Testing Kits for Old Eyes...

[PaulPerger]

I am about to start setting up my first SW tank. My stand will be finished this week (enough to put my tank on it and my sump under it anyway), and I hope to complete my water change/mixing station next weekend. So, as I am getting ready to head into the cycling phase I started looking at test kits and I need some advice...

As for the basic three (CA, ALK, MAG) I will probably use the Red Sea as they look to me to be fairly easy to read (i.e. color changes are rather obvious), however, the other Red Sea kits entail comparing colors to a card and to be honest, I have trouble telling the difference in most of these types of kits.

What kit (or individual test) do you use? Especially if you use one that doesn't entail trying to decipher between 7 shades of green, yellow or some other color?

I have a spectrometer for salinity so I should be good there.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

I'm assuming you mean that you have a refractometer for specific gravity; a spectrophotometer wouldn't do you much good for specific gravity/salinity.

If you want to avoid color interpretations, your best bet is probably the Hanna checkers, since they're colorimeters and give you a digital read-out. Unfortunately, they don't make a nitrate checker, so you'll just have to compare color cards for that measurement, or use the Triton system and send water samples off to be measured by ICP-OES.

 

[PaulPerger]

I'm assuming you mean that you have a refractometer for specific gravity; a spectrophotometer wouldn't do you much good for specific gravity/salinity.

If you want to avoid color interpretations, your best bet is probably the Hanna checkers, since they're colorimeters and give you a digital read-out. Unfortunately, they don't make a nitrate checker, so you'll just have to compare color cards for that measurement, or use the Triton system and send water samples off to be measured by ICP-OES.

Ooops... Yes, I meant a refractometer. I was talking with a friend about PAR meters, and he commented that it must be similar to a spectrometer, and I must have gotten that word stuck in my mind! Guess the eyes aren't the only thing getting old!

 

[AdamNC]

For Alk, Ca and Po4 you can use the Hanna checkers. Ca is accurate but a little tricky to figure out at first. I use Red Sea for Mag and No3. Neither are 100% accurate but close enough for hobby grade. Other than that ICP testing, yea it’s expensive but it’s lab grade testing.

 

[ckalupa]

I am also in agreement with using Hanna for Alk, Phos, and Calcium - they are especially easy to use with “old eyes!”

For Nitrate I am now a fan of the Salifert even over the Red Sea - a bit quicker to develop and a little easier to read IMO. - and when you are on the low end you just change the reading perspective of the same sample and you get the 1/10 or 10X low range readings.

 

[dwest]

I am about to start setting up my first SW tank. My stand will be finished this week (enough to put my tank on it and my sump under it anyway), and I hope to complete my water change/mixing station next weekend. So, as I am getting ready to head into the cycling phase I started looking at test kits and I need some advice...

As for the basic three (CA, ALK, MAG) I will probably use the Red Sea as they look to me to be fairly easy to read (i.e. color changes are rather obvious), however, the other Red Sea kits entail comparing colors to a card and to be honest, I have trouble telling the difference in most of these types of kits.

What kit (or individual test) do you use? Especially if you use one that doesn't entail trying to decipher between 7 shades of green, yellow or some other color?

I have a spectrometer for salinity so I should be good there.

Certainly old eyes here...

This is the best thing I have purchased:
https://premiumaquatics.com/product...MImbqpy_v-4AIVch-tBh2szQeDEAQYAyABEgIeAPD_BwE

Agree with others about Hanna checkers. I use Hanna for ulr phosphate, alkalinity, and copper (for quarantine). I still use Salifert for Ca, Mg, and nitrate.

 

[AquamanE]

Certainly old eyes here...

This is the best thing I have purchased:
https://premiumaquatics.com/product...MImbqpy_v-4AIVch-tBh2szQeDEAQYAyABEgIeAPD_BwE

Agree with others about Hanna checkers. I use Hanna for ulr phosphate, alkalinity, and copper (for quarantine). I still use Salifert for Ca, Mg, and nitrate.

Old eyes here also. I agree with above, I do same thing. Except copper, have no need for it.

 

[JimWelsh]

Unfortunately, they don't make a nitrate checker, so you'll just have to compare color cards for that measurement, or use the Triton system and send water samples off to be measured by ICP-OES.

Nitrate can't be measured by ICP, and Triton doesn't report nitrate.

In response to the OP, Salifert for the win for alkalinity, Ca, Mg & nitrate.

 

[AquamanE]

Nitrate can't be measured by ICP, and Triton doesn't report nitrate.

In response to the OP, Salifert for the win for alkalinity, Ca, Mg & nitrate.

Hanna has Nitrate.

https://hannainst.com/hi707-nitrite...e2BHPbdrvUD__V58OAKV6Gja0t1MYwqxoCdYoQAvD_BwE

 

[FunkEngine]

Hanna has Nitrate.

https://hannainst.com/hi707-nitrite...e2BHPbdrvUD__V58OAKV6Gja0t1MYwqxoCdYoQAvD_BwE

That's actually nitrIte not nitrAte ;) There was talk of them possibly developing a nitrate meter but I haven't heard anything about that in a long while.

Honestly I'm not sure why they have a nitrite meter at all. I can't really imagine why anyone would be testing for intermediate nitrogen products.

 

[AquamanE]

That's actually nitrIte not nitrAte ;) There was talk of them possibly developing a nitrate meter but I haven't heard anything about that in a long while.

Honestly I'm not sure why they have a nitrite meter at all. I can't really imagine why anyone would be testing for intermediate nitrogen products.

Sorry my mistake, don’t know why I always though it was NO3. . I agree who needs a nitrite Hanna Checker?