test kits

[jcolgan]

does anybody have any preferences for testing a saltwater tank? I am now using the tablets and they take a long tinnme to dissolve and read, but I was told by the store that they are the most accurate. Has anybody used the test strips or other faster methods. Also my Ph is staying around 8.6 is that too high - I have rather hard water in my area.

Thanks

[JustPhish]

Use Salifert test kits instead. They are generally considered to be one of the best quality for the money. Very affordable. THose dry tabs kits are probably the most expensive kits your LFS had in stock which is why they are suddenly the most accurate thing around.

HTH

[Penguin]

I use the liquid reagent type tests. Tetra for pH, alk, ammonia, and nitrite. Hagen for calcium and nitrate. They're all pretty fast. They all work well for me, except for the nitrate which I find a little hard to read. 8.6 sounds a bit high, but if it's stable it may not be a problem. Remember though, if you ever have ammonia in your tank it will be more toxic to fish at higher pH.

[the_blue_tuna]

I prefer the reagent type tests myself also. Just remember that they are only as accurate as your sense of color perception is. I have the hardest time with Ca tests. I used to have the same problem with pH so I bought a monitor,,,,very easy to read the digital readout. As for pH levels of 8.6 , its my opinion that you are riding the upper limits of the safety zone. If it never exceeds that you will probably be OK.Just to feel better though I would try to bring it down SLOWLY , that way you will have some room for error.

[Triggers]

tablets are not preferred by many. as being labeled 'most accurate'
i have not heard that before ,could be a matter of preference.

i also use the liquid kits, just make sure to check the expiration date on the packaging if it has it on there.

as far a your ph if it truly is that high, try to keep it at 8.4 for the high end and 8.1 on the low end.
the liquid ph test kits are difficult to get an exact number higher than 8.0 slightly different shades of the same color, but easy to tell if it falls below ,totally different color. no need to spend lots of money on them as you are just looking for a range.