What are some good master test kits?

[ConradSlo]

Hi guys i am new here and i posted a thread before on my equipment so far you can check that out aswell, but lets get to the point i want to get a master test kit so i can test my aquarium water weekly, what do you reccomend.

here are some i looked at:1.Seachem Multi Test Marine Basic2.Red Sea Marine Master Lab
3.Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Master Test Kit

Need serious Pro help if you guys know anything i would greatly aprrecaite any tips, hints , and even secrets... X )
Thanks, Conrad.

[Parrothead]

Back when I joined here a couple years ago, I was using api's master kit, it was pointed out to me and I am now a believer that using alot of these kits rely on color comparison and that leaves too much to wishful thinking, It was recommended to me to try salifert, thats all I use know, they are a bit more going in but well worth the expense, you get it back in accuracy many times over

[Ninong]

You will need test kits for calcium, alkalinity, magnesium and nitrate. Those are the basic ones that you will use on a regular basis. You should also test for phosphate but you could wait on buying that one until later on.

I used LaMotte's test kits for calcium and alkalinity and I liked them very much. I used Salifert's test kits for everything else. Usually they were okay, especially after they started putting expiration dates on the boxes so that you could tell if the vendor was selling you a stale kit. The LaMotte test kits have a date of manufacture coded on the box and their website gives you the approximate shelf life for each of the reagents. LaMotte does make a nitrate test kit and I think they make a magnesium test kit too but I'm not sure. I know that their nitrate test kit is quite expensive compared to Salifert.

I don't have any experience with pH test kits because I used a probe but your pH will be fine as long as your calcium, alkalinity and magnesium are in balance.

In the beginning, when first setting up a brand new tank, it's useful to be able to test for ammonia and nitrite, as well as nitrate, but once your aquarium has cycled, you really won't be needing the ammonia and nitrite test kits very much unless you run into a serious disaster of some sort.

You don't need to test for copper unless you are running copper in a quarantine/hospital tank to treat sick fish. In which case, you will need a copper test kit to monitor your copper levels daily. Which brand of copper test kit you purchase depends on which brand of copper medication you are using. If you are using Cupramine, then you must use Seachem's copper test kit. If you are using Seachem's salt mix, you must use their alkalinity test kit, but I wouldn't use Seachem's salt mix in the first place because of the high boron. And I would never use their phosphate sponge product because it's alumina (Al2O3).

I don't have any experience with the brands that you mentioned in your opening post. I haven't heard any good comments about any of the so-called master test kits. If you skimp on the cost of the test kits you will be sorry later on. I have heard good comments about Merck's magnesium test kit but it's very pricey. Same goes for some of the Hach test kits.

Good luck.

[twisted]

something ive found to be very helpful. i am in the pool industry and my store uses the pinpoint spectrum test system with lamotte vials. some stores may be kind enough to do a test for you so you can be sure that whatever kit you are using is accurate. they can only check you ph,alk and calcium. some can test for phosphates and salinity also. ive found that running my water through my tester at the store gives some extra peace of mind. and better than what alot of fish stores would use since they are usually the same ones we use at home