Which tests to use

[jitgobbler]

I currently use api master kit for nitrate nitrite ammonia and ph and sami fert for calcium and alk, i’m considering getting hanna checker for nitrate and phosphate but do you guys have better recommendations?

 

[Saltyreef]

I use hanna for nitrate, phosphate and alk. Salifert for cal and mag. Wouldn't do it any other way. (salifert for alk is perfectly acceptable too)

 

[jitgobbler]

I use hanna for nitrate, phosphate and alk. Salifert for cal and mag. Wouldn't do it any other way. (salifert for alk is perfectly acceptable too)

Would you say Hanna is worth the money? Is the ease of tests also good along with accuracy

 

[exnisstech]

Hanna high range nitrate, ultra low range phosphate, and alk. I use salifert for calcium but only check it every few months. I also have a salifert alk kit as back up in case I get a strange reading from the Hanna. I don't test anything else.
The Hanna are worth it to me because I like the digital read out vs color changing tests but many people use all salifert and a few other brands .

 

[jitgobbler]

Hanna high range nitrate, ultra low range phosphate, and alk. I use salifert for calcium but only check it every few months. I also have a salifert alk kit as back up in case I get a strange reading from the Hanna. I don't test anything else.
The Hanna are worth it to me because I like the digital read out vs color changing tests but many people use all salifert and a few brands .

thank you! might grab the nitrate phosphate combo it comes with the ones you listed + reagents for $169.99

 

[EnterName]

Hanna for Phosphate is a must have for me as I try to keep phosphate very low.

A titration test works very well with alkalinity so I don't bother with the Hanna anymore and just use salifert. Cheap and precise enough. I might go with a DIY titration in the future though.

The LR Nitrate test might be worth it if you care about N:P ratios and like to keep phosphate low, but if you just want to stay within Randy's recommended target range for nitrate or your phosphate is high anyway, salifert will do fine. 5 - 50ppm or what was it? The range is very large, so no need for precision if you don't care for ratios.
I'm personally too lazy to go through all the steps necessary for the Hanna test so salifert it is until I dig deep enough into N:P ratios to believe I can optimize something.

 

[fishyjoes]

I use salifert for parameters I test frequently (alk, calcium) or parameters where I only need "good enough" (nitrate, magnesium).
I use hanna for parameters where their testers are the only viable option (phosphate, copper). I don't test phosphate often, and I have found no other brand phosphate test that works as well. I only test copper for QT systems but again, hanna is the only acceptable tester.

 

[jitgobbler]

I currently use api master kit for nitrate nitrite ammonia and ph and sami fert for calcium and alk, i’m considering getting hanna checker for nitrate and phosphate but do you guys have better recommendations?

update: found nitrate, phosphate, and alk on here for sale

 

[Teddy99]

I use salifert for alk, Calcium and magnesium and nitrate (looking through the side of the Glass for nitrate higher resolution). Tropic Marin to measure phosphates. I quite like the phosphate test, but with my current tank it’s more of looking for any color at all in the test, as phosphates are mostly low.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Salifert and RedSea are what I use, and I have never had issues with them

 

[Saltyreef]

update: found nitrate, phosphate, and alk on here for sale

Make sure the reagents arent expired. Those are half the cost of the meter.

 

[jitgobbler]

update: found nitrate, phosphate, and alk on here for sale

Make sure the reagents arent expired. Those are half the cost of the meter.

eh they’re under 20 bucks I can scrape up the dough. Half expired half not though.

 

[John Bolden]

Yea my cal hanna egg has the liquid reagent that isnt expired and the powder which is... quite annoying.

 

[Boxed Fish]

I started using saliferts and like the accuracy so far

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I started using saliferts and like the accuracy so far

How do you know they are accurate?

 

[Boxed Fish]

How do you know they are accurate?

taking water sample to local fish store and comparing it to their water testing tech

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

taking water sample to local fish store and comparing it to their water testing tech

Better than nothing, but LFS tests are also often inaccurate.

That said, I have no particular issues with most Salifert kits. :)