Elos vs. Salifert vs. API KH Showdown

[Mad Cow]

Here are my results for these 3 test kits. I tested with each twice for good measure. I also tested pH with both Salifert and API kits. I will add that I dose 3 teaspoons each of 2-part daily in approx. 50 gallons of tank volume.

Elos - 8dKH

API - 8dKH

Salifert 11dKH

-----

Salifert pH 8.3

API pH 8.4

Now my pH is a little on the high side. This would draw me towards the Salifert results or no? I'm totally confused as I think I dose alot of 2-part on a small tank.

 

[Mad Cow]

Forgot to add I drip kalk thru an ATO

 

[Cheetos]

I personally use salifert to test alk and have not had any problems. I have heard some people getting higher results though. 3 teaspoons of 2part in a 50 gal is not a lot....I dose that in my 12 gal AP!

 

[JohnK]

IME the salifert alk kits have always read a bit high. Also IME their Ca kits used to be good, but reccently some or all of the Ca kits have been reading WAY high.

Salifert used to be what everyone used/reccomended, but lately I think that's in question. Personally I've lost all faith in salifert and I'm sticking to Elos for now...

FWIW, as I understand it, basically all hobbiest level kits are kind of inaccurate and are best used to monitor trends and changes more than exact levels.

That said, I got a little put off when my tank had tested a consistent 375-425 Ca for yrs with salifert but then I bought a new kit and suddenly it tested 550 plus/off the chart! (other brand kits, and older salifert kits still testing 400ish)

 

[RayD]

IME the salifert alk kits have always read a bit high. Also IME their Ca kits used to be good, but reccently some or all of the Ca kits have been reading WAY high.

Salifert used to be what everyone used/reccomended, but lately I think that's in question. Personally I've lost all faith in salifert and I'm sticking to Elos for now...

FWIW, as I understand it, basically all hobbiest level kits are kind of inaccurate and are best used to monitor trends and changes more than exact levels.

That said, I got a little put off when my tank had tested a consistent 375-425 Ca for yrs with salifert but then I bought a new kit and suddenly it tested 550 plus/off the chart! (other brand kits, and older salifert kits still testing 400ish)

My Salifert CA kit reads 550+ off the chart too. The Elos kit reads 450 ish. KH is always higher with the Salifert also.

We all seem to be experiencing the same discrepancies with the kits.

 

[Mad Cow]

I personally use salifert to test alk and have not had any problems. I have heard some people getting higher results though. 3 teaspoons of 2part in a 50 gal is not a lot....I dose that in my 12 gal AP!

For heavy SPS dose Randy suggests 1mL per gallon. At my current dose I am at 3.3mL per gallon. Thats why I assume I am dosing high.

 

[delta]

Problem I had with salifert was from one kit to another I had 60+pmm differences on calc. Alk didn't match any other test kit I tried. That is IMO not acceptable. Also the testing solutions leak and clearly evaporate.

With Elos NP as of yet, although I have to count drops
I find it is easy to get consistent droplets and consistent readings.

Elos test results are along the lines of my seatest kits which I have used for over 15 years with sucess.

The only reason I switched to salifert was easy of use no counting drops. If the tests were not coming back eratically, I would still be using Salifert.

 

[Mad Cow]

IME the salifert alk kits have always read a bit high. Also IME their Ca kits used to be good, but reccently some or all of the Ca kits have been reading WAY high.

Salifert used to be what everyone used/reccomended, but lately I think that's in question. Personally I've lost all faith in salifert and I'm sticking to Elos for now...

FWIW, as I understand it, basically all hobbiest level kits are kind of inaccurate and are best used to monitor trends and changes more than exact levels.

That said, I got a little put off when my tank had tested a consistent 375-425 Ca for yrs with salifert but then I bought a new kit and suddenly it tested 550 plus/off the chart! (other brand kits, and older salifert kits still testing 400ish)

Thats it also I have no idea now what my Ca is! They were out of the Elos Ca or I would have purchased that also. With Salifert my Ca is at 410. Will Elos now test in the 500 range? Also with the correlation between KH and pH wouldnt my pH level indicate that my KH is also on the high side? BRS needs to commission a chemist to design an accurate test.

 

[delta]

Thats it also I have no idea now what my Ca is! They were out of the Elos Ca or I would have purchased that also. With Salifert my Ca is at 410. Will Elos now test in the 500 range? Also with the correlation between KH and pH wouldnt my pH level indicate that my KH is also on the high side? BRS needs to commission a chemist to design an accurate test.

We already did that, Just bring a sample of water to a meeting

 

[Mad Cow]

Problem I had with salifert was from one kit to another I had 60+pmm differences on calc. Alk didn't match any other test kit I tried. That is IMO not acceptable. Also the testing solutions leak and clearly evaporate.

With Elos NP as of yet, although I have to count drops
I find it is easy to get consistent droplets and consistent readings.

Elos test results are along the lines of my seatest kits which I have used for over 15 years with sucess.

The only reason I switched to salifert was easy of use no counting drops. If the tests were not coming back eratically, I would still be using Salifert.

Another thing Greg is if the Elos kit is truly the accurate one why wouldn't I just buy the API kit instead? It is less than half the cost and you get another 17mL of test.

 

[Mad Cow]

We already did that, Just bring a sample of water to a meeting

Awesome! I want something for the home though. I guess I will bring my water to the next meeting and see which kit it best matches.

 

[Mad Cow]

My Salifert CA kit reads 550+ off the chart too. The Elos kit reads 450 ish. KH is always higher with the Salifert also.

We all seem to be experiencing the same discrepancies with the kits.

So Ray which one do you trust?

 

[delta]

Another thing Greg is if the Elos kit is truly the accurate one why wouldn't I just buy the API kit instead? It is less than half the cost and you get another 17mL of test.

That is up to you. I have never liked Aquarium pharmaceuticals for testing saltwater, but I never cross referenced them either.

 

[bigchippa]

I used salifert for years with no problems, until a recent issue with some sps made me suspect that somthing was off. I went to see Jeremy with my h2o and my test kits (salifert). we found that the salifert alk was 3.5 dkh to high agaist elos, not to mention the other tests were off too. Reefjord and I got our salifert kits same time same place and his is not correct either and his results are diffrent than my salifert results. I use elos for now, its not worth it to try and save a couple of dollars on tests and risk hunderds out the window. Chip

 

[reefjarod]

true that big chipa .Im sticking with elos as well

 

[JeremyR]

On API kits: The calcium seemed good when it first came out.. cheap, fairly accurate. The current batch we have tests alot higher than the older ones, so I'm not trusting them anymore either.

 

[Peter Fernandes]

Elos for me all the way. Super easy to use as well as being more consistent.

 

[Mad Cow]

Elos for me all the way. Super easy to use as well as being more consistent.

I agree at this point.

 

[cjburden]

Can someone PM me with where the get their elos testing kits locally and what prices they are paying?

 

[JohnK]

CRA and AG both carry Elos. IIRC the ca kits go for $25-30? and the alk is somewhat less.