Final Sumary
Starting with the main 3 parameters I titled this thread for there was some very interesting and wild results. I think if there really can be an overall winner that would be Salifert as it was consistent and reliable every time for all parameters I've used it for so far even beyond the "big 3" (though I did not like it for PO4 due to readability.) To me the looser over all in this would be AWT.
AWT if following their recommendations I would be all at the same time trying to lower my salinity, raise my calcium, lower magnesium, and lower alkalinity. The results were just all over the place. I would love to know how they do many of their measurements especially for Salinity. In every instance even in past comparisons it's been off compared to everything else. Calcium lower and their Mg quite a bit higher. I understand variances will happen between tests but should be with in a range of accuracy. Like with Alkalinity where they provide a result to the decimal point I would expect a +/- of at least .5 or under dKH. Between the two samples that were taken from my tank at the same time was over 1 dKH off. At least calcium and Mg was with in 20ppm of each other between samples which I would be fine with.
I think I've ranted enough about AWT between now and my previous AWT comparison thread. One place I will not use again any time soon.
Alkalinity:
I already kind of summarized this above and don't have much to add to it. All the kits and even AWT were pretty close to each other around 11-12dKH. Personally I liked using API as I really don't need that much higher Resolution. If I did Hanna or Salifert would be my first choice. The Hanna Checker was very easy to use but really so is API. I'm still kind of split between going forward with those two. Nyos has the exact same resolution as API but cost is twice as much so not worth it to me. Elos was slightly higher resolution with .5dKH resolution but costs just as much or more then Salifert which Salifert has a much higher resolution so would be a better kit for the money.
Calcium:
Salifert may be the overall winner but API still has my vote for this parameter. API is just so easy compared to all the others and a more then high enough resolution of 20ppm. I'm sure I did something wrong which is hard to do with the API kit but something silly like didn't count the right number of drops or a drop missed the vial, etc. If I did that wrong by 1 drop would mean a result of 480.
For a higher resolution kit Salifert, Elos, Red Sea all seems more then capable to produce a reliable number. All had pretty much the same kind of steps and needing to watch the end point colors and not stopping on purple. I have no answer for Nyos and that is one more kit I will not look at using again. It's results are well out of the range of a +/- accuracy thing. For me a +/- 20ppm range is more then acceptable for calcium even if the kit says it's better then that. Nyos is supposed to be better then that.
Magnesium:
I do not know why I keep trying Red Sea Mg Pro. I have given it many chances and not once have I gotten a reliable number. I've gotten very low and very high results in the past and now. Of all the kits and places this is one that I trust the least and most frustrated with. I've been happy with all the other Red Sea testing kits. This makes the Calcium, Alk, Mg bundle to me to be not worth it.
Elos Mg kit was also off but on the lower side. It could be the 2 phase approach which I do not like at all. Way to much room for error. Elos PO4 Pro kit was awesome and Calcium and Alk in line with the others. So, this was kind of disappointing.
Salifert. This really just solidifies Salifert as that overall winner here. It's nailed it in all three of these parameters and many others. It may not be my go to for everything but I know I can count on Salifert if I ever needed too. If someone wanted to stick with a single brand for all tests Salifert is it. more then enough accuracy, high enough resolution, and consistent. Could not ask more of a hobby grade kit. I would even stack it up against the "professionals" (ahem AWT...)
Triton:
And talking about professional labs, I've already ranted about AWT enough, Triton has given some interesting results over time as well. But overall I think I can easily count on Triton for the major elements. I'm still skeptical on the minor ones. There were some slight variance between the two samples I sent but I think perfectly acceptable. I'm not going to get into testing with them every month but I still certainly see myself doing it 1-2x per year. Purely out of curiosity and enjoyment.
My most recent results were pretty darn good I think. Interesting that most all those weird metals are all but gone. No more Iron, Zinc or Tin. Al still slightly there but seems to be going. Where it's coming or came from I have no idea. I do have a Fiji leather but don't think it's getting irritated by the Aluminum levels or anything else. I'm not to concerned about it. It seems like if I do nothing is better then doing something. Iodine is back down and haven't dosed it at all since before the last set of Triton tests. I have been adding a small amount of the Sr/Mo Kent Supplement to my new salt mix used for automatic water changes. Looks like it's maintained the suggested set point by Triton for Sr and Mo is at least raised slightly for anything that likes Mo. Goniopora is supposed to but I have no real idea if it does. My red ora goniopora has been doing well so will keep dosing that.
Lithium, don't care but that may be the lithium talking...
And to summarize the summary I think I will just copy paste what I bulleted in my last everything vs. Triton vs. AWT test thread with a few modifications
• I can generally trust myself in testing the basic major elements.
• All testing is susceptible to testing error some places or kits more then others
•All reagents go bad but some may come that way
•Most all test kits are accurate enough so pick one you can perform consistently and able to read the end points
• There are a few kits or tests I will not Look at again AWT, Red Sea Mg, Elos Mg, Nyos Ca
•Dosing with out testing is risky
•Testing to determine dosing can cause anxiety
•A single test or data point is unreliable and with out trends can be misleading
•Using your eyes to pay attention to how your tank is "Acting" can be better then any test
•Do not change what is not broken
•Don't be close minded and opposed to change
•I love my veegee /vitalsine salinity refractometer
