Alkalinity test kit recommendation

[Ne0eN]

I'm about to order some dry goods and I'm looking to get an Alkalinity test kit. What is a good one? I've used a RedSea combo pH/Alk test but it only shows low/normal/high. I'm looking for a more accurate reading. Is Fastest or Salifert the way to go?

 

Thanks

-Rob

[BeltwayBandit]

I'm about to order some dry goods and I'm looking to get an Alkalinity test kit.  What is a good one?  I've used a RedSea combo pH/Alk test but it only shows low/normal/high.  I'm looking for a more accurate reading.  Is Fastest or Salifert the way to go? 

 

Thanks

-Rob

45520[/snapback]

 

I have used the Salifert and it is not bad. If I remember correctly the color change is not that great so it can be a bit tricky.

[ErikS]

Used both, Salifert. Given the known accuracy of Salifert kits I can't see using anything else (hey, Dr. Randy gives them a thumbs up )

[flowerseller]

I like Aquarium Systems fasttest for ALK.

The color change from blue to yellow is dramatic.

[JC Pollman]

I like Salifert test kits, but they can be rather pricey. The cheapest I have found:

 

Aquatic Technology

 

they have the alk kit for $8.29 plus shipping.

 

Note: I have nothing to do with this store except I like their prices on some goods.

[Guest alex wlazlak]

check around the rest of the site?? theyre prices on lights arent half bad..same with some skimmers.

[Ne0eN]

Oh well, too late. I orderd from MarineDepot. Salifert Alk for $13.99. But since I was getting other stuff from them it came out to free shiopping. B)

 

Thank you all for the thumbs up for Salifert.

 

-Rob

[flowerseller]

I'm ordering Salifert CA and Mg test kits tomorrow from these guys.

[flowerseller]

I'm ordering Salifert CA and Mg test kits tomorrow from these guys.

45540[/snapback]

Well, I finally got around to ordering Salifert test kits from aquatictech.com on Friday 1/13.

The guy promised they would be here by Wednesday 1/18. They arrived today 1/17 and I tested my params.

I got calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and Alk test kits.

They are very resonably priced, packed very well and arrived in a flash, even during a three day holiday weekend.

***** 5 stars.

[Lee Stearns]

I am with Chip on this. For Alk I like the Fast Test, simple clear and a bit less.

[Steve G]

I'm not a fan of Salifert. They find a way for even the simplest tests to be complicated. Seems like there is more room for human error. And the shadings of color on their color chips are impossible for me to distinguish. I prefer the cheapie ones with different colors (e.g. orange vs. red vs. yellow or blue vs. green) instead of half a hair redder than the other shade. How is that more accurate?

[gastone]

Aquatictech lists "Red Australian Anemones"... I wonder if these are the red waratah anemones.

 

G.

[ErikS]

How is that more accurate?

Depends on the test, if it's PO4 then none of the brands mentioned are even worth bothering with.

 

Titration tests, while a PITA, are generally a tad more accurate - but, again, how precise do we need to be? We're pretty much ballparking anyway.

[flowerseller]

I still like the AS fastest for ALK over the salifert.

I do like the CA test but maybe only because it said it was 430. :D

For PO4. never got a color but clear and my little frag tank grow HA.

I made a media reactor on Sunday but waited till I got the test kit figuring I had plenty of PO4 and wanted to test before and then after using Kents PO4 sponge it the new reactor.

How sensitve do the slaifert PO4 tests claim to be and what's up with the HA?

[ErikS]

How sensitve do the slaifert PO4 tests claim to be and what's up with the HA?

It's not the sensitivity (I too have never had anything but clear).....it's what they measure. I probably have this bass-ackwards....but they only measure inorganic orthophospate, which isn't algae fuel....organic phosphate is the key & only high end kits like Hatch, Mercek (sp?), Deltec, & Hanna measure this.....and natch they run around $100.

 

Once again, the guru of all that is water quality has info:

 

Dr. Randy's Phosphate Article

[flowerseller]

the algae may be consuming the phosphate as fast as it enters the water, masking the issue

 

I'll try my new reactor since it appears I just wasted my money on the salifert PO4 test kit.

This is the first time I've wasted money on my tank so I don't feel bad.

[ErikS]

I'm worse - I keep using mine even though I know I'm not getting a true reading - can't hurt.

[Lee Stearns]

hey I didn't even test- I just noticed that the film algea was growing a bit quicker on my glass and decided to throw a little bag of Phos Ban in a high flow area of my sump- I too had never had a color show on the phos test before - guess I should have tested anyway.