PH testing, and Alkalinity Questions

[ZachAttack]

Hey guys. I need some Ph and Alkalinity testing kits. What is recommended? Has anyone found some to be more reliable/unreliable than others?? Where can I get digital ones?

And oh yeah, where's the best place to buy test kits????

[globaldesigns]

I just bought some Seachem, I hate them, too much work... I have just ordered and going back to ELOS, very accurate and simple to use.

[ZachAttack]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

I just bought some Seachem, I hate them, too much work... I have just ordered and going back to ELOS, very accurate and simple to use.

Thanks. What's ELOS, and where can I get it??

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

I just bought some Seachem, I hate them, too much work... I have just ordered and going back to ELOS, very accurate and simple to use.

The API test kits are also decent and easy to use for KH.

[globaldesigns]

Most LFS have ELOS, but I get mine from jlaquatics.com, they are cheaper on there. Very accurate test kits.

I have never used API, but here they are decent also.

[Bryan]

API for KH, it is cheap and accurate and always consistent. Matches my more expensive Lamotte. Elos is good too. Salifert had a bad batch of KH test kits years ago and I would never trust them again, more so out of principle for denying it. For Ph gets yourself a monitor

[ZachAttack]

Originally Posted by Bryan

API for KH, it is cheap and accurate and always consistent. Matches my more expensive Lamotte. Elos is good too. Salifert had a bad batch of KH test kits years ago and I would never trust them again, more so out of principle for denying it. For Ph gets yourself a monitor

OK, so where can I get a ph monitor??

[mark]

Originally Posted by ZachAttack

OK, so where can I get a ph monitor??

got mine here off Canreef but JL Aquatics carries different ones.

I'm using Salifert for Alk, no problems and last couple I got had a calibration solution to check against.

[Myka]

For alkalinity I would say Elos is a good kit (or Hanna or LaMotte if you're into spending that kind of money).

For pH I wouldn't bother buying a kit as they are quite inaccurate. A handheld digital pH meter (buy calibration solution too for pH 7 and pH 10) is much more accurate.

I have a Salifert kit for alkalinity and even though it matches the calibration solution they send with the kit the kit reads 2 dKH higher than accurate, my last one was 3 dKH higher than accurate. I won't buy another Salifert kit for alkalinity.

[ZachAttack]

Originally Posted by Myka

For alkalinity I would say Elos is a good kit (or Hanna or LaMotte if you're into spending that kind of money).

For pH I wouldn't bother buying a kit as they are quite inaccurate. A handheld digital pH meter (buy calibration solution too for pH 7 and pH 10) is much more accurate.

I have a Salifert kit for alkalinity and even though it matches the calibration solution they send with the kit the kit reads 2 dKH higher than accurate, my last one was 3 dKH higher than accurate. I won't buy another Salifert kit for alkalinity.

THanks, very helpful. where is a good place to buy the handheld Ph testors??