Is there a reason why salifert is more accurate? and if you tested the same water with salifert and red sea test kits will there be two diferent readings?
There are reasons why Salifert is better, I just don't know that much about chemistry and test kits, but I've read some stuff that explained why. I just can't explain it!
__________________ Gwen - 2008 Atlanta Reef Club Board MACNA XX Committee 125g RR AGA "The Simple Reef Tank"
I found this.. I'm looking for more- its talks a little about test kits.. My friend Tom wrote this:
"The definition of Carbonate hardness is that amount of alkalinity in seawater due to the Carbonate (sigma-CO2) content of the water column. This includes all the species of the carbonate/bicarbonate buffer system, and as CARBONATE hardness does not include that alkalinity attributed to boron and it's differing species (boric acid/borate) BY DEFINITION (in practice, this is often intended to mean total alkalinity, although this is not correct). Boron levels in seawater are there mostly as boric acid, and at a pH of 8.0-8.1, are present as approximately 25% as the Borate ion. The TRUE concentration of HCO3- and CO3-- are determined by measuring at least two parameters of the carbonate system (pH; the total alkalinity called A sub t (AT; the total CO2, sigma CO2;or the partial pressure of CO2, [pCO2]), and plugging these values into Frank Millero's formula for total alk. However, when we wish to measure total alkalinity of the water column, we can titrate it with an acid, using an indicator dye to detect the point where all the carbonate is utilized to accept protons (, as indicated by the color change of the indicator) to meaasure true TOTAL ALKALINITY. This method of evaluating AT, including both borate and carbonate and miscellaneous other minor species, is the method used by most good home seawater test kits (Salifert, etc., titraation kits) for alkalinity. Determination of Borate is possible using permanganate to oxidize all the organic borate to a meaurable inorganic form, then using a complex with mannitol and glycol in the presence of a strong acid, then titrating with a base (Salifert makes a borate/boric acid test kit using a similar methodology). Seachem salts are unusually high in Boron, which, according to Leo Morin of Seachem, is because they (Seachem) feel that pH stability of the ASW made from this product is more important that the drawbacks of using high levels of Borate (open to debate; true for FO systems, not true for coral systems). Unless you are measuring both total alk and your boron alkalinity, (and subtracting the value for the boron alk from total alk), then your test kit is testing for total alkalinity of all proton acceptors. The units of the values reported will be determined by which product you use. Conversion is as per the above chart."
__________________ Gwen - 2008 Atlanta Reef Club Board MACNA XX Committee 125g RR AGA "The Simple Reef Tank"
I started out with AP but am buying Salifert as I add new tests and replace kits. I know that everyone says Salifert but the science geek in me wonders why? Has anyone ever seen an experiment that shows that they are better?
I started out with AP but am buying Salifert as I add new tests and replace kits. I know that everyone says Salifert but the science geek in me wonders why? Has anyone ever seen an experiment that shows that they are better?
I have wonder the same thing. I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master test kit right now. Plus I have AP kits for Copper, Phosphate, Calcium. It is what every LSF around here stock and uses to test. I plan to buy a few Salifert kits just to see what the hype is. One thing I hate about the AP test kit is I keep breaking the test tubes.
I am now a member Salifertology!
I was using AP kits and thought everything was fine. I figured almost any test kit will give good readings if you take your time and make sure you are using the kit properly. Then one day after reading all the hype I got a Salifert test kit for phosphate. I tested my water with both the AP kit and the Salifert kit, the AP read 0.0 and the Salifert kit read 0.25. Now that was far from a true head to head comparison of kits (maybe I will do one when I get some free time)but I started replacing my test kits with Salifert. Now with that said I would not start trashing other kits, because I found the calcium kit for AP gave me the same reading as the Salifert.
with salifert test kits do you test with color matching or do you do like 1 drop times 50? i hate color testers. i would love to have all my kits to be by number.. i am do to buy more kits so i think i will buy salifert to see what the hype is all about
with salifert test kits do you test with color matching or do you do like 1 drop times 50? i hate color testers. i would love to have all my kits to be by number.. i am do to buy more kits so i think i will buy salifert to see what the hype is all about
Yes and Yes
some tests like the phosphate test is color matching (shades of blue).Others are drop/ml counting until color change like the Calcium and Alkalinity tests.
hogwash. i have OWNED EVERY TEST KIT MADE BY SALIFERT. it is NOT as superior as reputation indicate. they are GOOD test kits, but NOT ENOUGH to warrant the price difference. if you can afford it, great..........otherwise, don't waste the extra cash. you'll all do fine with less expensive test kits.
__________________ USA
Last edited by fat walrus; 08-17-2006 at 02:14 AM.
thats interesting you said that FW. i found three test kits lastnight for calcium and tested the same water. well all three came back with the same readings. so i think im just going to go with what works and whats availible. thanks everyone.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
USA