Test Kits?

[repairman68]

What test kits do I need and what are the brands that are better
where is a list of what I though of testing for. :?
Ammonia
Calcium
Copper
Iodine
Iron
KH/Alkalinity
Magnesium
Nitrite
Nitrate
Phosphate
TDS ( both before And After the RO/DI unit)
I have not listed a PH as I plan to use a Neptune Aquacontroller Jr for this. should the be others that should get tested or any that dose not need to be tested.
thank for the help Scott

 

[fungia]

i use salifert and test calcium, kh, nitrate and phosphate. in the beginning i tested ammonia and nitrite too.

 

[repairman68]

Thank fungia for the input I may down size my list to test.

 

[Eboman]

I would get a "cheapy" ammonia / nitrite test kit, since (hopefully) you won't need to use them on a regular basis. I can't remember the last time I checked for either in the system.

I used to use Lamotte kits. However, I found the Salifert kits to be easier to read.

Right now, I'm using Salifert to test for alk / calcium / magnesium / nitrate.

I use a little hand-held TDS meter for the RO/DI water.

Ph monitor for pH (now that I think about it....I need to replace the probe...it's getting quite old).

I use a refractometer for salinity. Used to us hydrometers, but I never trusted the readings.

I don't test for those other things.

Hope that helps,
Eboman

 

[repairman68]

Thanks Eboman

 

[liquid]

If you ever need test kit instructions, we've got a slew of them on the site: http://www.reefs.org/library/testkits

Shane

 

[repairman68]

Thanks liquid I will check them out

 

[Snowboarda42]

Ammonia - Cheap Kit Works Fine
Calcium - Salifert
Copper - Only if you have a Quarantine Tank you're treating with Copper, Then Salifert
Iodine - Don't bother
Iron - Really don't bother
KH/Alkalinity - Salifert
Magnesium - Salifert
Nitrite -Cheap Kit
Nitrate - Salifert
Phosphate - I was told this is always innacturate b/c Phosphate gets absorbed by rocks, which is where hair algae grows and uses it as food. Cheap Kit.

TDS ( both before And After the RO/DI unit) - Click Here

 

[stubbsz]

LaMotte
Alk
Sailfert
CA
Nitrate
Phosphate

Mag ..nearly, I just noticed it got backordered

CA and ALK are what made the difference for me.... nitrate was helpful. Phosphate has never had a reading so I'm not sure about this one. I'm told Mag might hold the answer to the mystery of my corals no longer growing and looking pale We'll see. I hope to god that I have low Mag when I test... if it's normal I'm at a loss what to do next .

 

[Anonymous]

Elos for all the above