Originally Posted by
bstreep
There's a reason why folks bad mouth SOME manufacture's test kits. Yes, the stores DO use API and others. BUT, they have the luxury of this: When they open a brand new test kit, they compare it against another kit. That way, they know that the kit they are using, works. Also, they run tests several times a day, every day. Their reagents are fresh - and this is the bane of just about every test kit out there. We learn very early on, in bio lab, that reagents are critical - and they are generally made fresh, in a lab.
So, the reason why you will see Salifert so highly recommended, is that they produce a top quality test kit, and the reagents are designed specifically for shelf life. They don't last forever, but they will outlast the others, several times. Are they expensive? Heck yeah - about as much for ONE test as others charge for a "Professional Kit".
I look at it this way: Even if you have a small tank, you've spent $100s of dollars on the livestock. Aren't they worth it? I chased an Alkalinity problem a few years ago, and was testing with a pretty decent kit (not Salifert). I found out the kit was showing only 1/2 the actually alkalinity. The company replaced the reagents - but what the heck?
BTW, I worked in a LFS for 8 years. Just because they do something, doesn't necessarily mean it's right...
As for the OP - he's already used to me (I hope!). I think he knows we're trying to help. I TRIED to get him remove his livestock several days before his tank crashed.
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