JBL Pro Scan

[gwand]

Has anyone tried JBL Pro Scan to measure water parameters? Opinions?

 

[MattW]

I'm interested in the way it shows results. I haven't tried it, but my LFS is a JBL partner shop, and they look expensive for 24 tests.

 

[gwand]

If you ever try it please post about your experience.

 

[gwand]

It turns out I can’t find the product in the U.S., only the UK and France on eBay.

 

[Uberhoust]

Interesting, I have never used it, seems excessively expensive, at least in Canada. It handles the color correction by a color chart with fiducial marks, I expect you then take a picture of your strip, and it does the color to concentration mapping for the various tests. Too expensive for my tastes, and the app doesn't appear available in Canada with Android, so I won't be trying it out. I expect you are paying for the chart and app, but it is still over twice the expense of the API liquid test. From the comments online most people found it worked well but a few others found it was hard to ensure that the color and exposure for the cell camera, causing unacceptable result variations. I would be curious myself now how well this product works.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Is this the same JBL that makes speakers?

 

[gwand]

Interesting, I have never used it, seems excessively expensive, at least in Canada. It handles the color correction by a color chart with fiducial marks, I expect you then take a picture of your strip, and it does the color to concentration mapping for the various tests. Too expensive for my tastes, and the app doesn't appear available in Canada with Android, so I won't be trying it out. I expect you are paying for the chart and app, but it is still over twice the expense of the API liquid test. From the comments online most people found it worked well but a few others found it was hard to ensure that the color and exposure for the cell camera, causing unacceptable result variations. I would be curious myself now how well this product works.

I agree. But I’m always looking for something easier to read than liquid API nitrate test. I find it hard to distinguish the colors in the range 5-20 ppm.

 

[Uberhoust]

But I’m always looking for something easier to read than liquid API nitrate test. I find it hard to distinguish the colors in the range 5-20 ppm.

I also find that test difficult as well, the distinction is not clear. As far as the tester goes there is one thing that I think is a bit of a flaw in the design and that is that you get the calibration card but there is no consistent light source. Some light sources might work well, natural light because it is a true full spectrum, but I suspect others don't work at all.

 

[gwand]

I agree. The reading varies depending upon the light source. Holding the vial up to a window to capture natural sunlight either gives me the correct reading or a low reading. I can’t tell which without a positive control.

 

[Uberhoust]

Before I developed a sense of the Nitrate levels in my main tank I found any of the nitrate tests difficult to read so I made a reference solutions of 5, 10, 20 ppm using KNO3. Now I don't test unless my fish are looking a little poor. I find the only time I really need to test is when setting up a new tank which I haven't done for a while.

 

[gwand]

Before I developed a sense of the Nitrate levels in my main tank I found any of the nitrate tests difficult to read so I made a reference solutions of 5, 10, 20 ppm using KNO3. Now I don't test unless my fish are looking a little poor. I find the only time I really need to test is when setting up a new tank which I haven't done for a while.

Oh I like that. A standard curve. I check quite often because my well water has a nitrate level that ranges from 10-30 ppm depending on the season. I use an expensive nitrate resin filter was well water nitrate is 20 or greater.

 

[Uberhoust]

I check quite often because my well water has a nitrate level that ranges from 10-30 ppm depending on the season. I use an expensive nitrate resin filter was well water nitrate is 20 or greater.

That's a bit of a pain. My tap water is very good.

 

[Zer0Fame]

Hey,

JBL is a German manufacturer.
They're a bit frowned upon in Germany, because the readings depend a lot on the camera used and the light situation in the room.

They're not really more exact than the usual test strips and are quite expensive.

A few things that JBL says you need to follow:

- Use kitchen paper below before taking pictures
- You need to check that there are no reflections and also no droplets on the test. No glass or water is supposed to be visible in the picture
- The phone needs to be parallel to the test strip
- Use in daylight. Any artificial light can give wrong results.
- Use in a well-lit room.
- The color card needs to be in pristine condition
- The test strip needs to be places as exact as possible
- You have up to 10 seconds to perfectly adjust your camera after a 60 seconds timer runs out, else you have to repeat the test and throw the strip away

One of those wrong may result in false results.

 

[MattW]

@Zer0Fame Does JBL have any other products that aren't deemed favourable by hobbyists?

My LFS swears by their quality for the many things we use in our aquariums, along with Eheim hardware in tandem. You should see the shelves of this place!

Pics are from a few years back, but you get the idea

 

[Zer0Fame]

Does JBL have any other products that aren't deemed favourable by hobbyists?

They did have some huge quality issues a few months back, imho.
Sand that raised the hardness, Aquasoil(!!) that raised(!!!) the hardness ... no idea what went wrong there.
Seems fixed now.

But in general they're really, really good. Their filters used to be absolutely top-notch, and they still would be if it wasn't for Aquael taking over the market.
It's basically been "Either get a JBL or spend the extra money and get an Eheim". Nothing inbetween.
Their drop tests are what I use. The next better version would cost me three times as much, and they're more than precise enough. (If you know how to use them, the nitrate tests are a bit tricky.)

By now, there are better options for every product, in my opinion. Especially considering bang for the buck.

But if you want a solid choice that just works, and you don't need something for special setups, by all means, JBL is top.
Just stay away from their check valves, had a few that got stuck. Which led to one of their Bio-CO₂ bottles exploding. Ringing ears, 3 hours of cleaning, and a smell that could make you drunk included.

Out of interest, what does the small test kit ('Combiset plus' Fe is the name) cost over there?