best testing kits?

[jrockwater]

anyone have advice on the best water testing kits?

[alten78]

i prefer to use seachem or salifert

[Finding Emo]

I use API.

[kar93]

I use API and Salifert

[jrockwater]

any thoughts on the elos testing kits

[NanoGurl]

salifert

[Fraggle Rock2]

I use Salifert, Seachem and Elos.

I prefer the Salifert and Elos. They are titration based tests (count the drops until a color change occurs) and you don't have to compare to some color card.

I read that the API tests are fairly accurate (and cheaper). Never used before though.

For me, I buy Salifert/Elos for Alkalinity, Calcium and Mg. For anything else (Nitrate, Ammonia etc.) I would just use whatever is cheaper of the brands I mentioned.

I don't test for anything else. Not really necessary IMO unless you are dosing it.

Phosphate tests, I am not too sure about either. I believe there aren't any hobby tests that are very accurate.

[nismo driver]

how does tropic marin stand up against seachem or salifert? i use tropic marin for my CA and MG salifert for my ALK.. api for phosphates and red sea for ph

[SHARKBAITNC]

Salifert is the only one I trust.

[DoctorLps]

salifert

[reefworm]

LaMotte and Salifert - prefer the former for accuracy, ease of read, and durability of testing materials [and the fact that reagents can be reordered seperately]

[snorvich]

Elos all the way.

[ToddG]

Elos or LaMotte for me.

I have been burned by Salifert one to many times. Including by my last Alk kit I just opened a few weeks ago which tested 2.4dkh above the kit it was replacing. I validated it was that far off using 2 other brand alk kits including a LaMotte.

I will use the Salifert kits I have left and have validated are correct but will not buy any more. Their customer service has been very poor. Including to many that were promised replacement kits but never were shipped one. Poor customer service like that shouldn't be rewarded.

[palawan]

Elos and Lamotte. Salifert burned me too. Habib posted a bad batch of ALK kits with no replacement plan whatsover . A lot of people on RC got burned. Salifert forum was also removed from RC too.

[Fraggle Rock2]

Forgot to mention that the Aquarium Systems Instant Ocean tests kits are reportedly manufactured by Hach. Hach makes high-end test kits.

So, they might be good too and I believe they are less expensive. Haven't used them myself though.

Also, I seem to recall reading a thread a while back that Habib was ill or had an illness in the family or something like that....not sure if that explains things or not. Maybe I am thinking of something else though and am totally wrong.

[jrockwater]

thanks for the tips everyone.

[vanmo92]

Salifert.

[garrettm]

Salifert.

[prideprops]

API.

As far as Salifert, there has been alot of unfavorable discussions regarding the inaccuracies of some of the Salifert tests and there is no customer service now. In fact, the Salifert forum here on reef central has been recently removed (which was the only way to contact Salifert). So, I'm not sure what's going on with this company and since no one seems to know, I'm taking my business elsewhere.

[Fun $ Pit]

API for the Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, PH tests

Salifert for the ALK, Calcium, Mag, Phosphate tests

Red Sea for the Copper testing - (all my LFS had at the time. )

[tkeracer619]

I use API, I have heard great things about Instant Ocean kits.

I would have a hard time recommending a Salifert anything the way the sponsor forum was handled in the last 8 months. Good riddance. Some of them might be good test kits, but there is no point in purchasing from a company with one way sales and support.

In general I think most test kits are accurate enough for the hobbiest. Often user error causes testing mistakes. If it doesn't seem right, do it over a few times. Go to the store and get another test kit. Borrow a friends. Repetability and accuracy get you better test results.

[sjm817]

For alk and ca, the API kits are good and very inexpensive. Salifert going down hill was a good thing for me. I wouldn't have tried the API otherwise.

[realest]

I am currently using instant ocean. Have the master reef test kit and the ocean test kit.

Testing nitrite, nitrate, cal, alk, ammonia, and phos.

I am not sure how good it is as to other test kits.

Any other people have any experince with instant ocean?

Feedback would be nice!! Thanks

[dailydriven911]

Elos and API...