Water Testing

[onebto]

I use an API fresh water Master test kit, and have done since day 1 of my first fishless cycle the main reason for using the API kit was that I was one of the lucky ones and found this site even before i brought a tank so I was set from day one with good advice. I use my kit about once a month now and as of yet nothing has run out.

But a few of the bottles are now getting a little low after 18 months. I have been interested to read that a lot of regular members have made comment over the last eighteen months that I have been reading in this forum that there are better test kits or that they use another kit there must be a reason?

So I am not aware of this subject being repeated here on the forum but if it has I would appreciate a link to it.

If you use another water test kit other than the API fresh water master test kit what is it? and why do you use it instead of the commonly recomended API kit here on this forum?

I would hope that anyone recommending a kit above the API kit has actually used the API kit as to recommend it above the API I would be seriousley and genuinley interested in your opinions.

Personally my only bug bare with the API kit is the Nitrate test its a bit of an EPIC!

Regards onebto.

 

[onebto]

blimey not one response I suppose I can draw conclusions from that

 

[VaegaVic]

In all honesty, I've used other test kits, Hagen for example, and Interpet.

API has to be the simplest of them all, add drops and wait.
With Hagen, you end up losing count as everything has 3 bottles.
With Interpet, it's just tablets in some water, so it's neither accurate nor cost efficient.

API seems to be the cheapest, the most accurate and last the longest.

 

[onebto]

In all honesty, I've used other test kits, Hagen for example, and Interpet.

API has to be the simplest of them all, add drops and wait.
With Hagen, you end up losing count as everything has 3 bottles.
With Interpet, it's just tablets in some water, so it's neither accurate nor cost efficient.

API seems to be the cheapest, the most accurate and last the longest.

Cool thanks for your thoughts its good to hear from someone that has used a couple of different types of test kit

Regards onebto.

 

[Truck]

In all honesty, I do not know why people bother with API, I tested 3 different master test kits from different batches and the average tolerance was +/-0.5 ppm for ammonia +/-0.75 for nitrite and nitrate was +/-80ppm, the PH kits are pretty good, because most maufacturers use the same re agent anyway (bromo blue)

Get the salifert kits, but don't buy nitrate, there is no point.

the reason the API nitrate kits don't work is because API mix two of the three re-agents into a liquid and they react and form a precipiatate over time, making them less accurate, in the salifert kit, these two re agents are in powder form and are only mixed when you perform a test, believe me, once you go salifert, you wont go back.
I personally have given up testing my tank, I dont see the point in wasting money on a test kit, when I know for sure that if I keep to my water changes things will be fine, the only thing I do test is the PH to make sure that my buffer is bringing the tank PH, to the correct levels.

as for the others such as hagen, I'm not going to write about them, they don't deserve mentioning, the accuracy is terrible.

 

[onebto]

In all honesty, I do not know why people bother with API, I tested 3 different master test kits from different batches and the average tolerance was +/-0.5 ppm for ammonia +/-0.75 for nitrite and nitrate was +/-80ppm, the PH kits are pretty good, because most maufacturers use the same re agent anyway (bromo blue)

Get the salifert kits, but don't buy nitrate, there is no point.

the reason the API nitrate kits don't work is because API mix two of the three re-agents into a liquid and they react and form a precipiatate over time, making them less accurate, in the salifert kit, these two re agents are in powder form and are only mixed when you perform a test, believe me, once you go salifert, you wont go back.
I personally have given up testing my tank, I dont see the point in wasting money on a test kit, when I know for sure that if I keep to my water changes things will be fine, the only thing I do test is the PH to make sure that my buffer is bringing the tank PH, to the correct levels.

as for the others such as hagen, I'm not going to write about them, they don't deserve mentioning, the accuracy is terrible.

Thanks for that truck I think I will give them a go and see