Budget water testing.

[Otto330]

Is there an option for a low cost test kit? Hanna is not in my budget right now.

 

[TX_REEF]

what are you looking to test for and what is your budget?

 

[StartingATank]

Red sea's testers both for $160, and with black friday sales coming up it will be cheaper on bulk reef supply

 

[BriDroid]

For calcium and magnesium, these give me very close numbers to my Hanna checkers. Pretty cheap on the A website.

 

[FUNGI]

Unpopular Opinion.......API Reef Masters test Kit for the basics.

 

[areefer01]

Is there an option for a low cost test kit? Hanna is not in my budget right now.

I understand that not everyone has, or is, near a LFS but if by chance you are within reasonable driving, maybe try them? Usually they will do a free test or two or may do it for a couple of bucks.

 

[databuffer]

Unpopular Opinion.......API Reef Masters test Kit for the basics.

Rookie question: if I have a freshwater test kit, will it still be accurate for saltwater? Thinking I’ll just supplement what I already have if at all possible

 

[TX_REEF]

Rookie question: if I have a freshwater test kit, will it still be accurate for saltwater? Thinking I’ll just supplement what I already have if at all possible

no

 

[rtparty]

Salifert for Alkalinity and Calcium. Skip Magnesium. Salifert nitrate is also cheap and great. Nothing beats Hanna for phosphate though. The Phosphorous ULR from Hanna is the best IME

 

[FUNGI]

I understand that not everyone has, or is, near a LFS but if by chance you are within reasonable driving, maybe try them? Usually they will do a free test or two or may do it for a couple of bucks.

Thats a good suggestion....even even Petco will test the basics for free

 

[paulroberts1975]

Is there an option for a low cost test kit? Hanna is not in my budget right now.

I got a Red Sea marine care test kit from Amazon. It works for me. It was 80 dollars. Tests ammonia, nitrites., nitrates, PH & alkanilty.

 

[allof fish]

Is there an option for a low cost test kit? Hanna is not in my budget right now.

I love salifert for alk calcium and mag. Gotta have Hanna for phos and nitrate

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Salifert test kits are inexpensive and provide accurate results. You can also get the Red Sea foundation pro test kit, which is a little more expensive but you get three different test out of it