Test kits?

[Trandall]

What brand do you use? Is it your favorite and would you recommend it?

I now have the Hagen Master kit but the reagents are getting close to their date. I picked up an API kit at our LFS to compare and there's a pretty good difference in the results between API & Hagen even though I also bought new reagents for the Hagen amm, etc.

I'm thinking there might be better reef test kits out there.
Thanks for any input!

 

[str8salt]

Not sure which ones are the best. I have been using the hagen I think. Everybody else in town is running them so it made it easier to compare numbers and aclimate frags.

 

[JR's Reef]

I use API

 

[Reef Empire]

Salifert has been used around here for years. They're not too expensive or complicated to use, and they seem to be accurate enough.

 

[Natclanwy]

I have been using API for Calcium, Alk, Nitrate, Phosphate and have been happy with the results, and have never had any issues with them. My magnesium test kit is a Red Sea I believe and it seems to work well also other than there are so many steps that I have trouble getting consistant results once in a while.

 

[acanman]

i use api and i use instant ocean to double check my results sometimes.

 

[Paul_N]

API.

I have used Salifert and Red Sea also. I used Seachem and hated them.

 

[Trandall]

Thanks everyone. I've been using the Hagen for a long time but just aren't happy with it lately. I got a *weird* color not even on the color chart for ammonia when testing my new tank. Thought it was weird so I tested my big tank and got the same strange color and I KNOW there's zero amm. in it. So I got brand new reagents for it thinking my reagents were getting old and got the same weird color. I just don't trust it anymore. That's why I went to my LFS and bought the API.

From the responses and doing a bit of research on my own, I think I'll keep going with the API and also get one of the Elos kits from Marine Depot < which come highly recommended> as a check and balance.

Several people have told me that while salifert was one of the best for years, their quality has gone down hill the last year or so. A couple pros < who make their living from reefs> said the Salifert Alk test is completely unreliable anymore.

Appreciate the responses, thanks again~

 

[Wy Renegade]

Terri, I've tried Hagen, API, and Salifert, and of the three, I far prefer the Salifert. I've never tried Elos.

 

[Weetabix7]

I have been happy with API and Salifert.
I've had very bad results with Red Sea.

 

[Trandall]

I'm thinking of going with mostly Salifert except Alk. I've hear their Alk test is not accurate at all.
I'm going to try the Elos to see how they are for a couple as well.
I'm keeping the API and want the other as a check and balance.
Moving away from Hagen. Haven't been accurate for me lately at all.

 

[kelleyga36]

I use API and Seachem

 

[AD87]

ph probe for ph,
salifert for cal
lamotte for alk
salifert for mag
thats all I test for.

 

[Pappy]

Ive been using API but know there are def way better ones out there. I've got the red sea mg and like it seems to be pretty accurate. +1 seachem sucking. Well lemme rephrase seachem doesn't suck its just a major pain in the butt. My wife calls me the mad scientist whenever I break that one out.