Red Sea Test Kit Rant

[jonmf]

So I recently picked up the magnesium, alkalinity and calcium kit for $43 from my lfs and am not too happy so far.

Things I'm irritated with:

1- magnesium test reads 160ppm higher than my Salifert kit.
2- trying to fit everything in the plastic case is a pain!
3- syringes all say "single use only" ???
4- if you do get everything to fit in the case, gravity is the only thing that holds the top on.
5- syringes and tests aren't all color coded so it's easy to mix them up. Then you have to deal with cross contamination.
6- actual end color on the alkalinity test is nowhere near the end color shown on the card.

Rant now complete.

If anyone can shed some light on any of these or tell what I'm doing wrong please let me know!


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[jesuses]

You can pay more to have triton test your water.....

Seriously testing sucks and hobby grade kits are just that, hobby grade. If the case is that big of a deal you could get a new one, I keep all my different tests in a single clear bin with latches. If you really can't keep 3 differently colored syringes from mixing you could label them or find a pack of 100 so you don't have to reuse.

 

[jonmf]

It just seems to me that as a manufacturer you could make a few small improvements to increase customer satisfaction. I realize that making my own case, labeling components or buying more supplies are options but just didn't think I'd have to. And I guess I am guilty of expecting it to be somewhat reliable.


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[Reefer6]

I agree the mg test is difficult to find the end color and was incredibly inaccurate for me so I never use it anymore. I like KH, and Ca. I use red syringe for KH since titrant is red and blue for Ca since blue is its end color so I don't forget. With the test vials I just remember which order I put them in, KH in middle and Ca always has some precipitate build up on the top inside so I know which one it is. Also I dip the vials in the tank before I put in the water to be tested first.

 

[jesuses]

That's how I feel about a lot of things in this hobby. You buy a light, but then need a controller and tank mount etc. I actually like the jebao stuff, although they "borrow" ideas lol. Their first pumps came out a few years ago and since then they have improved little stuff like controllers and magnets without raising the price considerably. Now all their pumps come with wireless syncing capabilities and a more advanced controller is like $50.

Hopefully this changes how other companies do business in the hobby.

End of my rant lol

 

[dontavo27]

So I recently picked up the magnesium, alkalinity and calcium kit for $43 from my lfs and am not too happy so far.

Things I'm irritated with:

1- magnesium test reads 160ppm higher than my Salifert kit.
2- trying to fit everything in the plastic case is a pain!
3- syringes all say "single use only" ???
4- if you do get everything to fit in the case, gravity is the only thing that holds the top on.
5- syringes and tests aren't all color coded so it's easy to mix them up. Then you have to deal with cross contamination.
6- actual end color on the alkalinity test is nowhere near the end color shown on the card.

Rant now complete.

If anyone can shed some light on any of these or tell what I'm doing wrong please let me know!


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Thanks for posting your rant, I was actually considering buying the set of Red Sea test kits.
Guess ill have to stick to salifert

 

[jonmf]

For what it's worth, I agree with reefer6 in that the alk and calc tests seem good. Only mag. seems wildly off.


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[fredro]

I clean all the equipment thoroughly with RO water after use do cross contamination isn't an issue. The "single use" syringes only say that because they're medical grade and labeled as such. This has no relevance to your testing. The KH may not match the brown end color printed in the instructions, but there is a distinct change from blue to yellow with my kit. I have the Red Sea coral colors test kit too. If you think those ca,KH n mg are hard to get in one case and read color changes, then don't buy the K, I and Fe colors kit. Although the issue may be relevant, compared to other test kits on the market, the issues are nothing compared to those with many others. I have a bunch of test kits and even Hanna checkers and I can tell you that the Red Sea are some of the best built, easiest to use and read, fair priced and are backed by great customer support. Hope this helps

 

[pandimus]

I love red sea test kits. Use the color or the label for the color of the syringe. I ordered a refill alk and it came with a blue syringe. I don't test mag often so I leave those reagent in my tank junk area and makes it easier to out back together, otherwise you have to figure out the system mainly titrator being on opposite side of vials in lid. Can't comment on the accuracy of the mag,but would recommend you not compare it to another hobby grade kit as who knows which is true.. Also your salifert kits come with cheap cardboard boxes and paper instructions which errode with time in our hobby

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[pandimus]

Hind sight being 20/20 I would buy an red sea pro alk and calc kit as apposed to the full reef test kit.I don't test mag, and both individual kits are easier to organize and both come with the handy box and plastic instructions. Personally I feel red sea did a great job on their test kits

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[jonmf]

Thanks for the input guys. Well the nice guys at coral gazers tested my water yesterday, mag was at 1350. I have the same sample and will test this morning to compare.


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[jonmf]

So mag tested at 1500. Is it safe to say that I can use it as a baseline? Like every test is going to read 150ppm high?


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[cisco64]

I find it hard to read the alk and cal. The final color is hard to read for me. I always used api until now, I wanted something better.


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[coweyes298]

The final color for Mag is just not like they printed on the card. The card has a reddish color scheme but all i got is amber like color. My LFS who sold me the test kit told me to look at the transition point of the color, but if I pass the transition point and put more into the vail, I will get darker color than the first amber color I get (but still not colse the reddish). Thus I actually don't know when to stop to record...

 

[F-Dawg]

Salifert. "Nuff Said"

 

[TH64]

I bought the red sea saltwater master kit instead of api & I have to agree with most of your points. I thought they could have at leave provided a better box to store everything in. Would not recommend it at all.

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[jonmf]

So after a while of using this..I've found a few work arounds:

Magnesium, the moment it changes color, notice the top of the plunger, not the bottom as stated in the instructions.

Calcium, add tritrant until it changes to completely blue, no traces of pink at all.

Alkalinity, the final color will be a bronze, not anything near a red. Add until it doesn't change color anymore.

These work for me.


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[russ13]

I know Hanna checkers are more money but just start buying them one at a time. THere so much easier to use and it takes your eye out of the equation. I have the phosphate, calcium, and alkinity and they all work great. Getting the nitrate one next

 

[jonmf]

I know Hanna checkers are more money but just start buying them one at a time. THere so much easier to use and it takes your eye out of the equation. I have the phosphate, calcium, and alkinity and they all work great. Getting the nitrate one next

I have the phosphate tester, spent $50 on it then saw that I needed the "ULR" unit. After watching some YouTube vids it seems safe to say that you can double the reading in the standard tester. Ugh....

 

[russ13]

I have the phosphate tester, spent $50 on it then saw that I needed the "ULR" unit. After watching some YouTube vids it seems safe to say that you can double the reading in the standard tester. Ugh....

that sucks. I picked up the ultra low one on another site for $25 Works great