Test Kit Survey

Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to use,
reasonably priced?

Jim K wrote:

Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to use,
reasonably priced?

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for pH and KH. Cheap and accurate.

Nitrate: I have just concluded a long correspondance with Hagen over their
Nitrate test kit, which has failed on me twice. A search of usenet indicates
this is a known problem, and they have not fixed it. The third bottle has
suspended particulate matter, which jams the nozzle, which in turn makes the
test inaccurate (if you are strong enough to squeeze out the drops) or
unusable. They offer to replace the bottle if you complain, which is a good
thing, but they have known about the problem for at least two years and not
changed the design. Avoid it. People on this list recommend the Seachem Nitrate
kit. I have not tried it yet.

That's all you need if you follow the Tom Barr Estimative Index method. pH and
KH yield your CO2 level, and measuring Nitrate is important because you must
add it to most healthy plant tanks, and it is toxic to fish in high
concentrations. GH only needs to be measured if you don't know if your local
water has enough calcium & magnesium. It's easier to just ask a good LFS or an
expert local hobbiest.

"Dave Millman" wrote in message
...

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for pH and KH. Cheap and accurate.



Me too what he said.
And ditto on the Hagen nitrate test also- surely it could be remedied!


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm.

Dave Millman wrote:
Jim K wrote:


Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to use,
reasonably priced?


Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for pH and KH. Cheap and accurate.

Nitrate: I have just concluded a long correspondance with Hagen over their
Nitrate test kit, which has failed on me twice. A search of usenet indicates
this is a known problem, and they have not fixed it. The third bottle has
suspended particulate matter, which jams the nozzle, which in turn makes the
test inaccurate (if you are strong enough to squeeze out the drops) or
unusable. They offer to replace the bottle if you complain, which is a good
thing, but they have known about the problem for at least two years and not
changed the design. Avoid it. People on this list recommend the Seachem Nitrate
kit. I have not tried it yet.

That's all you need if you follow the Tom Barr Estimative Index method. pH and
KH yield your CO2 level, and measuring Nitrate is important because you must
add it to most healthy plant tanks, and it is toxic to fish in high
concentrations. GH only needs to be measured if you don't know if your local
water has enough calcium & magnesium. It's easier to just ask a good LFS or an
expert local hobbiest.


I purchased the AP master test kit. It seems good, except that I often
have trouble reading the high range pH. I guess once it goes above 7.8
it turns a hard to read purplish brown, but I don't know which color it
corresponds to on the plastic card that comes with it.

The gH test can be a pain if you're adding a lot of drops (you have to
cap and mix the solution between drops). The nitrite test is a 5 minute
wait. The nitrAte test kit (purchased separately) you add drops from one
bottle, shake the test tube, then shake the second bottle for 30
seconds, add the drops to the test tube, shake the test tube for 1
minute. Then wait 5 minutes. One of the bottles also jams, I think
there's a ball in there that helps agitate the solution and sometimes it
blocks up the bottle. I can usually shake it loose and add the rest of
the drops.

Jungle Chloramine/Chlorine quick dip. A bit pricy, but couldn't find
another chloramine/chlorine test kit. Hopefully it is accurate. Going by
the reading, I can use half the amquel I've been using. I'm wondering if
the extra amquel was killing my ghost shrimp.

Mardel 5 in 1 test. 1 dip strip shows ph, nitrate, nitrite, total
hardness, total alkalinity. Match the color on the test strip to one of
6 colors per test on the bottle. Gives you a rough estimate. Easy to use.

I like seachem's ammonia alert (Lil' Alert Mates). Now all I need is a
nitrite alert, a nitrate alert, and a pH alert and I'll never need
another test kit... (They say they're working on a nitrIte alert btw)

--

direct replies: yelohk AT yahoo

"Jim K" wrote in message
. ..
Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they
accurate, easy to use,
reasonably priced?

I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for all tests. They're easy
to use, I suppose the price is ok (I don't worry too much
about that), and I'm assuming they're reasonably accurate.
mostly I like using the same test each time so comparisons
make sense. You can get different results from different
test kits.

Gail

I like the AP low pH test kit, as well as the nitrite kit (doen't get much
use though).
The Seachem Phosphate kit is good, but a bit involved and sometimes hard to
read.
-Seweryn
"Jim K" wrote in message
. ..
Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to
use,
reasonably priced?

Thanks everyone for your input.

I have an old Kordon AquaTru Aquarist Master test kit with the powdered
reagent "pillows" that you open with a nail clipper. I've had a difficult
time trying to find refills for it, yet at one time all the mail order
companies carried them.

I also have a Red Sea Deluxe Fresh Lab. It uses liquid reagents and is very
complete, but I do find that some test results are nearly impossible to
match to the color charts.

I then purchased the Mardel test strips - the 5 in 1 and the ammonia. They
are very easy to use and the results are easy to read. And the take very
little room under my aquarium. They are more expensive, however, and I
don't know how accurate they are.

I was considering purchasing the Hagen kit but after hearing about the bad
experiences, I'm reconsidering.

It seems as though most of the good test kits are made for salt & reef
tanks, and I suppose accuracy and precision are more important in those
environments.

Has anyone used LaMotte? They seem quite expensive and involved.


"Jim K" wrote in message
. ..
Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to
use,
reasonably priced?

I use the Lamotte kits for Nitrate, Iron, and Phosphate.

The tests can be a bit involved (multiple reagents/powders/etc.), and take a
bit of time (3-10 minutes to 'cook') but they have the best systems for
reading accurate results.

As to the costs....Like they say when you go to buy a Rolls Royce, if you
have to ask you can't afford it.

No... I made up the Rolls Royce stuff.

"Jim K" wrote in message
. ..
Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to
use,
reasonably priced?

Any comment on Tetratest?

On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 11:41:02 GMT, "Jim K" wrote:

Thanks everyone for your input.

I have an old Kordon AquaTru Aquarist Master test kit with the powdered
reagent "pillows" that you open with a nail clipper. I've had a difficult
time trying to find refills for it, yet at one time all the mail order
companies carried them.

I also have a Red Sea Deluxe Fresh Lab. It uses liquid reagents and is very
complete, but I do find that some test results are nearly impossible to
match to the color charts.

I then purchased the Mardel test strips - the 5 in 1 and the ammonia. They
are very easy to use and the results are easy to read. And the take very
little room under my aquarium. They are more expensive, however, and I
don't know how accurate they are.

I was considering purchasing the Hagen kit but after hearing about the bad
experiences, I'm reconsidering.

It seems as though most of the good test kits are made for salt & reef
tanks, and I suppose accuracy and precision are more important in those
environments.

Has anyone used LaMotte? They seem quite expensive and involved.


"Jim K" wrote in message
...
Which brand test kit(s) do you use and why? Are they accurate, easy to
use,
reasonably priced?

I had a single but very bad experiece with Hagen's Phosphate. Besides
the difficulties with discerning the hue of blue the test goes bad and
it starts to show much less Phosphate than you actually have. Mine
was showing 0.5 ppm and I had in excess of 30 ppm, now that's serious.
I'm using a brand new Hagen Phosphate now only until I find a
replacement.

Hach Nitrate is great and very precise. I wish their Phosphate test
was not $134...

pH - nothing better than a digital device.

KH - Aquarium Pharmaceutical does well.
GH - Aquarium Pharmaceutical may be a bit harder to read, the color
change is rather subtle.

Will check out for Lamotte Phosphate now...

--Nikolay