LFS’s magic all-in-one testing machine?

[zalick]

I'm not familiar with this particular machine, but if they use color disks, then almost certainly it is measuring carbonate alkalinity (by pH and CO2, like Mindstream was planning to do) rather than total alkalinity (which needs a titration of some sort).

The difference is small if borate is not unusually high, but they are not identical. Carbonate alk is lower than total alkalinity, mostly due to borate alkalinity.

Would you trust this machine to provide baseline and trends for your tank?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would you trust this machine to provide baseline and trends for your tank?

I couldn't really say without checking into it, but it is likely better than a $25 kit.

 

[zalick]

Reef Builders has a little write up. Looks interesting and as accurate as a home user with color based tests.

https://reefbuilders.com/2020/07/23/api-aquaspin-more-details-about-the-automated-testing-machine/
While expensive and designed more for stores to provide quick tests for customers, this certainly seems like a nice addition to the home hobbiest that can afford the price tag! I’d love to spend 3 minutes per weeks testing rather than 30min to 1 hour.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Reef Builders has a little write up. Looks interesting and as accurate as a home user with color based tests.

https://reefbuilders.com/2020/07/23/api-aquaspin-more-details-about-the-automated-testing-machine/
While expensive and designed more for stores to provide quick tests for customers, this certainly seems like a nice addition to the home hobbiest that can afford the price tag! I’d love to spend 3 minutes per weeks testing rather than 30min to 1 hour.

Serious question...Does Reef Builders ever post negative reviews of things?

I rarely read them, but when i have, I haven't thought that it seems like a critical review as opposed to rehashing manufacturer claims.

 

[LRT]

Yeah I think ill pass. $900 for initial drop on machine then $3 a test seems a bit rich considering i don't think an identical test was shown out of 10 tests in that review thread.

 

[zalick]

Serious question...Does Reef Builders ever post negative reviews of things?

I rarely read them, but when i have, I haven't thought that it seems like a critical review as opposed to rehashing manufacturer claims.

Good point. I don’t think I’ve seen a real negative review there, and certainly there are plenty of products worthy of such.

@JeffB418 did a pretty good test/comparison. Maybe he can chime in now that he’s had it awhile. Looks like it’s sorely lacking for phosphate.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/waterlink-spin-touch-ff-first-look-and-review.745496/

 

[Miami Reef]

This machine has a +/-15% accuracy??? That’s honestly...awful. So you’re telling me my magnesium can be 1350 but this machine will say 1150? How is that not going to kill my corals if I start overdosing my magnesium now?

 

[LRT]

This is disheartening point in review thread posted.

Really can't find one line that matches identical to another.
Good point on magnesium his was off a considerable amount.
Phosphates undetectable as well.
Alk maybe swinging alot more than some reefers would like.
Its too bad honestly. Id love to find a machine and would be willing to pay the money if it was accurate and consistent enough.
My wife can somehow get api test kits to match my red sea kits at least 2 out of 3 times lol

 

[Miami Reef]

I found this article on a salifert test compared to the German ICP test: https://www.reefhacks.com/2017/10/how-accurate-are-salifert-test-kits/

BRS said their Hannah alk tests consistently showed higher levels than what really were.

@Randy Holmes-Farley I personally trust my $25 kit more than this machine.

 

[Miami Reef]

Salifert description from Amazon:

The Salifert Magnesium Profi-Test is easy to use and accurate with measurements in steps of 30 mg/L. Results are not affected by strontium and calcium interference. Can be used for marine water only. Calcium and strontium will not interfere when their total concentration is between 200 and 650 ppm.

 

[Miami Reef]

I did dose some strontium last night....

 

[Robertellis30]

Just reached out to them. 120”$ for the machine. Then 175 for 50 salt water discs. 150 fit fw

 

[burningmime]

Reef Builders has a little write up. Looks interesting and as accurate as a home user with color based tests.

https://reefbuilders.com/2020/07/23/api-aquaspin-more-details-about-the-automated-testing-machine/
While expensive and designed more for stores to provide quick tests for customers, this certainly seems like a nice addition to the home hobbiest that can afford the price tag! I’d love to spend 3 minutes per weeks testing rather than 30min to 1 hour.

It's cheaper than a Mastertronic. Of course, so are some used cars.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Do you know if these are accurate enough? Spendy, but if close enough seems like a big time saver.

Sorry, no idea about their accuracy - never used one! I do see somebody posted some manufacturer specs. I see three issues: the pH test being + or - 0.2 units isn't accurate enough for me. Then, their ammonia and nitrite minimum detectable limits are above my actionable limits (meaning I react to ammonia and FW nitrite at levels lower than their test can start to measure: 0.10 mg/l ammonia and 0.05 mg/l nitrite in FW).

Jay

 

[tehmadreefer]

How do

I went to Strictly Fish.

I don’t believe in their numbers at all. How can my magnesium and theirs look so different? It’s not accurate. I dosed Alkalinity the other day and API as well as Hannah said it was 8.

I’m so tempted to do an ICP test...but it’s not worth that money. Maybe I can ship somebody a sample of my water? Would anyone like to test water for science? :)

How do you know who’s numbers are accurate? Hobby grade test kits are horribly inaccurate as well.

 

[MaxTremors]

I’ve never seen a machine like this before. Is this accurate?

Im going to manually test my parameters and see where we match and don’t.

they said Alk needed to be divided by 18 which brings it to 7.6dkh.

The actual conversion of ppm to dkh is 17.9 to 1, so divide by 17.9 to get the dkh value. And yes, these machines are pretty accurate.

 

[Miami Reef]

How do

How do you know who’s numbers are accurate? Hobby grade test kits are horribly inaccurate as well.

The creators of this machine states a +/-15% discrepancy. That’s more than my salifert test kit.

 

[LRT]

Just curious what lfs charged to run test? My lfs charges $5 dollars per test with salifert and red sea kits.
Also curious how they got price on this machine down so low. Same exact machine. Just pool water testing version is $900 on quick search.

 

[tehmadreefer]

The creators of this machine states a +/-15% discrepancy. That’s more than my salifert test kit.

that may be true but salifert is know to not be good and then there is human error. Since you did not answer my question, I’ll ask again. How do YOU know if YOUR numbers are accurate or not. So blaming a machine for being off when you in fact have no clue if your results are accurate is simply placing blame, because you don’t agree with their numbers.

 

[Miami Reef]

Just curious what lfs charged to run test? My lfs charges $5 dollars per test with salifert and red sea kits.
Also curious how they got price on this machine down so low. Same exact machine. Just pool water testing version is $900 on quick search.

$6 total.