Test kits

[Jekyl]

Just finished ordering everything to get my reef tank going. (Ouch). What test kits do you recommend for a lps/softie mixed reef?

 

[Coralsea_co]

Ca
Mg
No3
Po4
kH
I
;)

 

[Jekyl]

Meant more like recommended brands? Nothing too expensive, still in sticker shock from the tank lol

 

[BZos106]

Salifert is good. Hannah checkers are also awesome. Makes testing easier

 

[Hillbillyreefer]

Red Sea, Salifert or Hanna Checkers(more sticker shock). API will be fine for cycling a tank but you’ll want better ones eventually, I’d recommend the better kits right off the start, buy once cry once.

There isn’t any hurry to buy any test kits for a new tank. Get it setup and let it begin cycling while you recover from the initial price shock, a refractometer or some other salinity test is really all you’ll need for the first month or two after setup.

 

[Jekyl]

Was going to get the BRS refractometer any other suggestion?

 

[Hillbillyreefer]

I’ve never used a BRS refractometer I’d assume they are middle of the road models that work OK.

More important than brand is having a reference solution to calibrate with. Either buy or make up a solution and calibrate often.

 

[Jekyl]

Lol. 3 months of research before I spent a dollar and still run into things that I have no idea about

 

[Retro Reefer]

API is fine for ammonia and nitrite, salfert for nitrate, calcium, magnesium and Hanna for Alk and phosphate.

 

[ReefChef19]

Lol. 3 months of research before I spent a dollar and still run into things that I have no idea about

I sit here laughing because I'm at the same stage, but I plan on buying some small items before getting my tank. Iam learning toward the hannah testers, I need simplicity and convenience. I have a wife and 2 little ones. I don't want to take a large hit all at once, I wouldn't stop crying!! I'm planning on a red sea 750xxl. Good luck on your build.

 

[Westside Guy]

Was going to get the BRS refractometer any other suggestion?

I recently purchased one from Red Sea that is really easy to read.

 

[Jay Z]

Lol. 3 months of research before I spent a dollar and still run into things that I have no idea about

HAHA! Wait till its running! Thats when the real fun starts.

 

[Hillbillyreefer]

Lol. 3 months of research before I spent a dollar and still run into things that I have no idea about

I’ve been muddling through saltwater tanks for years and still learn things almost daily, I think that’s my main attraction to reefing, the knowledge. I know just enough to know I don’t know a darn thing.

 

[Jay Z]

I’ve been muddling through saltwater tanks for years and still learn things almost daily, I think that’s my main attraction to reefing, the knowledge. I know just enough to know I don’t know a darn thing.

Same here. I love learning from everyone and love trying to keep everything in balance. I’m on my first reef tank. Been running for almost 4 months now. Love it.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

My vote goes to Red Sea, Salifert and Hanna. Get the Hann Alk checker trust me. Liquid alk kits kits suck to ready. The po4 checker is nice to have as well. I like the Red Sea kits because you get the big 3 and no3 and po4 is 2 complete kits but I personally cant get a solid result from the alk test. Salifert kits are imo same quality as Rea Sea and have been used in the hobby for a very long time.

 

[MrObscura]

ATI is cheap and effective for the basics... Ammonia, nitrite, no3.

Hanna checker for alk is a must imo. It's the single most important parameter for stonies and it makes testing so much quicker/easier.

PO4 isn't that important but its good to have so you can test when necessary. I went with salifert because it was the cheapest but don't expect precision out of it if you go that route. In fact the colors between 0-0.1 are ridiculously hard to read imo.

And for cal and mag, I just got the red sea kit which also includes Alk since the price was decent and exact accuracy for those params isn't critical. Though the mag test tends to show very high levels.

 

[Vinicius Milani]

What about JBL marine tests? They come as a kit with 10 tests (PH, KH, NH4, NO2, NO3, SiO2, Mg, Ca, Cu, PO4). Pricing is attractive on this one.