[philolsen]

What Knid Of Test Kit Is Good? And How Often Should It Be Tested?
Right Now It Is Fish Only But, I Am Planning On Adding Live Rock In The Near Future.

[Reefland]

What you test for depends on where your tank is at, in terms of maturity. A mature tank will only need an occassional nitrate test and a common calcium, alkalinity, temperature, salinity and pH test. New tanks, still cycling, should also get ammonia and nitrite.

[Boostable]

I use a Hagen Master Kit, that test just about everything. I also have a few secondary test ktis for specific tests.

I test mine once or twice a week depending on how it looks or what im doing to the tank itself. Usually once a week is fine I believe on a stable tank.

Also, consider buying a refractor. Can get one pretty cheap and they are alot more accurate and consistent.

JW

[Reefland]

Salifert is another brand to consider.

[philolsen]

What is a refractor?

[Reefland]

A refractometer, a device for measuring the salinity of the water. It is by far the most accurate way to test for salt, swing arm hydrometers have been known to be way off.

[Steven Pro]

Salifert and Seachem are my two favorite brands for test kits.

[jollopee]

Originally Posted by Reefland

swing arm hydrometers have been known to be way off.

That could be considered one of the most important things you will ever learn. I did not learn this until I bought them both, the swing arm then the refractometer and OH MAN what a huge difference. I mean the difference is so huge Im surprised that nothing died in my tank. I wouldnt give that swing arm hydrometer to my worst enemy

Todd

[ErYn]

i was just wondering about how much does a refractor cost? a normal price i guess.. i just want an idea before i go a buy one.

[Rubisco]

Funny that I see this post the day After I bought a couple of new test kits.
And let me tell you I am incredibly dissapointed in RedSea. Absolute Junk.
The Alk test I bought only gives me reading of "low", "normal' and "high" whatever the HECK that means! And dont get me started on the Ca test kit!
Looks like Ill have to look for the Salifert kits online.

Matt

[Jimbob]

Another shout out for the Salifert kits here... plus, the customer service from Salifert is unmatched when needed. All around easy to use, accurate and great to get help with if needed.

-Jimbob

[BubbaWPB]

Originally Posted by ErYn

i was just wondering about how much does a refractor cost? a normal price i guess.. i just want an idea before i go a buy one.

Check some of our sponsors.. I got mine from Marine Depot. ...do a search for "refractometer" because "refractor" comes up empty. They start at $49... and the basic one is a bazillion times better than one of those needle thingies.

[Hebert2580]

Originally Posted by philolsen

What Knid Of Test Kit Is Good? And How Often Should It Be Tested?
Right Now It Is Fish Only But, I Am Planning On Adding Live Rock In The Near Future.

I use the Hagen Master test kits. Test are great.. Iv never had a problem, and to rebuy the agents are less then 2 bucks. Great deal...

[scooterman]

Originally Posted by Rubisco

Funny that I see this post the day After I bought a couple of new test kits.
And let me tell you I am incredibly dissapointed in RedSea. Absolute Junk.
The Alk test I bought only gives me reading of "low", "normal' and "high" whatever the HECK that means! And dont get me started on the Ca test kit!
Looks like Ill have to look for the Salifert kits online.

Matt

In my experience several test kits are easy to use & I've tried & used many, red sea for one will never give you a consistent reading or a doubtful reading, I find this with many kits, wondering if i read it right or is it that bad or what. I also find that some of the better kits are a pain to figure out sometimes, makes me feel like a chemist & it is expensive. I like LaMott & Saliflert & in time yo can learn them & get fairly good results. After the Initial learning curve & cycling of your tank your basic PH, Nitrite, Nitrate & ammonia kits may not be used as often as lets say calcium, alk, & MG but at times you need that test to figure out what is going on. So spend the money on the ones you use regularly because then you start playing with a balance & you need better results but the basics & try & find some in between, little cheaper but usually close enough to figure out what is wrong. If you have nitrites, Nitrates & ammonia then a little or a lot means you need to fix that, like in husbandry LOL