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Anonymous

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I believe that Hagen test kit is a 3 part solution where you drop shake and count how many drops until it changes color, either way, how "good" it is is really subjective.. do you need to know your calcium down to 1 decimal place? Or would you be happy for a range of +/- 20 ppm? ie you read 420 calcium.. so you have anywhere between 400 and 440. If you can say to yourself "this is accurate enough" then by all means get the cheaper kit, you'll be wasting money on a high end kit.

of course if you're measuring something like pH then you might want a little more accuracy. But ask yourself what your needs are, then buy accordingly.
 

mike90

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sfsuphysics":3dvy75eh said:
I believe that Hagen test kit is a 3 part solution where you drop shake and count how many drops until it changes color, either way, how "good" it is is really subjective.. do you need to know your calcium down to 1 decimal place? Or would you be happy for a range of +/- 20 ppm? ie you read 420 calcium.. so you have anywhere between 400 and 440. If you can say to yourself "this is accurate enough" then by all means get the cheaper kit, you'll be wasting money on a high end kit.

of course if you're measuring something like pH then you might want a little more accuracy. But ask yourself what your needs are, then buy accordingly.


very good points. i bought the Seachem Reef Builder (carbonate alkalinity) and the Reef Advantage Calcium. I haven't added any yet because I want to test my levels first. I have the aquarium pharmacuticals test kit that tests the pH, Amonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites. It doesn't do alkalinity though. Or is there a way to tell what my alkalinity is from my pH. I know the two are related right?
So basically I am looking for an inexpensive kit to test the carbonate alkalinity and the calcium.
Any suggestions?
 

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