Most accurate kits

[mfollen]

Hey reefers!

Soon to be new reefbot owner here. Woo!!

Based on early reports, it seems that the most accurate kits available may be the:
- phosphates: Red Sea pro
- alkalinity: salifert

What’s your experiences with the available phosphate and alkalinity kits?
How about for nitrate? Is Tropic Marin the most accurate?

Thanks!

 

[rushbattle]

Hey reefers!

Soon to be new reefbot owner here. Woo!!

Based on early reports, it seems that the most accurate kits available may be the:
- phosphates: Red Sea pro
- alkalinity: salifert

What’s your experiences with the available phosphate and alkalinity kits?
How about for nitrate? Is Tropic Marin the most accurate?

Thanks!

The Salifert is probably a tiny bit better than Red Sea alkalinity, but the red sea only takes one vial because it has the indicator dye mixed with the acid titrant. It allows you to fit another test unless you are using API nitrate which I don't like. This is what I run, and what I think most people run that have experience with the unit and rely on it:

Red Sea Alkalinity
API Calcium - really great performance and cost
Red Sea PO4 - good performance and lower cost than other kits except API which is not appropriate for reeftanks
Tropic Marin NO3 - good performance

 

[mfollen]

Awesome insight. Thanks @rushbattle
Is the API calcium one or two vials?

Anyone else?!

 

[puffy127]

API Ca is 2 vials.
I use Red Sea alk over Salifert due to only one vial needed.

I also use API Ca, Red Sea PO4, and TM NO3.

I don't test Mg due to not enough room in reefbot and not satisfied with performance of RedSea in the reefbot. And I don't test Mg very often anyways.

 

[mfollen]

I’ll go this route too. Thanks!!

Where do you buy the tropic Marin nitrate kits? I can’t find them anywhere.

 

[puffy127]

BRS

 

[mfollen]

Ok thanks @puffy127 all I see on BRS is the nitrite and nitrate combo kit. There’s no standalone tropic Marin nitrate kit?

 

[puffy127]

No standalone, that's the one. IIRC, you initially need two kits.

 

[Japtastic]

I order two of these refill packs. Worked out a lot cheaper. Not sure if you can get them in the States?

Tropic Marin Nitrite/Nitrate Test Professional

www.aquaristikshop.com

 

[rushbattle]

I order two of these refill packs. Worked out a lot cheaper. Not sure if you can get them in the States?

Tropic Marin Nitrite/Nitrate Test Professional

www.aquaristikshop.com

Can’t get them here in the US. I ordered from a shop in the UK. Good bit less expensive than buying the full kits. I asked BRS to carry them. Think that they will consider it.

 

[Japtastic]

Hopefully ReefKinetics will produce their own that are just as good and even cheaper at some point.