test kits

[racerX]

What is the easiest yet most accurate test kits for everything I need to be testing for?
right now i use dip sticks for the pH, easy to read but how accurate?
and a sera test kit for everything else, not that hard to use but not that easy to read either.

thanks

[Cearbhaill]

I'd always heard that the Salifert tests were the best.
Then just this week I got my hands on a "bad batch" kit that didn't help me out at all- seems marine pH measuring is a difficult thing.
I should mention that they are replacing the kit .

[mogurnda]

If you're cycling, any of the combined NH3/NO2/NO3/pH kits is fine. The dip system for pH has always seemed clumsy, I prefer the old-fashioned drop method. Once you get going, salifert's NO3 kit is easy and accurate.I like the Aquarium Systems SeaTest alkalinity test, and the SeaChem Ca test has the sharpest cut off of any I have tried (includes salifert, seatest, red sea).

[Pisces]

I don't mean to hijack but I was about to ask the same question. What are the most reliable test kits for a reef tank?

I recently ordered two by Salifert, calcium and alkalinity and I can't seem to get an accurate reading from either one. I also discovered that their results sheet was bass-ackwards for BOTH kits and I had to re-calculate all the readings and write them down so they were correct.
Anyway, both of the tests are giving me very low readings for both of our tanks but I have re-tested the tanks with other brands of tests and they tell me the readings are actually high, what's the deal? Do all the Salifert tests have problems with reading higher ranges of do I just have a bad batch too? Yes, I've followed the instructions to the letter, many times over with the same low results.
I'm very disappointed with the Salifert kits and I'm mad at myself because I've already ordered a few more by them (they should be arriving this week) before I had discovered all these problems with them. I had always heard and read that Salifert tests were top notch, but I'm thinking otherwise.

I "think" the most accurate calcium test I have is by Tropic Marin, though when I bought it we thought it was way to complicated and we just didn't use it. Now that I've used it, it's not that bad.
I've also used a SeaTest kit and it's readings are very close the the Tropic Marin one. A Hagen test was in the general ballpark, but much higher than the previous two kits.
Right now the only other alkalinity test I have that gives me an actual number reading and not just a stupid color chart that says "low" or "high" is by Tetra and it seems to be reading ok.

I'd love to know which test kits do all of you trust and prefer to use?

[racerX]

no problem on the highjack maybe we can get this thread going and get some feed back i know alot of people are bussy with pressing problems that need imediate help or fish will die but any of you have some free time please respond to this the info will be greatly appreciated. thanks