What is your Favorite test kits

[Ed Wiser]

So many different brands of test kits on the market.
What is your favorite and why?

 

[GreggZ]

For NO3 & PO4 I prefer Salifert. I have tested them against API against calibrated samples and they are more reliable and accurate.

API Ca, dKH , dGH, and ammonia seem very consistent.

 

[*Ci*]

Salifert for Nitrate is soooo much less tedious to use than API!
Add drops & powder, swirl for 30 sec. - done.

 

[Ed Wiser]

Coming from saltwater. There are so many test kits available. I have many of the various ones Hanna checkers are really good and very easy to use.
As is the Exact iDip testing system.

eXact iDip® 570 Freshwater Aquarium Professional Kit

Freshwater aquarium water testing kit

sensafe.com

These two testing systems work great and make it easy to read the value.
An if you have both salt and freshwater you just use different reagents.

 

[BenB]

For NO3 & PO4 I prefer Salifert.

Greg, where do you get the Salifert kits?

 

[Phish Tank]

Digging up an old post to ask: which Salifert tests can be used on freshwater, and do any that are intended for salt water testing require a modification to the test procedure for freshwater?

 

[GreggZ]

Digging up an old post to ask: which Salifert tests can be used on freshwater, and do any that are intended for salt water testing require a modification to the test procedure for freshwater?

The kits contain the exact same ingredients. The only difference is the range that they test for. For instance the salt water kit tests NO3 from zero to 100ppm. The Freshwater goes from zero to 40 ppm. The way they do that is that you put in 1 ml of water for the salt kit, and 2 ml of water for the fresh kit. So it's just diluted more. With both you add four drops of the liquid and one level teaspoon of the powder.

I've been using the salt water kit for years and it's the most repeatably accurate of the tests I have tried. Years ago I set up a kitchen table test using calibrated test samples and tested the Salifert against the API kit. The API is virtually worthless as you can't trust what it tells you. There are many things that can go wrong with that kit.

Hope that helps!

 

[Phish Tank]

I'm especially interested in replacing my api nitrate test, so especially helpful, thanks @GreggZ . I'll probably also try their PH and see if it is easier for me to judge colors.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Digging up an old post to ask: which Salifert tests can be used on freshwater, and do any that are intended for salt water testing require a modification to the test procedure for freshwater?

I also use the Salifert Phosphate kit just fine. It doesn't specify freshwater but it works great, and tests in the proper range we want for freshwater!

Separately, I want to add that I use the Hanna CO2 test kit and it seems to be fairly accurate, and quicker/faster than Drop Checkers (which I still use) to determine CO2 concentration at any time.

 

[Koan]

I want to add that I use the Hanna CO2 test kit and it seems to be fairly accurate, and quicker

What's the titration process for that test? Hanna doesn't post the instructions on their site.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

What's the titration process for that test? Hanna doesn't post the instructions on their site.

I decided to make a new thread, here: Hanna CO2 Test Kit: My experience so far (and why you're probably not starting CO2 injection early enough)!

 

[Tim Harrison]

Never really use test kits. I’m not anti-testing, for some it’s an interesting aspect of the hobby. Just don’t think they’re always necessary for maintaining a healthy planted tank.

I guess they’re helpful determining whether a tank is cycled enough to introduce critters, especially for those just starting out. And maybe a diagnostic tool if things go a bit south. Perhaps less so for the experienced.

Good husbandry, not overstocking. frequent water changes, observing plants and critters closely etc will more often than not negate the need for test kits.