Short answer by use case
For a flexible, affordable core, an assembled Salifert basket covers the parameters most reef keepers eventually track. For cycling, Red Sea Marine Care groups ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and KH. For coral foundation dosing, Red Sea Foundation Pro is the more focused purchase. Hanna HI-REEFKIT is a premium digital route, not a value bundle.
| Route / checked price | Coverage | Method | Ownership note | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salifert core basket £51.46 assembled | Ca, KH, Mg, NO3, PO4 | Manual titration / colour | Lowest-cost flexible route; replace one parameter at a time | Best for a budget-conscious keeper willing to do the steps |
| Red Sea Marine Care £57.99 | NH3/NH4, NO2, NO3, pH, KH | Colour / titration | Cycle and early-life coverage; no calcium or magnesium | Best for a new system or fish-first monitoring |
| Red Sea Foundation Pro £57.99 | Ca, KH, Mg | Titration | A focused foundation set; add a nutrient kit separately | Best when coral demand and dosing are the question |
| Hanna HI-REEFKIT £504.48 inc VAT | Alkalinity, calcium, phosphate ULR, salinity | Digital checkers / tester | Fast readout and premium entry price; nitrate is not included | Best for a high-consistency workflow with a large budget |
How the assembled Salifert figure works
The £51.46 figure is not a bundle price: it adds current examples for calcium (£12.49), nitrate (£9.59), KH (£8.29), phosphate (£9.49) and magnesium (£11.60). That flexibility is its advantage. It also means five separate instructions, reagents and expiry dates to manage.
Digital does not mean decision-proof
Hanna’s HI-REEFKIT lists digital alkalinity, calcium, phosphate ULR and salinity tools at £504.48 inc VAT. Its published ranges are useful—for example, HI-774 phosphate is 0.00–0.90 ppm—but the result still depends on clean glassware, correct timing and fresh reagents. A digital display removes colour matching; it does not remove sampling error.
What to buy first
- New or cycling tank: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and alkalinity.
- Established mixed reef: alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate.
- Dosing or heavy calcification: prioritise repeatable alkalinity testing, then calcium and magnesium.
- RODI troubleshooting: use a TDS meter; a marine test kit is not a substitute for source-water checks.
Sources and limitations
Product coverage and Hanna pricing were checked against Hanna UK. Red Sea parameter coverage was checked against its Marine Care documentation and Reef Care product range. Salifert and Red Sea prices are current retailer examples from UK aquatic shops. We have not independently tested accuracy, ease of use or reagent life.