I have been using Red Sea Foundation Pro and Algae Control Pro test kits for over a year.
I used these same kits about 10 years ago and thought it was a big improvement over the API test kits I was originally using when first in the hobby.
Over the last ~4 months I have begun to question the accuracy however. I was consistently getting readings of 0 nitrate and phosphate even with increased feeding and no skimmer.
I was also getting very low Alk readings, usually below 7dKh. It was the winter and my windows have been closed for months so low Alk isnt surprising but below 7 readings after a ~20% water change (Reef Crystals salt) was strange. I have been dosing ESV Alkalinity (part 1 of ESV 2 part) and trying to get my Alk & pH up.
I finally decided to purchase some Hanna checkers and they came in last night.
I only did an Alk test last night with both the Hanna and Red sea tests.
Here are the results:
Red Sea: 7.89
Hanna : 8.7
Should I trust the Hanna which is brand new? Throw away the Red Sea tests?
I used these same kits about 10 years ago and thought it was a big improvement over the API test kits I was originally using when first in the hobby.
Over the last ~4 months I have begun to question the accuracy however. I was consistently getting readings of 0 nitrate and phosphate even with increased feeding and no skimmer.
I was also getting very low Alk readings, usually below 7dKh. It was the winter and my windows have been closed for months so low Alk isnt surprising but below 7 readings after a ~20% water change (Reef Crystals salt) was strange. I have been dosing ESV Alkalinity (part 1 of ESV 2 part) and trying to get my Alk & pH up.
I finally decided to purchase some Hanna checkers and they came in last night.
I only did an Alk test last night with both the Hanna and Red sea tests.
Here are the results:
Red Sea: 7.89
Hanna : 8.7
Should I trust the Hanna which is brand new? Throw away the Red Sea tests?