bad test kit

[salty419]

Found out i had a bad test kit couldnt figure out why my nitrates where 160 PPM.I was doing huge water changes and still no change so i had a friend of mine test my water with his kit and his with mine found out it was bad.Didnt even have the kit a year so i dont know how long i was wasteing my money on a problem i didnt have.I new something was up my corals looked good but test said otherwise so now i think im going to let the corals tell me when something is bad.

[CCR]

What brand?

[salty419]

API master reef test kit

[andy]

I know some people like them (mostly because of the cost), but API kits aren't widely considered to be high quality. I'm sticking with Elos kits for the foreseeable future.

[salty419]

I will have to switch to a new brand just not sure what brand.I was going to stop testing once or twice a week and go to once a momth or so i hear alot of people use corals to gage the water.Any ides on that how offten do you test water thanks

[Lowman]

I prefer Salifert kits. I have used them for years and never had any bad ones. I tend to stay with the old tried and true when it comes to things like this.

 

I test all of my water parameters weekly. I feel that it is especially important to test KH and calcium and Magnesium weekly, in a mixed reef anyway.

[andy]

Depends on the parameter and the age of the tank. I think a good schedule is:

 

Temp - daily

pH - daily (via controller; pH is a useful indicator for Ca/Alk stability)

SG - weekly

Ca - every 2 weeks

Alk - every 2 weeks

nitrates - every 2 weeks

Mg - monthly

[reefer]

i use this kit and havent had any troubles. it is a shame that a kit may be bad from day one though!! i know SALTY went through months of water torture over this!! no refund or discount from store bought either!!

[markdadof2]

If I think one of my test kits is acting up I usually make a run to Waves and have them give me a 'sanity check' with my paramters. Most any good store will test your water for you!