Best Test Kits - 2015
 

Last poll was a few years ago, what's the favorites now?

I picked Elos, as I have more of those than Salifert, but use both.

I'm all about the salifert.

With Elos getting hard to find, I may have to move over :)

Salifert and Hanna

Hanna for alk and po4
Salifert for cal
Red sea for mg

Hanna for alk and po4 , salifert for everything else.

Wait I lied I have the Red Sea ones with the dropper they are pretty solid and easy to use

In my early freshwater days I used API, they were good enough. Got to the point where I didn't need them, could just look at the tank and know.
Hoping to get to that level with saltwater, but I doubt it.
Now I'm using API only for Ammonia, and Salifert for everything else. My LFS stopped stocking Elos.
Saving up for a few Hanna's.

Unfortunately I have to get almost all on that list shipped up here as all the stores here carry API and that is what I use as its readily available

Saifert for all except PO4 Hanna for that.

I have Elos for CA i have hard time to use it and i lost the spoon for the part B
and API for the rest of the things

Phosphate - Hanna
Calcium - Elos
Alk and Mg - Salifert

Those are the only things I check with any decent regularity.
I found the Salifert Ca test hard to read. I found the Elos Mg test tedious.

I voted salifert because I use that for Ca and Mg. Elos for Alk
Have not used my hanna for PO4 yet.

Thinkin' the Elos sales team needs to look at this poll :)

You missed the most popular test kit ever.... 'LFS' :mrgreen:

Seriously, Salifert and Hanna are my fav.

Elos here but last time I tried to get new ones I was told there is no NA dealer anymore. I still need kits!

You missed Hanna on the poll. I know it's covered under "Other", but it's a forerunner too.

Me too. I also use Hanna for phosphorus and alkalinity. I prefer elos over Salifert, but Salifert is more available, so I'm forced into Salifert often.

I left Hanna off on purpose, I considered it a meter rather than a brand of test kit. The poll asks for most popular (of your individual collection) of kit. I doubt more than one or two people have a full compliment of Hanna meters.

For me, I have mostly Elos, maybe a Salifert, so I picked Elos at the major brand in my setup

I also have an API for NH3, I find it quick and easy, and only need a yes/no value from it.

And it's well expired :)

I've heard the margins on Elos are crap, so dealers prefer to sell Salifert, and for the most part, aside from us elitists (lol), Salifert is good enough.

Found a 2012 test kit review that compares API, Red Sea, Salifert, Instant
Ocean, Seachem, Sera, etc. for overall accuracy, repeatability and even
"usability" (see comments). Very interesting information, in my view:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/6/chemistry

All my test kits are Salifert

I miss the beginning days of the hobby for me, I was in school and used the chem lab photospectrometer for my tests. Pretty accurate -lol

Redsea, Hanna, salifert.

Saliferet and Hanna. I like the hanna Alk test and there is no point in measuring phos unless its with a hanna (using the hanna ULR Phosphorus). All my other tests are Saliferet.

How come I can't vote for more than 1 brand ? :biggrin:

Red sea Ca | KH | Mg | I2 | K | Fe .Hanna ultra low phosphorus checker

Salifert for everything accept phosphate. I use Hanna for that.

I just wish they continued to make the Potassium test kit. :cry: