Test Kits

[Zack K]

What brand of test kits do you fellows find works the best. I have an API Saltwater test kit, but that only tests the following:
PH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
I also grabbed the phosphate API kit and the calcium API kit.
I was looking at NYOS kits for:
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium

 

[MaiReef]

Red Sea are much easier to use and come with a titrator.

 

[smh254]

I like Hanna checker for Po4 ALK and salifert for the rest.

 

[Pola0502ds]

I use NYOS for NO3 PO4, calc, and mag. I use hanna checker for alk. I love the hanna checker for alk, I love NYOS for NO3 and thats it. I will be switching to ELOS once I use them all up. NYOS PO4, calc, and mag are just too hard to read in my option. I hear ELOS is a lot easier to read.

 

[smh254]

Has anyone tried Giesemann test kits?

 

[Whipples]

For nitrates, calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity I use Salifert, and for phosphate I use Hanna. There are some grumblings towards the salifert alk test but using the below picture which comes from Salifert themselves helps me out big time for it. At $11 on Amazon its a steal comparatively. The first color is when you just have the water and additive, second color is what it will look like just before the change, third color is where you should take your measurement at, and the fourth color is over-agitated. Hanna checkers are great but you must follow their directions and be very careful when using them in order to get accurate, consistent readings!

As for pH I have an apex and I calibrate that probe in 7/10 solution every few months.