Testing Equipment

[nuff40]

May be the wrong place for this question, but are there any "combination" testing equipment out there? I'm talking about a unit that will test for pH, Alk, Calc, Phos, Mg, etc. Closest I have found is the Hanna meter that tests pH, temp, and alk. Don't want to spend $$$$$$ on several different meters if it's avoidable. Getting tired of spending an hour or more testing the water if a meter will do it faster and more accurately.

Thanks guys!

 

[MimicOcto8]

I would suggest teaching perhaps your son or daughter if you have one...if not try the wife! haha i've thought about getting some meters like that but then i'm afraid on the one time they arent accurate and I over/under dose ;/

 

[btkrausen]

Depending on what you wanna measure, some of the Salifert test kits will give you results for two different elements. For example, when testing for Strontium, you get the calcium levels first, then add some more regents and get the Strontium results.

As for electronic testing equipment, the Hanna stuff is probably the closest thing you'll get.

 

[m and m]

No there is not, there are a few different things that do one or two but basically most don’t work. The hanna Alk works there is a cal one that’s a waste of money and a po4 but that’s also a waste. This is plan and simple if you want the real numbers your gonna have to buy quality test kits such as elos and salfert which is the best route IMO.

 

[nuff40]

No kids, No wife....other half doesn't share as much interest in the tank outside of looking at it and complaining about the threat of getting a larger tank...Main reason I was curious is that I get suspicious of the colorimetric scales and my old eyes are not 100%. Just looking for an easier way to keep things healthy and thriving.

Thanks

 

[nuff40]

Use AI??? test kits for most things except Mg. Hard to find Salifert in Louisville. Gonna have to go on an Internet treasure hunt I suppose. Thanks guys.

 

[btkrausen]

No kids, No wife....other half doesn't share as much interest in the tank outside of looking at it and complaining about the threat of getting a larger tank...Main reason I was curious is that I get suspicious of the colorimetric scales and my old eyes are not 100%. Just looking for an easier way to keep things healthy and thriving.

Thanks

Haha, just noticed you are out of Louisville :) I'm in Bardstown, VP of LMAS :)

Test kits that compare to colors are the worst, I hate them, but unfortunately, many of them are like that. Even Salifert, one of the best test kit makers, are color comparison for test kits like the Phosphate and Nitrate.

 

[btkrausen]

Use AI??? test kits for most things except Mg. Hard to find Salifert in Louisville. Gonna have to go on an Internet treasure hunt I suppose. Thanks guys.

Check out Premium Aquatics....we get it the next day since they are just north of us in Cincy. I think that GreenTree also carries some Salifert kits, but not many. I get all mine at Premium.

 

[m and m]

You can also use PA's text programe and get 5 or 10 percent off your hole order i forget which one it is.

 

[nuff40]

Haha, just noticed you are out of Louisville :) I'm in Bardstown, VP of LMAS :)

Test kits that compare to colors are the worst, I hate them, but unfortunately, many of them are like that. Even Salifert, one of the best test kit makers, are color comparison for test kits like the Phosphate and Nitrate.

LMAS????

Thanks guys for the responses. Got new test kits on the way. Don't trust the ATI kits and too difficult to read most times. We need to get the Frag trade for Kentucky going, would love to meet some of you guys. KRS is a nice site, but not too busy. This one has been much more benificial for me.

 

[btkrausen]

LMAS????

Thanks guys for the responses. Got new test kits on the way. Don't trust the ATI kits and too difficult to read most times. We need to get the Frag trade for Kentucky going, would love to meet some of you guys. KRS is a nice site, but not too busy. This one has been much more benificial for me.

Yup, Louisville Marine Aquarium Society...which is the local Louisville club. We just had a swap in November in Jeffersonvile, IN. It turned out pretty good, but many of the sellers didn't show up, so the ones that did made out really well. Check out the locals on LMAS.org. A bunch of great guys on there. The forums aren't so active (they have been lately) so I would stick to general information on this site.

The next meeting is Feb 20 at 4pm I think. Information should be posted on the site soon....Mike is a little slow to put up the info sometimes.

 

[nuff40]

Didn't know LMAS existed. Will definitely check that out. one or two decent lfs in Louisville, but not much in the way of variety. course with a bc14 can't put much in anyway LOL...

Thanks for the responses guys!

 

[btkrausen]

Didn't know LMAS existed. Will definitely check that out. one or two decent lfs in Louisville, but not much in the way of variety. course with a bc14 can't put much in anyway LOL...

Thanks for the responses guys!

My pleasure, hope to see you around soon. We've had a few new people lately, and I've referred a couple people from R2R to the local club. The meeting last month was actually at my house in Bardstown, and we gave away some nice stuff. Big packs of Brightwell Aquatics additives and a $25 gift certificate to GreenTree Pets. We will be raffling off these gift certi.ficates for different LFS across Louisville each meeting, like Sandys, Aquatica, and Greentree

 

[nuff40]

Nice. Did get registered at LMAS, no I did not waste any time LOL, and look forward to attending some meetings. I travel with my job, so am never home during the week. Aquatica is the only lfs I go to in Louisville, have not cared for the condition of some of the othersl, but not sure I have been to Sandys or Greentree. Will have to check them out. Thanks btkrausen!

 

[btkrausen]

Glad to see you registered on the local site. As for the local shops, some of them are pretty dirty. Greentree Pets is in Clearkville, so exit 4 going into IN. Turn right onto Greentree Blvd, and its right past BassPro Shops, or right in front I should say. Its easy to see. They probably have the best fish selection in the Louisville area.

I need to get to Aquatica, I haven't been there in a few years.

 

[nuff40]

Thank You sir! I like Aquatica, Todd's a nice guy, but his selection is severely limited unless you are into sps...and I am not until I get my 55 FW switched over to SW (dang Pleco will not expire! LOL he's now over 18" long and about 10 years old-blasted thing has to be fed Cucumbers cause there isn't enough algae in the tank to keep him happy). Will have to check out Greentree maybe this coming weekend. Looking for some high end zoa's and paly's, but the prices are frightening! Want some of the Soul Snatchers but at $50 a polyp...man! Not that I can't afford it, but.....!!!! lolol More fish are out of the question until the Pleco does expire. Look forward to the Feb 20 meeting and will do my best to attend.

 

[m and m]

Thank You sir! I like Aquatica, Todd's a nice guy, but his selection is severely limited unless you are into sps...and I am not until I get my 55 FW switched over to SW (dang Pleco will not expire! LOL he's now over 18" long and about 10 years old-blasted thing has to be fed Cucumbers cause there isn't enough algae in the tank to keep him happy). Will have to check out Greentree maybe this coming weekend. Looking for some high end zoa's and paly's, but the prices are frightening! Want some of the Soul Snatchers but at $50 a polyp...man! Not that I can't afford it, but.....!!!! lolol More fish are out of the question until the Pleco does expire. Look forward to the Feb 20 meeting and will do my best to attend.

Alot of pieces you can get cheaper online threw forms like this. I mean you ask a vender for a red hornet your gonna pay min 75 ive sold them many times for 35 dollars.

 

[btkrausen]

Back to our conversation....

I have some decent zoas that I could get you some fresh cut frags of if you are interested. I have a colony Mohawks and Candy Apple Reds that can be easily fragged out. Probably get you some of the radioactive dragon eyes as well. I'd be happy to give you some for free to see if they work out for you if you want. I have a thread in the Zoa forum with a macro pic of my Candy Apple Reds.

 

[nuff40]

Thanks guys. m and m, yes I have noticed that frags can be cheaper through r2r, especially the specials the sponsors offer and will take advantage of some soon. Thanks for the reminder.

btkrausen, appreciate the offer and I do like the looks of the Mohawks. Have a couple of pink and reds in the tank now, so am looking for some different colors for variety's sake. The soul snatchers just caught my eye and love the "ghostly figure" in the skirt. I do have a huge colony of palys, no idea what they are that I inadvertenly bleached using a MH that was waaay to strong for the tank. They are recovering but they were never anything other than a generic brownish. That colony I would like to be rid of to give me more room to add others. Would be more than happy to pay you for the frags, not necessary to give them free, sir....or maybe trade for the huge colony of palys? LOL I have some that got fragged accidentaly, so would still have them in the tank.

 

[btkrausen]

No problem, just let me know and I can bring some frags to the next meeting if you'd like. I haven't seen the Sould Snatchers, I'll have to look them up on CoralPedia.com