What's the most reliable test kits?

[Netta Fish]

I got bored tonight and did a barrage or tests on my tank with different brands of test kits there were my results

Alkalinity- API kit reads 13 dkh and the new red sea pro kits read 13 dkh. I known its a little high I'm sill tweaking my kalk concentration, just switched to Rowa.

Ph- API reads 8.2- elos reads 8.2

Nitrate- API is off the chart showing 80 ppm I have a thriving 120 reef so that's odd. My Elos kit reads zero and the red sea pro reads 0.75 ppm.

Anyone ever compared different brands of tests back to back? Any results? And what do you think the most reliable kits are?

Thanks

 

[Netta Fish]

Really no one has a favorite testing brand Bump

 

[KJAG]

Really no one has a favorite testing brand Bump

Salifert. easy to use and accurate. $ though. The API tests were a pain from what i remember: mixing,shaking then waiting for 5 minutes, then comparing the color charts etc.

 

[Chris L]

Personally i like salifert.

 

[reeferdale]

make it anonymous - all I use is Salifert. Easy to read and have been very accurate

 

[Salty Dog]

salifert, the best

 

[buckhunter]

salifert is the best and most accurate

 

[cdness]

I have hears Elos and Salifert are the best test kits out there. On another note I have been using API kits for the past 5 years and my tank is just fine. I may not have readings down to the .1 for Alk, but it is close enough to make sure I am within an acceptable range.

If you are going with a ULNS or carbon dosing I think you need to be a bit more strict, but for me API fits the budget and they are easy to use. All I really test for anymore is Calcium and Alkalinity for API. Mag is with a Salifert but I only test mag once a month or every two months.

 

[Mr Beardsley]

I have the Hanna Checkers for Phosphate, Alkalinity, and Calcium. I absolutely love them and hope they come out with versions for Magnesium and Nitrate soon.

 

[Chameleon]

Red Sea Pro is the best I've used...seems slightly easier than salifert...especially for phophates if you ever need to test thoses

 

[Chameleon]

btw...is the api nitrate expired?

 

[Netta Fish]

Red Sea Pro is the best I've used...seems slightly easier than salifert...especially for phophates if you ever need to test thoses

+ 1 on the red sea

 

[Netta Fish]

btw...is the api nitrate expired?

No exp date but sever temp changes will throw off the results

 

[MyNameIs]

I use salifert and red sea. I posted a thread because i was having issues with the red sea...turned out it was user error. I get the same readings from salifert and red sea so i prefer those.