. Also, the checker doesn't need any interpretations of color so that helps too.
Calcium - Red Sea
Magnesium - Red Sea
Phosphate - Hanna ULR Check

Engloid · Apr 11, 2017

One problem I have with a lot of test kits is the lighting when reading samples. I stand under a light I get one reading. In front of a window, another..... its all about how mich light and where shadows are. The struggle is real for me.

Joshua Hurst · Apr 11, 2017

Engloid said:
One problem I have with a lot of test kits is the lighting when reading samples. I stand under a light I get one reading. In front of a window, another..... its all about how mich light and where shadows are. The struggle is real for me.

I always stand in direct sunlight to fix this problem.

Brad Bessett · Apr 11, 2017

Phosphate - Hanna
CA, MAG, DKH - Salifert
NO3 - API

BlueDevil · Apr 11, 2017

Engloid said:
One problem I have with a lot of test kits is the lighting when reading samples. I stand under a light I get one reading. In front of a window, another..... its all about how mich light and where shadows are. The struggle is real for me.

Most test kit instructions recommend checking the end color under diffused light, not direct light. I try to mitigate that issue by testing at the same time in the same spot. That way for the most part the lighting is as identical possible.

Reefrookie220 · Apr 11, 2017

I prefer salifert, when a Hannah isn't readily available. The elimination of reading a color palette is a no brainer for me.

jhaun0211 · Apr 11, 2017

Another question I have i got water from the hatchery nearby and to save money i bought blue buckets from lowes to transport it. It worked fine but is that safe to carry my water in? Are there any oils or anything like that in them?

Reefrookie220 · Apr 12, 2017

Those buckets should be fine, I've used them and many other hobbyists do as well

Tautog · Apr 12, 2017

Red Sea is easy, watch for a color change
Buy a Hanna also for Alkalinity

Engloid · Apr 12, 2017

Joshua Hurst said:
I always stand in direct sunlight to fix this problem.

But what you are doing is just consistency. You may be consistently wrong, right?

I don't know how much light the test manufacturer wants me to have when looking at the results. I can literally walk two feet or simply turn another direction and get drastically different results. I don't really know how everybody else addresses this.

Joshua Hurst · Apr 13, 2017

Engloid said:
But what you are doing is just consistency. You may be consistently wrong, right? I don't know how much light the test manufacturer wants me to have when looking at the results. I can literally walk two feet or simply turn another direction and get drastically different results. I don't really know how everybody else addresses this.

I would rather have consistently wrong results; than have a wide variety of wrong results.

BlueDevil · Apr 13, 2017

Engloid said:
But what you are doing is just consistency. You may be consistently wrong, right? I don't know how much light the test manufacturer wants me to have when looking at the results. I can literally walk two feet or simply turn another direction and get drastically different results. I don't really know how everybody else addresses this.

What do you mean by drastically? Moving to different lighting might change by alk reading by maybe 0.1-0.3 dkh or Ca by 10-20 points at most. I don't think either of those are drastic and well within an acceptable range of error. We are working with hobby grade kits after all so even the most accurate test is not truly accurate.

Engloid · Apr 13, 2017

BlueDevil said:
What do you mean by drastically? Moving to different lighting might change by alk reading by maybe 0.1-0.3 dkh or Ca by 10-20 points at most. I don't think either of those are drastic and well within an acceptable range of error. We are working with hobby grade kits after all so even the most accurate test is not truly accurate.

Look at the salifert Phosphate test. The increments 0, .03, .1, .25, .5, 1, and 3. The change from .03 to .1 is drastic...over 300%. The change from .25 to .5 is 100%. The change from .5 to 1 is 100%. The change from 1 to 3 is 300%. I'd call even a 100% change to be drastic.

Now, looking at the shades, there is very little change from 0 to .25. The change from .05 to .1 is a little more noticeable, and the change from 1 to 3 is pretty drastic. Give me any single sample, and I can easily change lighting on it, in the same room, to change the color to either above or below it, if not farther.

Engloid · Apr 13, 2017

Joshua Hurst said:
I would rather have consistently wrong results; than have a wide variety of wrong results.

If you consistently are reading alkalinity wrong, it can be more devastating than to have it change slowly. Even an expired test kit can read consistently... which can lead to overdosing pretty easily. Imagine dosing to raise alk and the test keeps reading the same thing day after day.

I just wish there were easier and more definitive ways to test parameters.

BlueDevil · Apr 13, 2017

Engloid said:
Look at the salifert Phosphate test. The increments 0, .03, .1, .25, .5, 1, and 3. The change from .03 to .1 is drastic...over 300%. The change from .25 to .5 is 100%. The change from .5 to 1 is 100%. The change from 1 to 3 is 300%. I'd call even a 100% change to be drastic.

Now, looking at the shades, there is very little change from 0 to .25. The change from .05 to .1 is a little more noticeable, and the change from 1 to 3 is pretty drastic. Give me any single sample, and I can easily change lighting on it, in the same room, to change the color to either above or below it, if not farther.

I can't comment on the Salifert phosphate kit cos I use the Hanna ULR Checker for that test. Likewise I use the Hanna checker for my alk test as well. Takes the color guesswork issues that you mentioned out of the picture. The Ca and NO3 tests are the only ones I use color coded tests for.

Jisko · Apr 13, 2017

I have an API test kit... 100% garbage haha I did a water change tested the water then waited a week did another test... some how my calcium, mag, and alk all got higher after a week xD... idk i just tossed the kit things all over the place