[newguy420]

I'm wondering what people consider to be the best value in testing kits. I know parmeters are important but so isnt not spending excessive money. Do you people use test strips or the chemical type more? Brands and where to find the deals are appreciated.

[lynnvangsnes]

I personally prefer Salifert. They seem to be more consistent than others. These use actual water samples with reagents added to the water, then they are compared to a color chart. Not too expensive either.

[unclejed]

I like chemical tests from API (American pharmaceuticals). They are easy as they utilize a 10 drop method, meaning you add 10 drops every time in the first step of a two step test, and some Nitrate test, you add 10 drops for step two. Their tests are real accurate. For Magnesium testing I have found Salifert to be the most accurate and fairly simple.
I buy from "That fish place","North coast pets and "Marine Depot". Between the 3 I can usually find a deal.

[pogodzib]

I like Salifert as well. I've gotten way too many false readings over the years with other brands of test kits.

[CyberJester]

elos are a little more expensive, but I swtiched from API to them and like them much better.

[Tonz of fun]

I have found API to be inaccurate. If you are asking for the best kit it is by far Salifert. I would venture out there and saying elos is becoming number one because they are more available right now then salifert. I think the best value would be test from seachem. You get multiple test and they are decently accurate. A lot cheaper then those number one tests out there.

[unclejed]

O.k. so share with us, Jeremy, why do you like elos better than API and Greg how were API tests inaccurate?

[Arnold40]

I used the seachem test kits for calcium and magnesium. I always had to adjust calcium and mag. since the test results were always low. I have read that the results are always lower than the actual parameters. So now I have stopped using them. I use API test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I will be switching to Elos for calc and Mg.

[Krazy]

SERA tests all the way. User Friendly and accurate enough for me (when I do actually test)

[newguy420]

Thanks for all the comments. I looked at marinedepot and it seems you have to buy each parameter test individually foer salifert and sera. Is this the way they have to be purchased?

[REEFMASTER]

WHEW! This subject is another one for the Archives! I myself use API, and have been using them for the past 3 yrs. I have tried Salifert, only to loose coral because the test were VERY inaccurate. Now this is not to say that all of Saliferts test kits are like that, Or that it was not USER error, BUT if you browse other Reef Forums Salifert has been getting some bad reviews lately and I have contributed to those Reviews.
For me API is also very user friendly. Drop here and a Drop there and VIOLA" you have your results.
But to be Fair, There is not "1" test kit that is going to give you an accurate reading. IMO it is up to the Individuals taste, and Idea of what he believes to be right for him/her.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by unclejed

O.k. so share with us, Jeremy, why do you like elos better than API and Greg how were API tests inaccurate?

Buy one test from salifert then test the same thing with your API. You might be surprised. I found that in phosphate and nitrate specifically API were extremely off with the numbers and since Salifert is a proven power house i tend to believe that API to be inaccurate. You get what you pay for...

[newguy420]

how do you tell one is right and the other is wrong?

[Tonz of fun]

I assumed that the tests that cost 19.99 for five tests was wrong over the test that cost 40 for one. Also the history and reputation that Salifert test have. I was having a algae outbreak and I was reading 0 on my phosphates with a test from API. Then i got a better quality test and got readings. By the sounds of it a lot of people have had some success with API I just know I did not.