salty419 Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 What brand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty419 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 API master reef test kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty419 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefer Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 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!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdadof2 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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