API test kits

[JoshStanley]

I’ve heard the saltwater API test kits are just freshwater kits rebranded as saltwater and can be inaccurate. Is this true and if so what are some better options that I can get instead?

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Not sure about that, but it’s generally accepted in the hobby that API kits aren’t great. Nitrate is really bad.

Salifert are better and pretty affordable. Have been around forever.

If you want even better for nitrate and phosphate, hanna checkers are your best bet.

 

[LPS Bum]

They’re somewhat to pretty unreliable. Salifert and Red Sea make pretty good test kits. The Hanna checkers can be good, but are pricey to buy and use.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Which parameters are you asking about?

 

[CKW]

They’re somewhat to pretty unreliable. Salifert and Red Sea make pretty good test kits. The Hanna checkers can be good, but are pricey to buy and use.

Agreed!!! API are inexpensive but do not deliver a consistent result. Hanna are very good but expensive. Having said that, how much do you have invested into your tank?? Bet it’s more than a good test kit.

 

[nickng]

API nitrate test kit reagents can be used in the Hanna HR nitrate tester for accurate readings around 10 ppm. Starts to be inaccurate at over 15ppm using this method.
Hanna ULR phosphate accurate above 0.08ppm below that it starts giving an error margin of ~0.03ppm.
Red sea phosphate pro with the color wheels is accurate and easy to read as long as it’s read under bright daylight or 6.5k light.
Salifert nitrate and phosphate are good too but the jump in ppm level is too large

 

[nickng]

API calcium test totally inaccurate out by 100ppm when I last tried it.
Salifert is good and great value for Alk, Ca, Mg. I get readings that are within 0.1 dKh and within 10ppm for Ca, Mg when checked with saltwater of known parameters.

 

[bradreef]

I disagree with the blanket statement that API are inaccurate or bad. Some suck and some are fine. I actually like the alk test for a quick job and the alk from Hanna has issues. The calcium test is decent as well and hannas calcium is terrible. I think Salifert phos sucks and Hanna is the best here. Some of the red sea are too tedious. Simply find what works best for you and know that there isn't a clear best at every test.