• Which tests are better?

  • Brian6895

Comrades who love marine aquaristics, please recommend which test for determining Calcium and Magnesium is better to purchase: JBL tests, Tropic Marin tests, or Salifert tests. Thank you in advance.

Holly

I will also ask about the nitrate tests. It just needs to be one that doesn't "bend the needle" at high levels.

Jennifer7159

I would choose Salifert, although I use Red Sea, many praise Salifert for its accuracy.

Robert1845

Definitely Salifert tests

Alec9378

I am for Tropic Marin - 2 tests in one. Very accurate and convenient.

Susan

I used JBL, but they run out of calcium quickly, but you can buy the components separately!

Noah1632

How to translate the API test readings into Russian: 1. GH - 180mg/L - according to the table in the test - this is 10dGH 2. KH - 180mg/L - according to the table in the test - this is 10dKH 3. PH - 6.0 - this is clear 4. NO2 - 3 5. NO3 - 40 How to correctly convert mg/L to °dH. The table in the test shows that 180mg/L corresponds to 10°dH, but I read online that 10mg/L corresponds to about 1°dH. What should I believe? Sorry in advance if I'm asking silly questions. I'm a beginner in aquaristics. I'm trying to learn.

John828

One German degree dH corresponds to 21.8 mg/l, so if you have a KH reading of 180 mg/l, it is 8.25 dH in German degrees.

Kristen1161

I have exactly copied the table from the instructions GH ppm(mg/L)___°dH 30__________1.7° 60__________3.4° 120_________6.7° 180_________10° KH ppm(mg/L)___°dH 40__________2.2° 80__________4.5° 120_________6.7° 180_________10° 240_________13.4° How can I find out my hardness then?

Angel2396

Has anyone tried the Ptero tests? I’m thinking of getting a set, are there any that are not worth buying?

Katie4842

I tried Ptero. A friend recommended it. No complaints about the tests. They are very easy to use. Even a kid can figure it out. Go for it.

Brian

I use. 1. The simplest one for kN. And the most necessary. 2. Calcium. I compared it with Red Sea Pro. I prefer Red Sea. 3. Tests for Phosphates and Nitrates are puzzling me for now. They show zero. And I have nothing to compare with... The Nitrate test should be taken from the latest release - from the three jars, where the reagent is dry. They don't have a test for Magnesium. I might buy Red Sea Pro.

Brooke3987

I bought a kH test from Ptero, and what can I say) it's all quite disappointing)

Jamie3553

Why is that, why such conclusions? Can you elaborate?

Raven7170

There are no specific instructions; the box says to add drops until the color changes, and that's it. One drop equals one degree. The test cup has no markings. The kit is simple: a syringe, a small jar, and a reagent. I remember that for the Tetra test, there is one color for saltwater and another for freshwater. Here, I keep pouring, and it just keeps getting more purple; nothing changes. Can I really have a kH of 50+? I didn't have the Tetra test; I was recommended this one, they say it's cheaper and better. I knew that for 26, there couldn't be a decent test. I should have gone with JBL.

Christopher1774

Maybe it's very low instead? How many drops did you put in at once? Actually, you should add them one by one and shake. Off-topic. No, of course, a defective option is possible, but otherwise... I have used these tests a lot, and everything was fine.

Katie5500

By the way, there is only a reagent, a syringe, and a vial, and the instructions say "drop until the color changes, 1 drop - 1 degree."

Tanner

It really seems like a delay in the reaction. I've noticed this when I hadn't used the test for a long time; I had to keep the reagent bottle open for a while - the test results normalized immediately. In general, the kH test is one of the most basic - almost all manufacturers have a standard version.

Lindsey3628

Well, I was dripping one drop and shaking it, but after the 20th I stopped) Yes, everyone does, but at least for the tetra there are instructions showing which colors should be for saltwater and freshwater.

Emily

I regularly use the kH test from Ptero. There was nothing below 6 in the aquarium. If I add baking soda, the kH increases. Well, you understand, the accuracy is 1 degree. If you want a more accurate and almost free option - read here: Homemade kH test -

Lee

What is the current situation in test preferences (manufacturers)? I'm looking, as always, between + and -, Salifert and Ptero. Thank you!

Dennis

So far, I bought a set from Ptero, we'll see...

Stephanie9175

We are waiting for feedback and comparisons, Nikolai)))

Julie3950

Has anyone used these tests from the API? (Not an advertisement! It's just that almost no one knows about them, and I only have fairly clear ones for hardness and phosphates, plus the price isn't sky-high. I just used them in marine aquariums, but it wasn't a reef tank.)

Jeremy

I prefer SALIFERT (I like it more than TROPIC MARIN, although the latter is better packaged). For phosphates, I use the egg from -736; I haven't used Ptero or JBL. Most often, you need to measure kH, especially if you're adjusting the calcium reactor/balling or if calcium consumption changes and you need to adjust the calcium reactor's performance (the amount of solutions in balling). The test allows for measurements with an accuracy of +/- 0.3, while API only measures within a degree. However, for starters, you can buy API - it shows plausible results and the price is reasonable.

David

For accuracy, use the Seachem test. It gives +/- 5 mg/L. The original name is Seachem Reef Status Calcium Test. It comes with standard solutions for self-checking. Various saliferts didn't even come close to it.