Test kit options for color blind

[Hig789]

I am red/green and blue/purple color blind and it's the lighter and darker shades I have trouble with. I have been having the wife stand there while I test with my Red Sea pro kit and telling me when the color changes. I just wish it was a huge change instead of just shades. I can normally do pretty well with the color cards like with the API and salifert kits.

 

I have red very mixed reviews about the Hanna Ca and Alk kits. Some aren't even close and others say they are spot on. Don't really want to buy them just to find out they suck. I could get them and compare them to my Red Sea kit for accuracy but then how do you know which is accurate. Haha. Just want something I can do on my own and not have to bug the wife.

[basser1]

I use the Hanna checkers (Alk, Ca, and PO4). I find them to be useful in giving you an idea of where your parameters are. I have a hard time with test kits that use color guides as sometimes the changes can be subtle to detect.

 

But keep in mind the accuracy rate is ±0.04 ppm ±4% of reading. If I'm suspicious of a reading, I'll do another test to see where the numbers are.

[jedimasterben]

The Hanna colorimeters are a great idea, but the reagents seem.to vary greatly lot by lot, which wreaks havoc on getting an accurate and precise reading.

 

Elos test kits have a stark color change with the reagents, as do Salifert kits, and though they are not as high resolution as the Red Sea test kits, the ease of use is worth it, especially for me, as the easier it is to test and get the reading, the more likely I am to do it lol.

[Hig789]

I picked up a API Alk test at a store the other day because it was cheap. I know most aren't known for their accuracy but anyone have experience with it?

 

Might just try out the salifert kits and see how they are. My salifert nitrate kit is pretty user friendly

[jedimasterben]

I picked up a API Alk test at a store the other day because it was cheap. I know most aren't known for their accuracy but anyone have experience with it?

 

Might just try out the salifert kits and see how they are. My salifert nitrate kit is pretty user friendly

I would take the API kit back before you use it. It is not even worth the effort to use it IMHO.

[Hig789]

Well I'd have to drive 9 hours to take it back. Haha. I bought it on vacation.

[jedimasterben]

Well I'd have to drive 9 hours to take it back. Haha. I bought it on vacation.

Lol well, then it looks like the trash is cheaper

[masterbuilder]

API is almost as bad as not testing at all. Get your wife to read the colors with Salifert or Elos. Not an option then bite the bullet and get the Hanna's. I use the Hanna ULR Phosphorus and after a bit of a learning curve it works as advertised. For everything else, Salifert.

[Hig789]

Lol well, then it looks like the trash is cheaper

Haha. Yep. Figures I should have asked before I bought it.

 

This is what I am going to use for my Alk test from now on. I forgot all about it till I saw that we had .1N HCL in our lab at work.

 

http://www.reef2reef.com/blog/a-diy-alkalinity-test-by-randy-holmes-farley/

[Hig789]

API is almost as bad as not testing at all. Get your wife to read the colors with Salifert or Elos. Not an option then bite the bullet and get the Hanna's. I use the Hanna ULR Phosphorus and after a bit of a learning curve it works as advertised. For everything else, Salifert.

 

Lol well, then it looks like the trash is cheaper

We I have to say. I tested my water after my water change today to compare the API and the Red Sea kits. The API is a drastic change. I'd like to find another kit that has a change like that.

 

API- 10 dKH

Red Sea - 10.1 dKH

 

Interesting.

 

EDIT - I forgot to add the disclaimer haha. I did these two test myself as the wife is in bed, I feel pretty confident I hit the color change right with the Red Sea kit but I could be wrong. The API goes from blue to yellow so it's pretty easy to see that change. I will double check those numbers in the morning with the DIY test. I need to stop by work and get some ph calibration fluid for my meter. The DIY test is pretty much a spot on since you aren't watching for a color change you just dropping the ph to a certain level with acid.

[Hig789]

Well I was close. Checked it with the acid test and got 9.5dKH. Not saying either Alk test is off just that the acid test is a foolproof test if you have a PH meter and .1N HCL.

[braaap]

People apply OLD grumblings towards API kits. I use them for the basic tests such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and PH. I've tested with Elos and Salifert kits and I always come within 5% of those. API used to have terrible quality control. Kits that were expired being sold. Bad solutions etc. Not anymore. The kits are as accurate as we need for the basics. I'd even trust them for calcium and alk. They are going to be within 5% if done properly. That is acceptable in our hobby. What is to say the Elos or Salifert kits aren't bad? I've heard of plenty of bad Red Sea kits lately as well.

[atrox]

I feel your pain as I to suffer from the same color issues. Here is what works for me: Have someone else read the results or post you're results here and let others help. The api tests are junk for anything other than ph, ammonia, trates and trates. With the salifert there is enough of a noticeable change that you will see the color change even if we don't know the color. Once you're tank stabilizes there is really little need to test anyway. I havnt test anything in over 6 months. I use a digital for alk.

[braaap]

I feel your pain as I to suffer from the same color issues. Here is what works for me: Have someone else read the results or post you're results here and let others help. The api tests are junk for anything other than ph, ammonia, trates and trates. With the salifert there is enough of a noticeable change that you will see the color change even if we don't know the color. Once you're tank stabilizes there is really little need to test anyway. I havnt test anything in over 6 months.

 

When was the last time you compared an API calcium to a Salifert, Red Sea or Elos? I guarantee they are within 5% of all of them. Then how do you know which one is truly correct unless you take it to a lab? I've compared the results. API kits work well enough for our hobby.

[Hig789]

I'm not much on the Red Sea kits personally. I like the methods. But why can't it change color like a API. Yellow to blue. My guess is that most kits our test kits are sufficient as far as accuracy goes. Hell I ran a 90g mixed reef for three years and never tested it once. Was everything just growing like mad? Nope but everything was happy and growing. Every few months id take a sample to my buddy at the LFS and he'd test it. If I remember right they used all SeaChem kits.