The key to a successful saltwater aquarium is keeping your water quality in tip-top shape. But how do you know your water quality is sufficient? You have to test it.
Here is a list of the Top reef aquarium test kits, purchased by Saltwater Aquarium Blog readers. These are the products other readers like you are using to make sure their water parameters are under control.
This year’s Best salt aquarium test kit
Let’s take a look at the 10 saltwater aquarium kits other readers purchased.
#10.
API 5 in 1 Test Strips.
Perhaps the easiest way to test your water, these strips, from API will tell you the general hardness, carbonate, nitrate, nitrite and pH levels of your aquarium water all with a single dab in the water.
So that you don’t leach chemicals from the strips into your aquarium water, it’s best to take a sample of water into a test tube first and test that water.
- Contains one (1) API 5-IN-1 TEST STRIPS Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Test Strips 25-Count Box
- Monitors levels of pH, nitrite, nitrate carbonate and general water hardness in freshwater and saltwater aquariums
- Dip test strips into aquarium water and check colors for fast and accurate results
- Helps prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish and cause fish loss
- Use for weekly monitoring and when water or fish problems appear
#9.
Salifert Magnesium Test Kit
Magnesium is the third most abundant ion in seawater. The recommended concentration in a reef aquarium is about 1300 parts per million (ppm). How are you going to know what the magnesium level is in your aquarium? You need this test kit if you do want to.
- The magnesium test kit effectively tests and provides a balanced magnesium aquarium
- The magnesium test kit can perform up to 50 tests
- The test will measure accurate steps of color change in tank
- The Package Weight Of The Product Is 0.5 Pounds
#8.
Salifert Nitrate
In a healthy reef aquarium, the biological filter turns toxic waste into much less toxic nitrates. But excess nitrates can cause sensitive corals to clam up and can even fuel some problem algae growth.
It appears that Saltwater Aquarium Blog readers trust this test kit to track their nitrates over time.
- Premium liquid test kit for precise nitrate measurement in aquariums
- Accurately detects Aquarium nitrate levels as low as 0.2 ppm
- Dual range nitrate test kit for reef aquariums and fish-only aquariums
- Precision nitrate test kit ideal for sensitive reef aquariums. Age range description: Adult
#7.
Ammonia Test
Ammonia is a toxic chemical to most living things–and especially the delicate animals that we want to care for in our tanks. It is generally present when you first start a new saltwater aquarium–but detecting ammonia at almost any other time after you have cycled your tank is a sign of a problem.
- Contains one (1) API AMMONIA 130-Test Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Water Test Kit, including 2 bottles of testing solution, 2 color cards and 1 glass test tube with cap
- Monitors water quality and prevents invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish
- Works instantly to make aquarium water safe for fish
- Dose several times a week when starting a new aquarium then weekly or when problem arise
#6. (Tied)
Seachem and API Copper Test Kit Brands
Interestingly enough, the #6 top reef aquarium test was a tie between Seachem’s and API’s copper test kits. The Saltwater Aquarium Blog community uses each of these tests in exactly the same amount.
Testing for copper is absolutely critical if you plan to dose copper in your quarantine tank. Copper is lethal at high doses. It is ineffective in low doses. And it is unstable in saltwater.
That’s a recipe for disaster or ineffectiveness if you don’t have a good test kit.
Luckily, blog readers voted with their wallets and recommend two options:
- Performance driven at affordable prices
- Made in the USA with quality materials
- Field tested to ensure nothing but the best for your pet
- Contains one (1) API PHOSPHATE TEST KIT 150-Test Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Water Test Kit, including 2 bottles of testing solution, 2 color cards and 1 glass test tube with cap
- Reads phosphate levels between 0-10 ppm
- Helps monitor and adjust pH and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish and corals
- Prevents excess and unsightly algae which can cause fish stress and inhibit the growth of hard corals
- Use for weekly monitoring and when water or fish problems appear
#5.
Phosphates in a reef tank are one of the biggest causes of problem algae and even some problems with corals. It’s no surprise that this test kit is right in the middle of the list of top reef tank test kits.
API Phosphate Test Kit
- Contains one (1) API PHOSPHATE TEST KIT 150-Test Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Water Test Kit, including 2 bottles of testing solution, 2 color cards and 1 glass test tube with cap
- Reads phosphate levels between 0-10 ppm
- Helps monitor and adjust pH and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish and corals
- Prevents excess and unsightly algae which can cause fish stress and inhibit the growth of hard corals
- Use for weekly monitoring and when water or fish problems appear
#4.
Calcium is by far one of the most important elements in a reef tank. It is used by almost everything in your tank to build their bony or stony structures. Typical reef aquarium water should have about 400 ppm of calcium.
Calcium Test Kit by API
- Contains one (1) API CALCIUM TEST KIT Saltwater Aquarium Water 1-Count Test Kit, including 2 bottles of testing solution, 1 color card and 1 glass test tube with cap
- Helps monitor calcium and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to coral & crustaceans
- Accurately detects calcium levels from 0-4 ppm
- Prevents low levels of calcium which inhibit corals and crustaceans growth
- Use for weekly monitoring and when water or aquatic life problems appear
#3.
Carbonate hardness is another one of the most important water parameters to focus on for a reef tank–and by proxy–the carbonate hardness test is, therefore, one of the most important test kits to own. It’s no surprise that it is #3 on this list of the top reef aquarium test kits. It shows that you, the readers are doing a great job keeping on top of your water parameters.
API Carbonate Hardness Test Kit
- Contains one (1) API CARBONATE HARDNESS TEST KIT Aquarium Water Test Kit, including 1 bottle of testing solution, 1 color card and 1 glass test tube with cap
- Helps monitor water quality and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish and plants and cause fish loss
- Accurately measures carbonate hardness in freshwater and saltwater aquariums
- KH (Carbonate Hardness) stabilizes aquarium pH.
- Use weekly for monitoring and when water or fish problems appear
#2.
Reef Master Test Kit
- Contains one (1) API REEF MASTER TEST KIT Reef Aquarium Water Test Kit 1-Count, including 7 bottle of testing solution, 2 color cards and 4 glass test tubes with cap
- Measures levels of calcium, carbonate, water hardness and phosphate
- Helps prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish and cause fish loss
- Designed for use in reef aquariums only
- Use for weekly monitoring and when water or fish problems appear
#1 Saltwater Aquarium Test Kit
The API Saltwater Master was the #1 product purchased by blog readers. This kit comes with everything you need to get started.
- Contains one (1) API SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT 550-Test Saltwater Aquarium Water Test Kit, including 6 bottles of testing solution, 1 color card and 4 glass test tubes with cap
- Measures levels of high range pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate
- Helps monitor and adjust pH and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish
- Provides high accuracy results that ultimately prevent fish loss
- Use for weekly monitoring and when water or fish problems appear
Best Saltwater Aquarium Test Kits Accessory
Not quite a test kit all on its own, but this item fell just outside the top 10 list. If your tubes get crusty, break or if you lose them, you’re going to need more.
Replacement test tubes
- Contains one (1) API REPLACEMENT TEST TUBES WITH CAPS For Any Aquarium Test Kit Including API Freshwater Master Test Kit 24-Count Box
- Compatible with any aquarium water test kits including freshwater and saltwater test kit, pH test kit, ammonia test kit, nitrate test kit, reef test kit, calcium test kit and more
- The API test tubes are perfect to replace API Freshwater Master Test Kit tubes, API Saltwater Master Test Kit tubes, API Reef Master Test Kit tubes, API Pond Master Test Kit tubes and any other API Test Kit tubes
- Snap-tight plastic caps
- Use when original tubes have been lost or damaged
Other Bestseller lists in this series
For more information about other bestseller products in this series, like this list of the top reef aquarium test kits, check out these other articles:
- Bestselling books
- Most popular salt mixes
- Most purchased aquarium products
- Best protein skimmers
- Best nano protein skimmers
- Aquarium chiller
- Reef salt mix reviews
Conclusions
This looks like a good list of aquarium test kits. The basics are all covered and the order of popularity coincides with the relative importance. The core tests available in the larger Saltwater Master and Reef Master kits are great products to get started with. As you progress or branch out, carbonate hardness, phosphate, calcium, copper, and magnesium become important, depending on how your tank is progressing.
I’m a bit surprised that only two brands, API and Salifert cracked the top 10 list. I wonder if that’s skewed because of Amazon’s product availability–not sure there.
Your turn
What’s missing from this list? Do you have any go-to test kits you think should be here? If so, please leave a comment below.
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