Test Kit Review and General Info

Fry Lover · #1 04-27-2008, 02:23 PM

Been meaning to do a thread like this for a while. Few pointers.....

--> Price is based on cheapest i can find (new product), it's either off the shop floor at a Maidenhead Aquatics, from e-bay (price includes postage) or from another on-line store (price includes postage). So if you are looking to buy a test kit, try not to pay above the price i have quoted, because if you look hard enough you will find the said kit at this price (including postage where required).

--> They are all liquid tests, with the exception of the Interpet which i believe are tablets? I haven't tried Interpet tests as of yet. I dont like test-strips at all, will make a reference to them later.

--> I am just covering Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate testing. I do test for pH, General Hardness and Carbonate Hardness but have not used enough of a variety of kits to comment right now.

--> It's freshwater i am referring to, i dont keep and never have kept marine fish/set-up's.

--> I have not used all the kits mentioned here, this will be included in the comments i make about each kit.

--> Please (obviously) feel free to add comments and share your experiences with relevant test kits, this could include test kits i have not covered (i.e. pH, hardness, phosphates etc)

Okay first up will be Ammonia testing, to follow...........................

Fry Lover · #2 04-27-2008, 03:01 PM

AMMONIA

Here is a couple of interesting articles, including an interesting calculator regarding ammonia. You may need to join PFK to use the calculator, but you may as well join, it's free, easy and lots of valuable information, calculators and product review etc.......

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...article_id=431

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...es/ammonia.php

Me, personally, i am stopping testing for ammonia now, as the water conditioner i use (Seachem Prime) creates some problems with testing for ammonia (false positive results). I am satisifed my biological filtration is processing ammonia as it should.

I did try a testing kit (Seachem) that provides true "free ammonia" results even if you use a conditioner that can provide false-positive results, but i didnt like the test kit, see below.

If you are not using a water conditioner that converts ammonia to a non-toxic form (such as Prime) your testing results for ammonia should be "ok" and reliable. Tetra Aqua Safe is a water conditioner that does not convert toxic ammonia for example.

Here come's my previous experience with ammonia testing kits and price information

Fry Lover · #3 04-27-2008, 03:25 PM

API
£8.48 for 130 tests, 0.07p per test

I have used this, does what it says on the tin, very cheap. Two different reagents need to be used which is about average for ammonia testing

Nutrafin Freshwater Ammonia Testing
£6.39 for 70 tests, 0.09p per test

I have used this, one reagent only which is handy and an "instant" result, no waiting about

Nutrafin Freshwater and Marine Ammonia Testing
£5.99 for 50 tests, 0.12p per test

This used to actually be my favourite before i had issues with false-positive results of all ammonia testing kits. The reason i liked this one, was that it was quite easy to see small ammonia traces based on the colours in test tube, easier that all other ammonia test kits i have used. The downside of this kit is (a) 3 different reagents you have to use and (b) results take 20 minutes

Sera
£7.45 for 60 tests, 0.12p per test

Never used it! although i do like/trust the Sera brand

Salifert
£6.95 for 50 tests, 0.14p per test

Never used it!

Interpet
£6.50 for 40 tests, 0.16 per test

Never used it!

Seachem
£12.95 for 75 tests, 0.17 per test

Tried this as it shows up only the toxic form of ammonia, unlike most other ammonia kits. This was a big let down for me, it involves fiddling about with little paper "dots" and placing them in water then reading the colour change, big pain, difficult to read the results, waste of money for me.

JBL
£8.99 for 50 tests, 0.18 per test

Never used it! although i do like/trust the JBL brand

Tetra
£7.40 for 25 tests, 0.30p per test

Never used it, at 30p per test, Tetra are having a laugh. I have seen the colour chart and its basically the same kind of test as all other much cheaper kits. I cant see how they are justifying 25 tests for £7.40. Nothing to suggest there is extra value for money here

Fry Lover · #4 04-27-2008, 03:41 PM

NITRITE

In my opinion, the most useful/important test kit out of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate. I know ammonia is more toxic, but biological filter media generally quickly can mature to process ammonia compared to processing nitrite which can take longer. I have tested tank water in the past for other people where ammonia is zero but nitrite is very high. Therefore if you are choosing between ammonia and nitrite and can only afford (or dare i say it be bothered to have only one of these kits), go for nitrite.

See following links for info

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/bi...rogencycle.htm

http://members.optushome.com.au/chel...rification.htm

Fry Lover · #5 04-27-2008, 04:08 PM

API
£7.90 for 180 tests, 0.04 per test

My second fave nitrite kit and great value, the only downer to it is that it does not seem to detect very low levels of nitrite, but as a general test to find out if you have a nitrite issue it's great value and easy to use with just the one reagent. Definitly recommeneded by myself

Nutrafin
£7.29 for 75 tests, 0.10 per test

Used it a few times. It's ok. But no more reliable or effective than API, so when factoring cost in, go for the API (above)

Sera
£7.45 for 75 tests, 0.10 per test

I have used it, no problems with it and i like Sera

Salifert
£5.45 for 50 tests, 0.11 per test

Never tried it

JBL
£8.49 for 60 tests, 0.14 per test

My favourite Nitrite kit, tests for very low range of nitrite, easy to read colour differences on chart (easier than other kits), i think this is the best test kit out of them all (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate), if you can find JBL, then get it!

Tetra
£6.75 for 45 tests, 0.15p per test

Not used it

Interpet
£6.50 for 40 tests, 0.16p per test

Not used it

Fry Lover · #6 04-27-2008, 04:25 PM

NITRATE

Traditionally and i think scientifically? the hardest to test accurately for with LFS kits (in terms of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate)

It's particularly problematic if you have set-ups that run with nitrate in the 40mg/l+ range as its always difficult to get a decent reading off the colour charts.

TIP: as i have 20-30 mg/l from the tap and dont use RO or any specific nitrate reducing agents, my tanks are often in the 40-50 mg/l range(except my planted tank), so............. because of the charts being tricky with readings of 40mg/l i test with 50% distilled water (0 mg/l nitrate) and 50% tank water, i then double the result to get my reading (based off colour charts)

Fry Lover · #7 04-27-2008, 04:42 PM

API
£8.48 for 90 tests, 0.09p per test

Good value, i have heard stories on one forum of problems with API Nitrate readings being wildly varied from same tank. However, if you dig a bit deeper, you will find that this is a problem associated with many nitrate kits and not just API. This is a decent kit, it will always (100%) confirm to me that my tpa readings are in the 20 mg/l range and tanks in the 40 mg/l range. Uses x2 reagents and no powder

Nutrafin
£7.90 for 80 tests, 0.10p per test

I dont like it, colour chart (even for nitrate kits) is useless once you get past 25 mg/l. Uses x3 reagents and no powder

Sera
£7.45 for 60 tests, 0.12p per test

I like this one, easy to read colour chart, uses x2 reagents and powder

Salifert
£6.95 for 50 tests, 0.14p per test

I dont like it, colour chart (even for nitrate kits) is useless once you get past 25 mg/l. Much the same as the Nutrafin one

Interpet
£6.50 for 40 tests, 0.16p per test

never used it

JBL
£11.15 for 50 tests, 0.22p per test

I had some problems with this one, all my results came back at under 10mg/l nitrate, which i dont think was accurate

Tetra
£11.20 for 45 tests, 0.25p per test

My favoured Nitrate kit, although too expensive at £0.25 per test. Easier to read colour chart when compared to other Nitrate kits. x2 Reagents and a powder.

gefilte · #8 12-02-2008, 03:46 PM

Hi all whove posted here- me n the mrs are newcomers to trop aqs and have just received our juwel tank- weve bought the plants and are in the first week prior to fish arrival.

Can you help with some of our puzzlin thoughts:

1)youve tested for ammonia & nitrites and they come back positive- how do we remove amonia probs- surely the filter doesnt do it. Do we have to buy ammonia removal as well as testing kits.

2) do you trust holiday kits that feed ya fish- if so can you recommend as our parents are a little bit too confused.

3) Whats the best food for angel fish, marble mollies & black neons.

4) should we buy an emergency heater should ours pack in without warning.

cheers for now, much appreciation for your advices..

Robert.Pope · #9 12-03-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gefilte

Hi all whove posted here- me n the mrs are newcomers to trop aqs and have just received our juwel tank- weve bought the plants and are in the first week prior to fish arrival.

Can you help with some of our puzzlin thoughts:

1)youve tested for ammonia & nitrites and they come back positive- how do we remove amonia probs- surely the filter doesnt do it. Do we have to buy ammonia removal as well as testing kits.

2) do you trust holiday kits that feed ya fish- if so can you recommend as our parents are a little bit too confused.

3) Whats the best food for angel fish, marble mollies & black neons.

4) should we buy an emergency heater should ours pack in without warning.

cheers for now, much appreciation for your advices..

Hi gefilte, the member who did this in depth post is away for a while and may want to add other information here.

best to do a new thread post and get answers there.

Tasha · #10 12-03-2008, 06:19 PM

Im gna sound terrible guys but i dnt do tests on my fish tanks

but tbh all my fish are healthy and ive not had any huge problems tbh i find them very all confusing :S