What’s the deal with API?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A freshwater hobbyist can set up a 50 gal tank for a couple hundred bucks, if buying used, much less.
And replace stock for a very minimal expense.
That same tank for a saltwater reefer, might cost $1000 to $5000, or even more.
And the cost of stock is much more wallet shrinking.
So protecting that saltwater investment becomes of prime importance, and becoming educated in decision making choices more obvious.
And most saltwater aquarists are much more in tune with what the stock needs in water parameter types, and realize it can require much more attention.
I also find fresh water hobbyists "in general", are much more cavalier and figure water is just water (although to me its not that simple).
This is reflected here on MFK where species from very different water parameters are randomly combined without a second thought.
Water movement in salt water aquariums also seems obvious and to requires much more effort and attention.
In fresh water tanks, rheophillic species are often tossed together with swamp dwellers without so much as a fleeting "I want th is whim".
The disease section often reflects some of this fresh water cavalier attitude.
In the salt water realm nitrate is often measured down into the tenths place, because of its perceived importance as a toxin, where in much freshwater thought, 20 to 40ppm is considered tolerable, or just fine.
And salt water probes and tests reflect the needed accuracy, and so do the costs..
 
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Freshwater people are generally, there are exceptions, very cheap. OMG, light is $3? Ouch, that's too much, I'll just put my tank in front of the window.

Saltwater people? $3? Do you have any that are $60? Will it talk to my aquarium computer? How much for one that will?

Seriously though, like everyone else says, good enough varies significantly between the two. I had a whole shelf full of different test kits when I had my marine tank and used them constantly, kept graphs of the results. For my freshwater, I haven't tested anything more than checked the temperature in over a decade.
 
I've only ever tried API so it's all I know but I'm pretty happy with it although I'm pretty new to being an aquateer.
 
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