Thought this might be of some interest to ya'll whom are having to switch test kits now that Salifert is no longer available...

Independent Test Kit Analysis (http://www.mbenassireef.com/?cat=17)

We will soon be holding a Test Analysis in store comparing various Test Kits with different Calibration fluids. Just gotta find a day!

by the way, that's in our review section. lol

Chris,
I always thought that I liked the Salifert kits, but after using the Elos Alk & Ca kits, I really can't say that. Compared to my Salifert kits I am getting different readings. The Ca kit the other day read 395ppm on the Salifert and 375 on the Elos, not too bad but a difference all the same. The Alk was a totally different story, Salifert was reading 13.1dKH, Elos 9dKH! I ran both tests twice to to double check, same results. I then took test samples from another tank, I got a difference again of almost 2dKH. I decided to run the test samples again with a Aquarium Systems kit on the Alk. The results were close to what the Elos kit stated. (Can't remember the results off the top of my head, and I didn't record them)

Using the Elos kit is simple, as long as you remember to count the drops, and has opened my eyes that Salifert is not as accurate as it once was, or seemed. Guess I'll be talking to you soon to replace some of mine. Also has it been confirmed that Salifert is gone from the market? Just a question based on curiosity.

I priced them out one time and to get a full set of what I needed to test it was close to $200. You gonna have a sale on them anytime soon? :)

I priced them out one time and to get a full set of what I needed to test it was close to $200. You gonna have a sale on them anytime soon? :)

As of right now, all dealers must sell at MAP pricing (i.e. no discounts)... working diligently on setting up a powerbuy, but may or may not ever happen.

Its about $160 for the entire set of NH3/4, NO2, NO3, pH, KH, Ca, & Mg...

It's sincerely an eye opening experience (:wow2:) to put these test kits up to others when testing a lab grade probe calibration solution!

I have the Mg test and I love it. As soon as I use up my Salifert Alk and CA tests I will be replacing with Elos. Also If you get a 120xl or 160xl in, let me know. I would love to see it in person.

Also If you get a 120xl or 160xl in, let me know. I would love to see it in person.

We've got a 120XL now as our Aussie Show tank! :thumbs:

Feel free to stop on by!

Merlin
Hey dude,
I spoke to Chris last week (when ordering my Alk & Ca test kits), he has the 120 set up in the store now. I can't wait to get sometime where I can actually drive up to see it.

Hey maybe if we beg, bug or ask really nice, Chris will post a photo for us!
(Hint, Hint :) )

I know very shameless :blush:

Aww, Chris you type too fast!

Cool I will be making a trip to see you this weekend. Actually I won't lie it's just to see that tank. :)

Wait, Salifert's gone?

Chris, how much for just the Alk and Ca kits?

Thats what I heard.

Cool I will be making a trip to see you this weekend. Actually I won't lie it's just to see that tank. :)
That tank is sick! I can't get over these Elos tanks every time I go into the store...

Haha... you guys are too funny... and why are we all still up at this hour?

It's crazy expensive but I might have to get one. I'm just not to sure about the open overflow. I like having an emergency drain.

Da#n this hobby! It's turning me into a computer nerd. :)

It's crazy expensive but I might have to get one. I'm just not to sure about the open overflow. I like having an emergency drain.
I love the overflow! :)

It is expensive. But nice things are expensive. ;)

Haha... you guys are too funny... and why are we all still up at this hour?
Bronchitis is keeping me up and sitting is a lot easier to breathe than laying. ;)

Plus, I'm a nerd too! :D

Haha... you guys are too funny... and why are we all still up at this hour?

Jobs that do not require us to keep normal hours, insomniacs and the most obvious, we are addicted to reefkeeping!

(Which is better than being addicted to reefer,big difference. This habit actually costs more!) ;)

Wait, Salifert's gone?

Chris, how much for just the Alk and Ca kits?

Yeppers, those boys dropped the ball big time, and now everyone is trying to scramble to fill their void... the only suitor out there that actually has years of experience in actually making test kits is ELOS. You'll see a rush of test kits coming out in the near future from numerous new suppliers, all big names, they are just rushing to bring a product to market, that takes alot of time and experience to perfect...

alk runs $17.99
Ca runs $31.99

It's crazy expensive but I might have to get one. I'm just not to sure about the open overflow. I like having an emergency drain.

These tanks are designed flawlessly... they have a cool stealth looking anti-siphon built in!
:up:

Hey maybe if we beg, bug or ask really nice, Chris will post a photo for us!
(Hint, Hint :) )

I know very shameless :blush:

Here is your pic Bill... kinda dark... no flash as I didn't want to scare my baby shark, she is eating... but you might be able to make her out underneath the table acro! So I present the ELOS 120XL at night!

http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/arcinfo/aiwwwtut/gifs/black.gif

:D

Can they be customized? I want a built in external wavebox. Picky I know. But for that kind of money I might just need to do a custom job. I will be coming by to drool over it though.

Haha, it must really be getting late. All I see is a black box, eyesight must be accompanying my hair color, losing it all :D

I don't remember it being that dark! ;)


Definitely worth going to just check out that tank! And make sure you take a look at the "QT" tank too. :D

I love it that crystal so clear I can't even see it. :)

I stopped in today (OK yesterday) and bought a Ca and KH Elos test kit. MY two API KH test kits were giving me readings of 14 and 19 dkh. I reasoned that the 19 was incorrect, as everything in my reef was open and happy looking. My guess was that they'd all be dead at that KH!

Anyways, I tried the Elos KH and it gave me a reading of 12, which seemed to make sense. Higher end but not too bad. I threw away the really high API test kit.

The Elos test kits are not cheap, but as you can have thousands of $ worth of corals, the price for a good test kit is not unreasonable.

My only complaint: The 5mm markers on the test vials Elos gives you are WRONG by about 1/2mm. For accuracy, use the syringe they give you to measure out your 5mm of sample water.
Dave

My only complaint: The 5mm markers on the test vials Elos gives you are WRONG by about 1/2mm. For accuracy, use the syringe they give you to measure out your 5mm of sample water.
Dave

Exactly... since the company screen printing on those vials got it way off... I believe the next set of vials will have nothing but ELOS on them. You certainly got it right Dave! The only accurate method of testing is to use the syringe and fill to the Meniscus (The curved top of a column of liquid in a small tube).

Our sincerest thanks for the review!

would that be a or b?

would that be a or b?

Can the adhesion property of water actually create 'b'?

would that be a or b?

I've never seen "b", but I've seen "a" lots of times.
Dave

I've never seen "b", but I've seen "a" lots of times.
Dave

I've seen that picture on quite a few chemistry, ecology, hydrology, and even geology exams... luckily I always get it right! :up:

it's really the same thing either way, I was just being a smartass!

it's really the same thing either way, I was just being a smartass!

:thumbs: