Calc test kit

[ramsey]

What are you guys using? I was using API which seemed alright though not terribly accurate. I then bought a Tropic Marin kit which totally sucks. It's by far the worst kit I've used. It's suppose to change colors from light blue to clear but it's never blue. I read others have the same issue. I have a Seachem mag test which seems really accurate though it does require several steps to get the reading. What do you all recommend?

[Europhyllia]

Hey you are still alive!

I use Salifert. For nearly everything

[Big_Pun]

I like the tropic Marin test for calc and mag. I've never had trouble with it. maybe it's old or something else is wrong. it's a real light blue color it turns, not a drastic change .

[CoryDude]

Seachem baby!!! I love that they have a reference solution to double check the results. Only takes a few minutes from start to finish.

[justahobby]

IME test kits are the same. They all require multiple bottles, titration, some require powders. Albeit seachem or hagen may have more accurate results... I prefer API for simplicity, know where to find the expiration date, and their colors match their cards (HUGE points in my book)


Seachem baby!!! I love that they have a reference solution to double check the results. Only takes a few minutes from start to finish.

Do you find that the test colors match well to the paper? I have a seachem phosphate kit that makes me inclined to refuse any seachem kit. The colors are never remotely close to the sample card provided. You can't fake a guess at what range it might be in. The colors look nothing alike. Not even the reference solution.

Not hard to see why I rarely test my water eh? : P

[ramsey]

Hey you are still alive!

I use Salifert. For nearly everything


Yup, still alive. Been lurking a lot lately. I'm expecting my first child in about two months and I've been busy. I'm still here though! :)

Thanks for the advice. I suppose it could be an old kit or something. It just never turns blue. Not even a faint blue. I've tried it a couple times now. i really like the Seachem mag test but the API kit is only like $7 or something. Also, I've also heard good things about Salifert. I may give them a shot. It seems like everyone has a different preference though so I'm back to where I started. I was hoping I would find a consensus that would make my choice easy. :P

[Big_Pun]

I just purchased the red sea pro kit(colors kit) and love it. the kit is in a nice plastic box, and instruction cards are simple to follow.I plan on buying the foundation kit very soon.

[justahobby]

LOL! Yeah, it's kinda like asking which light bulb is best : P I want to say salifert is the one that uses mostly powders. Not sure if that helps with shelf life. If you liked the seachem mag test then you should be happy with anything. I feel wrinkles and gray hairs sprouting when I try to tackle that endeavor. Their alk test is pretty nice, but not very accurate as it doesn't allow for tenths of a meq/l

[CoryDude]

Do you find that the test colors match well to the paper? I have a seachem phosphate kit that makes me inclined to refuse any seachem kit. The colors are never remotely close to the sample card provided. You can't fake a guess at what range it might be in. The colors look nothing alike. Not even the reference solution.


Their phos test kit blows. Glad to know I'm not the only one who has a problem matching colors on that test. The magnesium kit is a bit of a pain. I always feel like I'm loading a musket whenever I have to shove that cotton down the funnel.

But, I do like the ph and alk kits. But, I think you're right in saying they're all mostly the same. I like the salifert no3, but I haven't tried their other kits. I just use seachem because of brand familiarity.

[Big_Pun]

ok just got the red sea one and it's nice and very easy to read. goes from hot pink to blue.

[ramsey]

I now know why your tank looks so good! Ketchup! How exactly do you dose it? :P

The RedSea test looks pretty good. I may have to pick one of those up. I actually picked up an API calc test kit in Austin this week. I needed something and it was all they had.