Which CA and which Alk Test kit?

[stubbsz]

As I get nearer the day that I use my Calcium reactor, the last things I need to get are Calcium and Alk Test kits.

I hestitate to ask which is Best (lots of people will have needed to use lots of diiferent test kits extensively to answer that question) but I'll ask whether my purchase of a Salifert Calium test kit and a LaMotte Alk test is a good one? I was put off the LaMotte Ca test kit by a guy who found it awkward to use.

-Adrian

 

[Rikko]

So far the Salifert calcium test is the only one I really like.. Alk tests I think are pretty basic, so just go with what works for you. I still use my Hagen test - it's just a titration test (count the drops until you get a colour change from blue to yellow). I also have the Salifert alk test which I used a few times but there's a little more to do with that one.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm fond of Salifert as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Neither, just trust that your reactor is putting in the goods. Test kits are difficult to use "accurately" and they quickly go stale shifting the results.

Chances are, if you have your reactor tuned well, you've got what you need. I haven't used a test kit in years. Save the money for corals.

 

[Ben1]

Neither, just trust that your reactor is putting in the goods. Test kits are difficult to use "accurately" and they quickly go stale shifting the results

I find that to be horrible advice! I wouldnt ever just assume my reactor is taking care of the job. Reactors don't stay set at one rate for years and neither does the amount of alk/ca your tank will use. As corals/clams grow so do there demands.

I use salifert for all my tests and like there easy system of compairing the piston position to the chart after the color changes.

 

[Rikko]

I always assume the big chunk of coral in my freshwater tank is doing its job and don't test and my pH still ends up at 6.0....

Blind trust in machines = bad.

 

[stubbsz]

Neither, just trust that your reactor is putting in the goods. Test kits are difficult to use "accurately" and they quickly go stale shifting the results.

Chances are, if you have your reactor tuned well, you've got what you need. I haven't used a test kit in years. Save the money for corals.

I appreciate your advice, it's always refreshing to get a different slant on a problem. However, I can't quite see how I can tune my reactor without a measure of some kind.

I'll think I'll waste the cost of two little frags to get a couple of test kits.

 

[Reefer_man]

I've been using the sailfert test kits. I'm a little confused on how to be accurate with it though. Do you stop added drops of the reactor liquid when it first starts to change color or when it is totally blue(not still purplish) or vice versa for the alk test?

 

[Anonymous]

I've been using the sailfert test kits. I'm a little confused on how to be accurate with it though. Do you stop added drops of the reactor liquid when it first starts to change color or when it is totally blue(not still purplish) or vice versa for the alk test?

It will be sky blue when it's time to stop.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.aquatictech.com/misc.html

cheapest kits I've found.

B

 

[shred5]

For calcium and alkalinity you cant beat Salifert...
Easy to use, pretty accurate and decent price
Dave