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View Poll Results: What test kit do you use? What alkalinity do you keep?
Salifert <7 dKH 0 0%
Salifert 7-8 dKH 4 4.55%
Salifert 8-9 dKH 16 18.18%
Salifert 9-10 dKH 8 9.09%
Salifert >10 dKH 4 4.55%
Elos <7 dKH 0 0%
Elos 7-8 dKH 6 6.82%
Elos 8-9 dKH 10 11.36%
Elos 9-10 dKH 10 11.36%
Elos <10 dKH 1 1.14%
High end kit (LaMotte, Hanna, etc) <7 dKH 0 0%
High end 7-8 dKH 2 2.27%
High end 8-9 dKH 5 5.68%
High end 9-10 dKH 1 1.14%
High end >10 dKH 0 0%
Lower end (API, Hagen, Instant Ocean, etc) <7 dKH 2 2.27%
Lower end 7-8 dKH 8 9.09%
Lower end 8-9 dKH 5 5.68%
Lower end 9-10 dKH 7 7.95%
Lower end >10 dKH 4 4.55%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

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  #11  
Old 05-01-2010, 02:43 AM
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I have lost faith in Salifert alkalinity test kits. They really seem to vary. The one I have now reads 2 dKH lower than the Elos and the Hanna Colorimeter, and the Salifert alk kit I had before that read 3 dKH lower. That's pretty frustrating.

Thanks for voting everyone! Lots of interesting information here...everyone is all over the charts!
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  #12  
Old 05-01-2010, 02:55 AM
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I've used both salifert and elos. I never noticed noticed a big difference between the 2 and prefer to use salifert but it isn't always easy to get
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  #13  
Old 05-01-2010, 02:59 AM
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i have never used salfert. except for \mg and it seems to be a pain to use IMO compared to elos or API
dont know about the other tests like Ca.
how easy is it to test ca or k with salfert vs elos
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  #14  
Old 05-01-2010, 06:25 AM
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Just so I know where to vote, where do you rate the seachem test as for high end, low end? Thanks.
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  #15  
Old 05-02-2010, 12:26 AM
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Seachem is low end. Thanks for voting!

Quote:
Originally Posted by don.ald View Post
i have never used salfert. except for \mg and it seems to be a pain to use IMO compared to elos or API
dont know about the other tests like Ca.
how easy is it to test ca or k with salfert vs elos
Elos kits are done in the same fashion as API kits.

Salifert's calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium are all very similar tests. Salifert's alkalinity is a bit tricky because the color changes slowly over several drops from blue, to blue purple, to purple, to purple pink, to pink. According to customer service you're supposed to read it when the color is purple pink. This can be difficult to tell, but in all reality the difference is like 0.25 dKH all the way from blue to pink so who cares to be that picky?

I wish Elos was as picky as the Salifert kits though, as with Elos (and API) you go up by quite a jump. I guess you get used to it. I just know that I don't want the color to change when I put in 7 drops (7 dKH), but I do want it to change when I put in 8 drops (8 dKH) because I want alkalinity between 7 and 8. Takes a bit of getting used to not knowing exactly what you're at when you're used to kits like Salifert.
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Last edited by Myka; 05-02-2010 at 12:35 AM.
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  #16  
Old 05-02-2010, 12:32 AM
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low end for 35$. I would hate to see how much the high end kits are worth!
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  #17  
Old 05-02-2010, 12:40 AM
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That is simply because I am more interested in Salifert VS Elos than anything, and you can't put the Seachem kits with kit like Hanna, LaMotte etc which are very pricey. Some of API and Seachem's kits are comparable (imo) to Salifert which I would consider mid-end test kits, but that is irrelevant for the purpose of this poll. Imo, Elos is a slight step up from Salifert, but neither Salifert nor Elos could be considered high end kits.

IMO high end would be: LaMotte, Hanna, Merck, etc. Mid would be: Elos, Salifert, Seachem, API, etc. Low-end would be: Hagen, Instant Ocean, etc.

API kits are good bang for the buck.
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Last edited by Myka; 05-02-2010 at 12:43 AM.
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  #18  
Old 05-02-2010, 01:55 AM
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My tank was just started up but my new water change water tested the same as the tank (Elos 10 dKH with Reef Crystals).

You can't bring it down can you? I doubt it will be an issue once there is a demand for it but right now is there a problem with that?
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  #19  
Old 05-02-2010, 04:36 AM
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Elos test kit - Alk - 16 drops 8 dkh - where I try to keep it
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  #20  
Old 05-02-2010, 04:09 PM
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I lost quite a few sps colonies and frags because of a bad Salifert Alk test kit( read higher than the alk actually was) so i switched to API. From what i have read everywhere, not one test kit is always accurate. Some people have had bad Salifert, Elos or API test kits. So i tought i might as well save a few bucks with API. Oh and after that i got a bad Salifert test kit too
This is sooo frustrating.
I keep my alk at around 8 because i'm dosing VSV.
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