Best/Easiest Reef Test Kit(s)?

[BeantownMBA]

Hey, all!

OK-so I'm relatively new to keeping a reef aquarium; my understanding/knowledge of salinity, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, alkalinity, etc. is fairly limited, and the prospect of conquering a solid understanding of these is daunting. Without this knowledge, my success with the reef has been marginally successful; my fish are great, my mushrooms good, but my corals are disasters. I want to get better at it, and I think it starts with more testing. I know my nitrates are high, and I'm working on those through a refugium and more water changes. My salinity and nitrites are in line. I simply use a hydrometer and some test strips for these three tests. Are there any suggestions on what test kit(s) may be helpful and accurate for a beginner aquarist with an already-established tank?... Any advise/suggestions on what other tests or areas of concern I should be looking at?

Thanks!

 

[stingythingy45]

Hello and Welcome to BRS.

I've found that the best kit price wise,accuracy and ease of use is API(Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc.) Master Kit.

 

[Peter Fernandes]

Depends on what types of corals you want to keep. If you want to keep LPS and SPS corals then you should be at least keeping your Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium in line.Softy tanks are more forgiving but you still should test for alkalinity at least.
I use Elos test kits, I find them very easy to use but are more expensive than some others.

Peter

 

[Behrmon]

Depends on what types of corals you want to keep. If you want to keep LPS and SPS corals then you should be at least keeping your Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium in line.Softy tanks are more forgiving but you still should test for alkalinity at least.
I use Elos test kits, I find them very easy to use but are more expensive than some others.

Peter

Ditto on all points.

I like the Elos, pricey but better IMO.

 

[JayM]

Go ELOS. If you can count, shake a vial of water, and you aren't color blind, you can do their tests.....

 

[biggyclops]

don't do the strips and rely solely on those.. i use mine once and a while but if i get something on the strips i follow up with a diff test.. especially ammonia and nitrates

 

[BeantownMBA]

Thanks, all! Very helpful. Even more helpful than all the advise is knowing what a great resource this site, and all of you, will be!

 

[dedfish]

Another good brand of test kit is Salifert. If you asked this question last year almost very reply would have been Salifert.