Reef Tank Test Kit Recommendation..

[32Bit_Fish]

Hi all,

What would you guys recommend for test kit or test kit combo for my first reef tank?

There are so many different types out there. I dont know which one should I get?

BTW, what are the key water parameters in SW tank?

1. Ammonia
2. PH
3. Nitrate
4. Phsophate
5. Salinity
6. Calcium

Anything else? Thanks

 

[Deanos]

Personally, this is what I'd get:

1. Ammonia - Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
2. PH - pH monitor
3. Nitrate - Salifert
4. Phosphate - I don't test for this
5. Salinity - Refractometer
6. Calcium - Salifert
7. Nitrite - Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
8. Alkalinity - Salifert

 

[MightyMike]

Nice list Dean, care to share why you choose these brands in particular? This is super helpful for those of us just starting.

 

[Blue02celi]

I thought you could just get a big kit that had test for everything...?
so those are the brands of the test kits? I dont have a tank yet, just havent actually looked at water test kits yet altho I know I need them

also, pH monitor, is that a test or is it like a piece of equipment hooked up to the tank?

 

[cali_reef]

I use:

1. Ammonia - I have one somewhere in the the house and its a Salifert
2. PH - pH monitor\Aqua Controllers
3. Nitrate - Salifert
4. Phosphate - Salifert and Elos
5. Salinity - Refractometer
6. Calcium - Salifert and Elos
7. Nitrite - I have one somewhere in the the house and its a Salifert
8. Alkalinity - Salifert and Elos

 

[Deanos]

Nice list Dean, care to share why you choose these brands in particular? This is super helpful for those of us just starting.

Ammonia & nitrite should only need to be tested during a tank's cycle and maybe if something dies in the tank. I'd use Aq. Pharm because it's cheap.

Salifert seems accurate enough for most reefers and is cost-effective for the parameters I listed.

 

[jhale]

I'll play too, lol

my list of kits I prefer,

1. Ammonia - seachem
2. PH - salifert or PH monitor
3. Nitrate - seachem
4. Phosphate - rowa /merck kit or seachem
5. Salinity- refractometer
6. Calcium- salifert
7. Nitrite- seachem
8. Alk- salifert
9. Temp- pin point wireless meter, ranco contoller, red sea chiller output (never trust just one source for the temp)
10. Magnesium- seachem or elos
11. iodine - seachem
12. strontium - salifert
13. borate- seachem
14. copper - seachem
15. silicates- seachem

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Ammonia & nitrite should only need to be tested during a tank's cycle and maybe if something dies in the tank. I'd use Aq. Pharm because it's cheap.

Salifert seems accurate enough for most reefers and is cost-effective for the parameters I listed.

I thought Ammonia and Nitrate are the most important test kits during cycling. A cycled tank normally has zero in Ammonia and 10-30 in Nitrate. Why do I need to know about nitrite?

 

[loismustdie]

Should this go advanced? 32Bit_Fish knows what he's gotta test for... I think we should discuss name brands, especially since I've got 2 kits, same lot, same exp. date with different results when testing. I tested 3 times to make sure I didn't make a mistake. I can say that I have made mistakes befroe when testing.

 

[Deanos]

I thought Ammonia and Nitrate are the most important test kits during cycling. A cycled tank normally has zero in Ammonia and 10-30 in Nitrate. Why do I need to know about nitrite?

A tank is considered cycled once ammonia and nitrite read zero. At that time, many people do a water change to reduce whatever nitrates there are to a lower level.

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Hi guys,

I found some test kits for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate for both Fresh/Salt water by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Are these kits accurate and reliable for salt water?

Thanks

 

[meschaefer]

Hi guys,

I found some test kits for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate for both Fresh/Salt water by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Are these kits accurate and reliable for salt water?

Thanks

As stated above, Amonia and Nitrite should only be necessary when the tank is cycling. ONce the cylce is over the reading for both should be Zero. Since you are only going to use them in the begining you can use a cheap test kit, and Aquarium Pharmacuticles is fine for this purpose. I have not tested either in about six years.

Nitrate on the other hand, you want a much more accurate reading, and another brand of test kit should be used. I, and many others use salifert test kits as they are accurate enough and are cost effective. You can spend less or more on the test kit and maybe get what you are paying for. People usually shoot for Zerot NItrate as well, when the time comes you may find posts in the advanced forum arguing for slightly higher Nitrate readings, but you should be striving for a Zero Nitrate reading at this point.

You will also need a good PH test kit. Many people here use PH monitors and or controlers, and in the long run are the way to go, but for now a quality test kit will suffice. Once again I use Salifert test kits, there are others that may be better, or worse.

The problem with "master test kits", are two fold. I do not know of any quality master test kits, and you can end up spending more on it then you would if you only bought the test kits that you need.

I routinely test, PH, Calcium and Alkalinity, but then again I have a well established tank. I ocassionaly test magnesium. If I am having a problem I will test Phosphate and Nitrate.