I've been using the API Calcium Test since I started testing, and I've always been spot on at 420. I didn't know how this was possible since i had a good bit of coral, and haven't seen serious growth in my corals, just slow to moderate. Chris from Einstein Aquatics was selling ELOS kits at MACNA for 15% off (I got phosphate too) so I decided to spring for it. Turns out my Ca is actually at 320, it was 100 mg/lt off. I wonder if this is why my Mag was so hard to keep above 800, since I have read they are related. I trust the ELOS kit and what I've seen in my corals more than the API. I recommend this kit or another better kit over the API one which I've decided isn't worth the trouble.

good to hear!! I have all the Elos test kits, or 6 of them I should say which include Ca and Mg. I like them alot!!

Yeah, they're great, I have Ca, Mg, Phosphate and Nitrate, they've helped out a lot.

Whats the price that Chris normally sells these at? Phos, ca and alk?

The Ca test kit is 31.99 I believe, this is his normal price.

I agree, I think that is the normal price, I think one of the kits is cheaper, but don't quote me on that...

Zang! Righty-o. Thanks for the price.

My experience with the API is similar to yours, been testing 480-500 for awhile, was worrying about calcium getting too high. Then got a salfert test kit. Result was 380.

I've just recently gotten the Elos Ca, Ma, and Alk kits since I'm starting to dose two part solution. I tested the same water at the same time with the API Ca and Alk; and the Elos Ca and Alk and other than the Elos being able to do Ca in increments of ten versus 20 for and .5 dKH versus 1 dKH for Alk mine read the same. I think all this stuff has a shelf life so it could be an age issue that throws your tests off. Also if you are using the lines on the test tubes for the amount of water you could also be off significantly. Make sure for any of the test kits you use the syringe for measuring.

I've always measured 0 phosphates with the API test kit, but with the Elos kit one of my tanks showed some phosphate. I don't know what the value was though since you have to pick out the shade of blue for the value and I just can't seem to do that.

Yeah, I always use the syringe, it fills up just over the line instead of at it. I purchased my API test kit about 6 months ago, but there's no telling how long it sat on the shelf...

I've just recently gotten the Elos Ca, Ma, and Alk kits since I'm starting to dose two part solution. I tested the same water at the same time with the API Ca and Alk; and the Elos Ca and Alk and other than the Elos being able to do Ca in increments of ten versus 20 for and .5 dKH versus 1 dKH for Alk mine read the same. I think all this stuff has a shelf life so it could be an age issue that throws your tests off. Also if you are using the lines on the test tubes for the amount of water you could also be off significantly. Make sure for any of the test kits you use the syringe for measuring.

I've always measured 0 phosphates with the API test kit, but with the Elos kit one of my tanks showed some phosphate. I don't know what the value was though since you have to pick out the shade of blue for the value and I just can't seem to do that.

I've been using the API Calcium Test since I started testing, and I've always been spot on at 420. I didn't know how this was possible since i had a good bit of coral, and haven't seen serious growth in my corals, just slow to moderate. Chris from Einstein Aquatics was selling ELOS kits at MACNA for 15% off (I got phosphate too) so I decided to spring for it. Turns out my Ca is actually at 320, it was 100 mg/lt off. I wonder if this is why my Mag was so hard to keep above 800, since I have read they are related. I trust the ELOS kit and what I've seen in my corals more than the API. I recommend this kit or another better kit over the API one which I've decided isn't worth the trouble.

what makes you trust elos kit .

Chris at Einsteins told me that the ELOS where way better than the API but i cant affod any yet. My API keeps giving me diff results so im not sure whats up either but anyone else have any experience with these test kits?

Elos & DD Merck are the only hobby kits that I have been happy with (and I've tried almost all of them from API, LaMott, Salifert, IO, Hagen, blah, blah, blah...........

most lfs owners will tell you there kits work better then the others. i here it from almost every store in atl. im not saying the elos kit wasnt good ive never tried it. just dont always believe everything lfs tell you. remeber they are trying to make money as well.when i started reefing 5 years ago . i went to everystore from fishgarden to cbay to fishstore and more. they all recomend different skimmers then each other . some tried getting me to buy 300 dollar sumps some told me to use old fish tank. some loved the lights they sell over the other stores lights. i took it all with a grain of salt.

For me Elos is the best hobbiest kit due to results & ease of use; certainly not from lfs.

What about Sera?

I some what recently switched myself. My salifert mag test was off by around 150. I like the mag test alot but the new cal test is annoying it has 2 different regents 1 that raises it by 50 and 1 raises it by 10 so if you if you go over with the 50 regent you have to start all over. uggg

Joe

I some what recently switched myself. My salifert mag test was off by around 150. I like the mag test alot but the new cal test is annoying it has 2 different regents 1 that raises it by 50 and 1 raises it by 10 so if you if you go over with the 50 regent you have to start all over. uggg

Joe

Elos or Salifert? That's wierd

The elos cal test has two regents. The salifert mag test was the one that was off.

Joe