test kits

The phosphate & ULR Phosphorus are a little tedious, and take some practice. It takes awhile to get all the reagent out of the stupid little foil packets and get it all disolved in under 3 minutes before it shuts off. I have to use a stop watch everytime I test with it. However, there really isn't any other affordable way to accurately test those parameters at the low range we need to test. Like David said, once you get the method down it gets better.


Never used the Alk or Ca ones -- IMO, those parameters seem pretty easy & accurate to perform using a triton kit.


IMO I wouldn't bother purchasing a checker for PH. The PH isnt that important unless you are using a calcium reactor or doing some complex method of dosing. In either case you would need a PH controller or APEX controller w/ PH probe rather than a one-time checker.

 

Personally, I think the phosphate checker is a random number generator more often than not and went back to the salifert for it.

 

I have Hanna alk. and calc. checkers, but prefer salifert.
For Phos.- Elos is also easy to use.

 

Dave you'll have to show me the alk checker sometime. Alk is what I check most often. I use Red Sea for the big 3 (ca, alk, mg) and like it. I've used salifert and API in the past for Ca & Alk but I'm liking the Red Sea the best. Mostly because the vials/test tubes that come with it. They are heavy duty and wide bottomed so they don't tip over. The tops curve inward so the sample doesn't splash out as you swirl it and it comes with a handy tool that screws on to the test tube that allows you to drop in the reagent while you swirl it with one hand. It's kind of hard to explain, but here's a video:

http://youtu.be/bb4NnYOFneA