Are the salifert tests any good?

[SimplyVibing]

My API kit is terrible. I could probably taste the water and guess a better reading. I would love to get another kit, but I’m low on cash. The Salifert combo is reasonably priced (more so than Red Sea at least), but has anyone here used it? Is it accurate?

I would really prefer a kit as I’m terrible at keeping track of a million little doodads. Thanks in advance guys!!

 

[TheHarold]

For what parameter?
A Hanna checker is a pretty good investment for alkalinity.

 

[Auquanut]

I use Salifert for all of my testing. I have been for about 3 years. There are absolutely more accurate kits for different parameters, but Salifert seems to be easy, cheap, and consistant enough for my purposes. There are a lot of different opinions on this topic though.

 

[GabeM]

I use Salifert for all of my testing. I have been for about 3 years. There are absolutely more accurate kits for different parameters, but Salifert seems to be easy, cheap, and consistant enough for my purposes. There are a lot of different opinions on this topic though.

+1 - I exclusively use salifert, I test generally every week so it doesn't make sense to get anything more.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Salifert is fine for most things. The hanna alkalinity checker is worth its weight in gold however.

I would invest in a small Tupperware and keep all your test stuff in it. Things certainly have a way of getting lost.

 

[TheOne]

For the price, I doubt you can do better than salifert. I've picked up there kits from ebay for $10 shipped.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=salifert&_sacat=0&_sop=15

 

[Billdogg]

I've been using Salifert for all testing since I started about 30 years ago. Easy to use, consistent, repeatable results, always available at LFS and online, and a good price point.

 

[SimplyVibing]

For what parameter?
A Hanna checker is a pretty good investment for alkalinity.

Ammonia, nitrate, ph, KH, calcium, phosphate, all that stuff. Hanna is soooo expensive unfortunately

 

[madweazl]

I like Salifert for magnesium and nitrate but I'm not a fan of the rest. Over the past 25 years in the hobby, I've settled on the following:

Alkalinity - Hanna (simplicity at its finest)
Calcium - Red Sea (I was too inconsistent with the droppers in the Salifert kit and the Hanna is ridiculously tedious).
Magnesium - Salifert (super simple to use and consistent). I did just pick up an AquaForest Mg kit and I hate it (the droppers for reagent A and B are terrible)
Phosphate - Hanna (easy to perform and read)
Nitrate - Salifert (easy to perform, consistent, and the low range readability is nice).

 

[Scorpius]

The only reliable hannah checker worth buying is their ulr phosphorus checker.

 

[SimplyVibing]

For the price, I doubt you can do better than salifert. I've picked up there kits from ebay for $10 shipped.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=salifert&_sacat=0&_sop=15

Thanks! :)

 

[Auquanut]

There are a lot of different opinions on this topic though.

See? I told you there are a lot of opinions. In the end, go with what your budget and your gut tells you. Good luck.

 

[SimplyVibing]

+1 - I exclusively use salifert, I test generally every week so it doesn't make sense to get anything more.

See? I told you there are a lot of opinions. In the end, go with what your budget and your gut tells you. Good luck.

I like Salifert for magnesium and nitrate but I'm not a fan of the rest. Over the past 25 years in the hobby, I've settled on the following:

Alkalinity - Hanna (simplicity at its finest)
Calcium - Red Sea (I was too inconsistent with the droppers in the Salifert kit and the Hanna is ridiculously tedious).
Magnesium - Salifert (super simple to use and consistent). I did just pick up an AquaForest Mg kit and I hate it (the droppers for reagent A and B are terrible)
Phosphate - Hanna (easy to perform and read)
Nitrate - Salifert (easy to perform, consistent, and the low range readability is nice).

I ended up going with Salifert! Found the combo kit (calcium, KH, phosphate, mag, nitrate, ph) on pawtygo for only $66. Had some cash in PayPal so it only cost me $32 :cool:

 

[Zohar78]

for the money, salifert is typically hard to beat. I do basically the same as a Madweazl. basically you can buy the salifert, then when close to running out of reagents or money allows buy the Hannas.

I like Salifert for magnesium and nitrate but I'm not a fan of the rest. Over the past 25 years in the hobby, I've settled on the following:

Alkalinity - Hanna (simplicity at its finest)
Calcium - Red Sea (I was too inconsistent with the droppers in the Salifert kit and the Hanna is ridiculously tedious).
Magnesium - Salifert (super simple to use and consistent). I did just pick up an AquaForest Mg kit and I hate it (the droppers for reagent A and B are terrible)
Phosphate - Hanna (easy to perform and read)
Nitrate - Salifert (easy to perform, consistent, and the low range readability is nice).

 

[Snoopy 67]

For me, as stated by BRS the NYOS alkalinity kt is easier to decipher with their Yellow colors.
Phosphate I use a Photometer meter by Milwaukee.
The others are Salifert.

 

[Mjl714]

I like Salifert for magnesium and nitrate but I'm not a fan of the rest. Over the past 25 years in the hobby, I've settled on the following:

Alkalinity - Hanna (simplicity at its finest)
Calcium - Red Sea (I was too inconsistent with the droppers in the Salifert kit and the Hanna is ridiculously tedious).
Magnesium - Salifert (super simple to use and consistent). I did just pick up an AquaForest Mg kit and I hate it (the droppers for reagent A and B are terrible)
Phosphate - Hanna (easy to perform and read)
Nitrate - Salifert (easy to perform, consistent, and the low range readability is nice).

I find this preference for specific test kits is right in line with my experience and conclusions. The Salifert calcium bottle #2 “Ca-2” is a PIA.