Best Water Test Kit ?

[fm1978]

Just got my maidenhead test kit looks a bit complicated some powders in the box too hope I can figure it out do I need to wear goggles ?

)

 
Unless you're particularly ham-fisted I wouldn't see the need for goggles, hehe. It does look a bit complicated to begin with but just take each test separately and read through the instructions thoroughly and you'll be fine.
 


And, as always, I'd keep the liquids and powders out of the way of kids and pets, just in case!
 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Here is the sad fact about the best test kits. They are not the hobby ones. Lab grade test kits cost way to much for normal hobby purposes. I did the research. I even considered buying a $400 ammonia kit out of curiosity. And $400 is a cheap lab grade setup.
 
As for test strips, there are actually ones that will give you better results than most hobby test kits, but again the cost would make you sick. Hach ammonia test strips which read NH3-N sell for $20.89 for 25. Compare that to an API ammonia test kit with 75 tests for about $6.50. That is 84 cents a test vs under 9 cents. Which one can most folks afford to use for cycling a tank? I can buy the API master test kit today on sale for $17.75  (It includes low range ph, high range ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite).

 

[daizeUK]

Bah Americans get everything cheaper than we do
 
fm - The MA kit looks interesting, might be worth a look when my API ammonia kit runs out!  I look forward to your review   Got any photos of what the test cards look like?

 

[fm1978]

Bah Americans get everything cheaper than we do

 
fm - The MA kit looks interesting, might be worth a look when my API ammonia kit runs out!  I look forward to your review

  Got any photos of what the test cards look like?

 
I'd recommend at least giving it a go over the API kit when you're ready for a new one.
 
Of course I have photos!!! 

 

 

 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Looks not bad.
 
What is PO4-1, Phosphate test for?
 
Perhaps it's for saltwater/marine or coldwater tanks?
 
 
Apologies if thats a really dumb question. 

 

[daizeUK]

Cool, is the nitrate test any easier to use than API?
What's the range on the pH test?
 
I think phosphates are mostly for marine.  Not sure why there are separate GH and KH kits, unless that's aimed at marine too?

 

[fm1978]

Cool, is the nitrate test any easier to use than API?
What's the range on the pH test?
 
I think phosphates are mostly for marine.  Not sure why there are separate GH and KH kits, unless that's aimed at marine too?

 
The Nitrate test is MUCH EASIER! No shaking the living krap out of the bottles as the powdered part is a separate and only needs to be shook lightly at the end. Takes a while to develop but I do prefer that over banging bottles of walls!
 
The PO4, GH and KH tests were just a bonus for me, I'd have paid £30 for the same number of tests provided by the API kit. I suppose they're trying to encompass both their freshwater and saltwater customers.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Phosphate is relative in planted tanks. I would love to read the specs/directions on the test methods and reagents. I notice the ammonia test says it reads NH3. That is usually done by formula from a total ammonia test. The fact that it takes 15 minutes to develop puts it closer to a lab type kit which also require more time than typical hobby kits.
 
My point in quoting prices was not to point up that these things are usually less expensive in the states but to show a decent test strip costs about 10 times as much per test as a liquid or powder based aquarium test.
 
The thing is, the aquarium kits do tell us the key things with decent reliability. We know they get unreliable at very high levels and we can counteract that by doing diluted testing. We know they can be unreliable at very low levels. But that can be figured out by looking at all the facts. Beside, short term exposure to ammonia or nitrite at levels like .25 or .5 ppm on hobby kits are rarely a threat. At those levels you have time to figure things out before acting in haste when there is not need. If the readings are real, a day wont usually matter at all. Most hobby kits read total ions so they overstate the actual danger in terms of ppms.
 
Finally, hobby kits can show use the direction in which things are moving. And this can be most helpful. Further, they can alert us to potential problems. The trick is in knowing how to use them and when to tend to trust or mistrust the results.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Phosphate is relative in planted tanks. I would love to read the specs/directions on the test methods and reagents. I notice the ammonia test says it reads NH3. That is usually done by formula from a total ammonia test.
 
The fact that it takes 15 minutes to develop puts it closer to a lab type kit which also require more time than typical hobby kits.

 
Good to hear that.
 
Phosphate is relative in planted tanks, what does that mean exactly? I have planted tanks and would be good to know a little more abut that.
 
Beginning to sound favourable to me now. But will wait until I finish my API liquid test kit before venturing to buy any other test kits.
 
Hopefully by that time, MA test kit may have had some reviews done by then.

 

[Maikash]

Just got my maidenhead test kit looks a bit complicated some powders in the box too hope I can figure it out do I need to wear goggles ?

)

 
Hi jetnett,
 
Did you go the the one in garden centre? The one that is in the middle of nowhere or is there another one in Leeds?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Google "phosphate + aquarium" and think NPK

 

Flourish Phosphorus™ is a safe solution (4500 mg/L phosphate) of potassium phosphate that takes the guess work out of phosphate dosing. Unlike competing products that mix nitrate and phosphate in a fixed ratio, Flourish Phosphorus™ (being nitrate free) allows you to dose phosphorus according to the needs of your plants without the risk of overdosing nitrates.

from http/www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FlourishPhosphorus.html
 
If one doses NPK as well as the traces and micro nutrients not in premixed fashion, testing for things like iron, phosphate and nitrate in tanks makes sense. In my old high tech planted tank I dosed NPK and potassium nitrate individually, used a Tropica Mix for the rest and supplemented additional iron now and then.

 

[daizeUK]

I must admit I've been curious to test for phosphate in my tank, especially since I started dosing it.  But the EI guys tell us there's really no need.  For a start, I can check my water board report which tells me there's no P or K in my tap water.  Then I can calculate how much P and K to dose according to EI tables, it doesn't even have to be spot on accurate as long as it meets a certain minimum... as I understand it

 

 
My point in quoting prices was not to point up that these things are usually less expensive in the states but to show a decent test strip costs about 10 times as much per test as a liquid or powder based aquarium test.

 
I know... I just couldn't help but notice that an API ammonia kit costs you guys $6.50 but it costs us £8.20=$13.00

 

[Blondielovesfish]

I'm really curious on what all of your views are on JBL's test kits? I've never seen them mentioned on here so just wondering if any of you have any experience with them....
 
 
 
 

I know... I just couldn't help but notice that an API ammonia kit costs you guys $6.50 but it costs us £8.20=$13.00

 
Thats cheap compared to New Zealand prices, it cost me $90 for a brand new API master test kit, or $50 for a half used one that expires next year....
 
An ammonia test kit on its own is close to $30.
 
Its unfair how cheap America is LoL.

 

[jetnett]

ok I have  used my maidenhead kit and it was easy and very user friendly even for a dizzy blonde

  It was £ 30 so not the cheapest but I like it
the readings seems accurate. I did the ph,Ammonia and nitrite. My N

 itrite was a bit 0.5 high so did a water change and has now gone down to 0.25
not sure if I will use all of the 7 tests though ?
Jeanette

Just got my maidenhead test kit looks a bit complicated some powders in the box too hope I can figure it out do I need to wear goggles ?

)

 
Hi jetnett,
 
Did you go the the one in garden centre? The one that is in the middle of nowhere or is there another one in Leeds?
yes the one in the garden centre it's in east Leeds whinmoor on old York road.