Please list all the test kits brands you use here!

[kboogie]

I believe this question warrants a nuanced response. It depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your testing.

If your goal is binary understanding, such as "do I have ammonia or nitrite," then cheap tests (and even strips) are fine. I use API kits for this purpose. (Ammonia and Nitrite)

If your goal is to have a low fidelity understanding, such as "are my nitrates low, medium, or high," I also think kits like API, Red Sea, Salfiert, etc are good here. I don't use strips in this manner. (Nitrates in a FOWLR, pH)

If you need high fidelity, then Hanna is the #1 choice, and then something like Elos would be just below. (Nitrates in a Reef, Phosphates, Calcium, Alkalinity, etc).

I use Inkbird and GIDIGI for temperature. I also use GIDIGI for ORP.

I used a refractometer for Salinity. I used to use an Apex for Salinity, but that unit is almost 18 years old now. My cheap GIDIGI is so bad at salinity that I pretend that probe doesn't exist.

 

[Airedale Reef]

Here is what I am personally using for testing:

Hanna: Nitrate, Phosphate, Alkalinity
Salifert: Magnesium, Calcium
API: PH, amonia

Temp: Inkbird
Salinity: Imagitarium Refractometer

 

[reely989]

For analog (? I guess that's the right term. Non-digital lol), testing, I really like the Salifert kits for Calcium and Magnesium. I used to use Red Sea, and those were pretty good too.

I don't like reading colors, so I vastly prefer the Hanna test kits for Alk, Phosphate, and Nitrate.
I've never really done pH with anything other than a probe on my controller.
Salinity is a good ole refractometer. I've never had a probe or digital device give me accurate, consistent readings on this.

Auto testing is limited to Alk for me. I used to have a Trident, and it was ok. It would get out of whack pretty frequently and I ended up having to send it in a few times. These days I run a KH guardian and it's been really good. Tests several times a day, reagent is cheap. Easy to recommend it.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

- Salifert: only test kits I am using at the moment

alk-
ph-
calcium
magnesium
nitrate
phosphate
ATC refractometer

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Salinity, PH and temp probes-Hydros

Hannah checkers for Alk, LR nitrate and ULR phoshate.

I stopped checking cal and mag. I just keep an eye on alk with AFR dosing.

 

[Infamous78]

It would be awesome to have as many members as possible participating!

Take a moment and list all the test kit brands you are currently using and for what!

Hanna:
Alkalinty
Calcium
Nitrate
Phosphate LR
Copper

Salifert:
Magnesium

API:
pH
Ammonia
Nitrite

 

[Koty]

Hanna: HRNitrate, ULRPhosphate, KH, Mg, Ca,
Tropic Marin: K, Salinity with hydrometer
Salifert : Silica
Fauna Marin: Multiple standard solution

 

[X-37B]

Hanna
Ph/temp/sg monitor
Ph meter
Nitrite
Nitrate
Po4 ulr
Po4 lr
Alk

Salifert
Alk
Ca
Mag
K

Red Sea
Alk
Cal

Other
Milwaukee ph meter
Milwaukee tds meter
Milwaukee orp controller

 

[Funkateer_1]

KH - Saliftert
Calcium - Salifert
Magnesium - Salifert
Salinty - Vertex Refractometer
Nitrate - Tetra Strips

Don't check Phosphate.

 

[56longroof]

Salifert for alk,mag,cal and nitrate. Milwaukee prope for ph and Hanna for phosphate.

 

[reeferID]

TM hydrometer

Milwaukee LR phosphate

Hanna
Ca
Nitrates HR
Magnesium
Alk

Pinpoint meter/probe for Ph

Helio heaters (2) I double check with a
Tempcheck.

*I have a couple (RedSea & Salifert) kits that I use occasionally to double check Ca.

 

[SpartaReef]

I don't test... lol

 

[BZOFIQ]

Apex for:
pH
Temp
ORP

Hanna Eggs for:
pH
Alk
Phosphate
Nitrate

Milwaukee Digital Refractometer:
Salinity

Pinpoint:
Salinity

 

[alsfishtails]

API Reef Master Test Kit

This test kit includes

Ca
KH
PO
NO

NaCl
ATC refractometer
Reagents calibration fluid
Two coralife hydrometers (was original testers until I realized both read different, now just use for mixing salt to get an idea of where my water is at I leave them both in bucket)

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

salifert and hanna

 

[edsbeaker]

Salinity
TM Hydrometer

Hanna checkers
ULR Phosphate
Alkalinity
Nitrate

Red Sea Pro
Calcium
Magnesium

Apex Neptune
Temp
pH

 

[reef tank 2.0]

Hanna
- Alk
- Nitrate
- Phosphate

Salifert
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- ph

Inkbird
- Temperature

 

[Cletus617]

Hanna:
Alk
Phosphate ULR
Nitrate

Salinity:
Milwaukee

PH:
Apera ph60

Calcium:
RedSea

 

[JonoH]

Hanna
Alk
Phosphate ULR
Nitrate
Salinity

Salifert
PH

Dont test Calcium or Magnesium (I'll blame Randy if it goes bad... )

 

[PR_nano]

Hanna: Alk, ULR P04, High N03
Salifert: Mg, Ca
Milwaukee: Sg