A reef tank fails on different numbers than a fish-only tank. This kit reads the four that corals actually respond to — calcium, carbonate hardness (KH), phosphate and nitrate — and leaves ammonia and nitrite to the Saltwater Master Test Kit, which is why most reef keepers end up owning both rather than one.
What is in the case
- 7 test solutions covering 4 parameters
- 4 test tubes with snap-tight caps and a holding tub
- Colour chart and instruction booklet
Reading the results
API puts the reef calcium target at 400-500 mg/L, and is explicit that calcium alone is not enough — carbonate hardness has to be tested alongside it, because the two move together. Phosphate is the one to watch when coral growth stalls and algae takes off.
Looking after the kit
Rinse each tube with tap water straight after use — dried reagent stains the tube and throws out the next reading. Never wash tubes with detergent; the residue is harmful if it goes back into the tank. Shake the reagent bottles firmly, but invert the capped tube gently.
