I am looking to find out what is the best test kits to use, and why? what makes a good test kit? also, do you prefer the "test strips" that change color, or the drops in the small testing canister?
I like Hatch and LaMotte because they are kits not made for the hobby which tend to be cheap knock offs of real kits. It does depend on the kit in question some Salifert kits are very good.
I have heard of salifert test kits before, that brand seems to be everywhere on the net. you mentioned that some of their tests kits are good, are there some test kits by that brand that are not reccomended?
also, if Hatch and LaMotte are the brands you prefer, were do you suggest i look for them for purchase?
Salifert is a decent company with decent kits, some of the instructions are not very clear, the chemical you use are not identified (some chemcials used in test kits are pretty nasty cancer causing agents). The accuracy tends to be decent at least.
LaMotte kits, tend to be higher quality, foam lined flip boxes... for example I happen to have the LaMotte alkalinity kit on my desk. It's instruction sheet has well laid out directions, and example of how to read the results and do any math needed. It has a page on safy and proper analytical technique. Has a page with examples on how to take direct reading of the titrator with pictures and how to read the scale. Includes Material Safety Data Sheet on the chemicals used in the kit (includes First aid procedures). And I guess the kit can be used for your pool as it has a Muriatic Acid Requirements chart to reduce high alkalinity in pools.
In looking at my Salfert kits they have a single page of what looks like part of a photocopied page of instructions. Does this make it a bad kit? no.
You'll pay a little more upfront for better kits like LaMotte but the refills are very cheap (couple of dollars). In the long run they are cheaper to use because most LFS type kits require you to buy a whole new kit not just the chemicals.
Many of the on-line reef stores sell Lamotte kits and refills. Hatch stuff is harder to find.
There have been reviews done on various test kits that I'm sure someone has a handy link to.
Here is a link with pictures of various test kits I've used.
I just ordered a whole set of kits from reefsplendor.com. They are Lamotte and for $289.00 I got 50 tests of like 8 or 9 different parameters including salinity, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, hardness, and a few others i dont remember. check them out at reefsplendor.com
