Test Kits

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Dez

Now I've been out of the hobby for a few years. I used to use Hagen test kits for PH, alkalinity, calcium, nitrates etc....I'm preparing to do a JL order for my new tank, and will be needing test kits. What is this craziness of super expensive test kits? Does it really make that much of a difference? I could buy a lot with $269 (looked at the price of Elos test kits). What is the difference between all these test kits? Thanks.

Des

Imo, not all need to be high quality kits, but some I would definitely not skimp out on. Plus, many people buy way more than they need. What I like to do is buy a the cheap (but ok) API kits for ammonia and nitrite, then Salifert for the parameters that need more accuracy; nitrate, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. I prefer Salifert for alkalinity over Elos, but I haven't tried Elos calcium or magnesium.

I don't buy a test kit for pH because there does not exist a hobby grade color matching kit that is accurate enough to bother. pH pens or monitors are much more accurate, but the probes seem to only last a year or two tops, so they are pricey. Since both pH and phosphate require little testing (because pH is rarely an issue, and phosphate readings from the water column are inaccurate) I don't buy kits for either, and if I really need to know I will take a sample to my LFS. Often the phosphate level in the water column is so low that a Salifert or Elos kit will not detect it very well, so the use of a D-D Merck kit is required, and that's an $80 kit that has a two year expiry (I believe it's two year).

Want accuracy? Buy Hach kits and a colorimeter. $$$