Time to switch brand

[horseplay]

After years of using Red Sea I have enough of it (George Carlin's voice ringing in the ears).

Got a new bottle of Alk test refill, come out 11 dkh while the previous bottle says 8. The ph reading is consistent with 8 dkh. So red sea has this issue where it just come out with a reading totally off the chart so fine, re-test, still 11 dkh. Can't get a simple chemical solution right? How hard is it to get the right amount of chemicals in there.

Let's not get started with their Calcium and Mag test kits. Although these are less relevant now since I can't remember when's the last time I tested them.

So what's everyone recommend for a reasonably priced alk kit? Or, skip testing all together.

 

[Haus]

Hanna checker for alk works well for me. Cross-tested with my Red Sea recently and got equal results, but if you’re not trusting red sea that may not reassure you. I’ve read hannas aren’t that reliable for calcium so I stick with Red Sea for that. And I test magnesium only if I’m having issues including fluctuations in calc or alk.

 

[Justin]

+1 on hanna and then I also use my sailfert to verify sometimes if something seems off, and for calcium I use sailfert as well which is extremely easy and consistent for me

 

[DangerDave]

+1 Hanna, the alk test is very fast and reliable in my experience.

I used the Red Sea alk test in the reefbot for a while, it was mostly reliable for me there. It matched for me doing it manually when I compared also. I moved to the trident because I had to refill the reagent to often. First world problems

 

[Sponge]

+1 Hanna, the alk test is very fast and reliable in my experience.

I used the Red Sea alk test in the reefbot for a while, it was mostly reliable for me there. It matched for me doing it manually when I compared also. I moved to the trident because I had to refill the reagent to often. First world problems

I think the problem wIth Red Sea test kit is it is extremely sensitive to the smallest change in testing Methods. Like if it says one minute and you do 45 seconds or 1.5 minutes. Results will be different. One drop difference in regent. Test result WAY off. But I gree with Dave. Reef bot extremely consistent with Red Sea Alk. Do to perfect methodology. So I chalked up my initial dislike of Red Sea test to human error. It takes the slightest difference to get inconsistencies in testing by hand. And now that I can get Vials twice as large for bot. Life will be even better. Lol.

 

[Sponge]

To be clear. And not pick on red sea. All manual testing with all hobby grade test kits that rely on visual color comparison is wrought with inconsistencies. Everything effects interpretation of results from the light in the room your in. Thru timing and temperature in room. Unless you can find away. To absolutely be consistent in every way and aspect of your technique, timing, environment and Methodology There will. ALWAYS be sketchy manual results.

 

[horseplay]

I have performed the same test for years using the same source of light (white florenscence), same number of handshakes, same pressure applied injecting solution, against the same white background. So yes it is probably not humanly possible.

Hanna seems to be the easiest. I already have the Hanna phosphate checker. But the reagent is a little pricey. About 40 cents a test. Not a big problem I only test once or twice a month.

BTW their salinity checker is quite attempting too.

 

[Sponge]

I have performed the same test for years using the same source of light (white florenscence), same number of handshakes, same pressure applied injecting solution, against the same white background. So yes it is probably not humanly possible.

Hanna seems to be the easiest. I already have the Hanna phosphate checker. But the reagent is a little pricey. About 40 cents a test. Not a big problem I only test once or twice a month.

BTW their salinity checker is quite attempting too.

I would say the nicest part of the Hanna and I believe helps tremendously. Is the electronic eye interpreting the results. It simply has to increase the accuracy do to no auto white balance like the human eye

 

[deepblue68]

I like Salifert test kits

 

[horseplay]

I like Salifert test kits

It is cheap too. $15 for like 200 tests. Do you still have to interpret the color? I have the salifert nitrate test the color is not that easy to interpret just different shades of pink.

 

[ecam]

I use the following.

Alk. Hanna and Salifert.

Salifert for Mag and Calcium

Phosphorus Ulr. Hanna.

Hanna salinity

 

[horseplay]

Got the Hanna. Measured once 11.1dkh! Measured again 10.8. So this is actually very close to the Red Sea Kit, which measures about 10.5.

So I guess the Red Sea kit is good after all.

I am quite shocked the tank has such high alkalinity.

 

[john90009]

I am trying out the Hanna meters, the calcium one takes a little more time because you need to have a fresh di water to use in the mixture which I normally store my freshwater in a bucket that may have a tiny amount of salt from my water change, however the alk one is very quick and seems reliable. I used to use the salifert kits and that have always been spot on and quick and easy.

 

[horseplay]

I am trying out the Hanna meters, the calcium one takes a little more time because you need to have a fresh di water to use in the mixture which I normally store my freshwater in a bucket that may have a tiny amount of salt from my water change, however the alk one is very quick and seems reliable. I used to use the salifert kits and that have always been spot on and quick and easy.

Yes the Hanna is quite easy to use. I am surprise how accurate the Red Sea is, consider that the color transition is not very quick. I have used the Red Sea for so many years never had another brand to compare with.

 

[Mark_C]

Never had a problem with the RS kits,
In the past few years I migrated to the Hannah systems as, during my degrees, my most hated thing in the world was titration. I refuse to have it part of a hobby.
In running Salifert and Red Sea, then comparing to Hannah, its all within the same range, but I like the fact that the Hannah give you a more accurate and reliable reading.
Others reveal too high color or too low color based on your vision and ambient light, Hannahs go stright to spectrometer readings and say 'You have XX.XXX'.
No BS, no interpretation.
SCIENCE!

 

[Raptor777]

IMO Hanna ALK and Phosphate checkers are easy to use and very accurate. I like red sea test kits for calcium and magnesium